Winery Visit - Attimo Winery

Attimo means "in the moment"

On April 13th, 2012 my friend (and classmate) Jordan and I traveled to Christiansburg to visit Attimo Winery. Attimo winery was a completely different experience from Chateau Morrisette from the beginning. First of all the wine is not made at the winery so we were not actually able to see the barrels and other machines that they use. Rik and Melissa (the owners) actually make the wine at their house right down the street where they used to also hold their tastings before the Tasting Room was opened in July of 2011.

Attimo Winery Tasting Room & Restaurant

Attimo Winery has an interesting background story. Rik and Melissa are graduates of Virginia Tech which is when they fell in love with Southwest Virginia. Rik had always had an interest in wine and spent a lot of time travelling around the world before they settled down and decided to open their own vineyard. They started planting vines in 2006 and opened the business in April 2011. I was really intrigued by how the tasting was done. Instead of standing at a bar we actually sat down at a table for this. Rik often travels to Eastern Europe where he picked up on this style of tasting.

Comfortable atmosphere inside of the tasting room

Jordan and I chose one of the tables in the tasting room and the owner Rik immediately introduced himself to us. After we met him, we were introduced to our server, Ryan, a senior Hospitality and Tourism major at Radford. They had a menu featuring items like cheese platters, a Cuban pulled pork sandwich, personal pizzas, etc. Jordan and I had already eaten before so we just stuck to the tasting. Ryan taught us something very interesting about wineries and restaurants - farm wineries are not allowed to serve food so the restaurant is a completely separate business entity. We tasted nine different wines all named original names:

Jordan and I during the wine tasting

• Masquerade 2010 (Chardonnay): Aged in oak for seven months before it's bottles. Dry, smooth, and oakey.
• Sonnet 98 2010 (Vidal Blanc): Named after Shakespeare's Ode to Spring. A perfect wine for spring weather - dry, crisp, floral, and hints of fresh greens. I really enjoyed this wine.
• I do 2010 (Traminette/Petit Manseng): This wine signifies marriage. Very popular among people getting married. Semi-sweet, distinct citrus nose. My favorite wine out of all of the ones we tasted.
• Deep Silence 2010 (Cabernet Franc): Named after long days of work and class when you want to just go home and relax in silence. Dry red, intense berry flavors and light smoky pepper finish.
• Vertex 2010 (Cabernet Sauvignon): This is Ryan's favorite wine. Dry red, rich with black currant flavors and French oak notes.
• AD 325 2010 (Chambourcin): This is the wine used to make the wine stain on their tasting menu. This wine is made in fluid cool barrels that mimic geothermal properties. Intense, robust wine with a very rich color. Ryan warned us that this wine will stain anything and everything. Bold flavors and cherry undertones.
• Sweet Berry Sunset (Raspberry/Red blend): Semi-sweet, intense berry and fruit flavors. Pairs well with chocolate. When a glass of this is served they dip the rim in chocolate and freeze them. They use Brix chocolate (named after the sugar content in grapes) which is formulated to pair with specific types of wine.
• Sudden Downpour (Apple/White Blend): Sweet, apple wine with bourbon notes and earthy tones. This wine is aged in a used Kentucky bourbon barrel. Similar to the previous wine, this wine is served with a wine glass where the rim has been dipped in caramel and cinnamon.
• Seduction 2010 (Tinta Madera/Touriga nacional/Souzao): Sweet, vintage ruby port. Direct from Portugal, hints of raspberry and raisins. This wine has a higher alcohol content (18%) since it is fortified with brandy. One of the most interesting wines I have tasted this far.

Brix chocolate used for the Sweet Berry Sunset wine

Overall, I was very pleased with my experience at Attimo Winery. I loved being able to sit down during the tasting and while I did not leave with any bottles (a little beyond my ideal price) I plan on asking for a bottle of I Do for graduation. I look forward to seeing Attimo winery again in a few weekends at Fork and Cork!

Tasting - Cantina di Casteggio Moscato di Pavia

Name: Cantina di Casteggio Moscato di Pavia
Variety: Moscato

Region: Not listed

Country: Italy

Year: Not listed

Price: $7.95

Wine critic review: Bright, light golden color. Very aromatic nose of ripe apricots, sage, honey and a slight minerality. Medium bodied, sweet and fruity with flavors of apricots and tangerine. Well balanced acidity and medium finish with layers of sweet and citrus fruit.

My review: I'm always pleased with the Moscato provided at the tastings that I have been to. This Moscato featured honey and apricot aromas with apricots in the taste as well. Very sweet and fruity which my palate loves. A very well balanced wine. I did not pair this wine with food, but it would pair nicely with a pound cake with honey drizzled on it. 

Tasting - Montebuena Rioja Crianza

Name: Montebuena Rioja Crianza
Variety: 100% Tempranillo

Region: Rioja

Country: Spain

Year: 2007

Price: $6.95

Wine critic review: 100% Tempranillo. Dark red. Spicy red berries and cherry on the nose, with hints of cracked pepper and dried rose. Crisp and dry on the palate, with spicy redcurrant and cherry flavors, light tannins and a fresh, energetic finish. An excellent value, and surprisingly elegant for this price point.

My review: Definitely get your moneys worth with this wine. A great price for a great wine. I found this wine very satisfying with cherry very prevalent on the nose and red berries and a hint of pepper present in the taste. Fairly dry, but with a refreshing finish. I did not pair this wine with food.

Tasting - Varas Vinho Tinto

Name: Varas Vinho Tinto
Variety: Castelão (45%), Tinta Roriz (25%), Tinta Barroca (20%) and Pinot Noir (10%)

Region: Libson

Country: Portugal

Year: Not listed

Price: $5.49

Wine critic review: This smooth Portuguese red is a blend of Castelão (45%), Tinta Roriz (25%), Tinta Barroca (20%) and Pinot Noir (10%). The vineyards are located near Lisbon, planted in sunny gentle slopes of clay and limestone soils. The wine was aged in oak barrels.

 

My review: I was definitely able to pick up on this wine being aged in oak barrels. This wine was very smooth and was an interesting blend for sure. I tasted blackberry and black cherry in this wine and smelled aromas of these two fruits as well. I found it to be pretty tannic but also as previously mentioned very smooth. i did not pair this wine with food, but I think it could go well with red meat.

Tasting - Oveja Negra Syrah-Cab Rosé Reserva

Name: Oveja Negra Syrah-Cab Rosé Reserva
Variety: Syrah-Cab

Region: Not Listed

Country: Chile

Year: 2010

Price: $6.95

Wine critic review: Oveja Negra Reserva Rosé is bright cherry-red in color and has an attractive nose with aromas of raspberries and strawberries as well as plum and a bit of green apple. Crisp and juicy on the palate with a slight sweetness that accompanies the red fruit flavors. Pleasing natural acidity with mediumhigh intensity, nice persistence, and a fresh finish.

My review: One of the best wines I have tasted in a while! Beautiful color with a nose full of strawberries and raspberries. Very crisp and not too acidic. A little sweet but not overpowering. Very fresh finish and honestly refreshing overall. I am definintely going to go back and buy this wne at some point. I did not pair this wine with food.

Tasting - gPG Garganega Pinot Grigio

Name: gPG Garganega Pinot Grigio
Variety: Pinot Grigio

Region: Delle Venezie

Country: Italy

Year: 2010

Price: $8.95

Wine critic review: gPG is from the delle Venezie regions of northeastern Italy. A clean and crisp palate with plenty of texture and weight follows aromas of apples and zesty lemons. It's perfect with grilled white fish or light risotto.

My review: Super clean and crisp wine. Very refreshing and features tastes and aromas of apples and citrus. Very stong finish that left me wanting more. I did not pair this wine with food but per suggestion from the critic review I think it would pair nicely with grilled white fish.

Tasting - Primo Amore Moscato

Name: Primo Amore Moscato
Variety: Moscato

Region: Puglia

Country: Italy

Year: Not Listed

Price: $8.95

Wine critic review: Straw-yellow with golden reflections and a delicate mousse. Fruity and very inviting, with intense scents of peaches and exotic fruit. Fresh and pleasantly sweet with a taste that reveals its varietal characteristic.

My review: I have and always will be a HUGE fan of Moscato. I especially liked this Moscato because of the heavy peach taste. This wine was very refreshing and I could easily see drinking it outside on the porch in the evening with a yummy slice of peach cobbler. I did not pair this wine with food.

Tasting - Faraway Farms Shiraz

Name: Faraway Farms Shiraz
Variety: Shiraz

Region: Not Listed

Country: South Africa

Year: 2008

Price: $5.95

Wine critic review: Fresh, modern style, with lots of plum pudding, sweet chocolate, mocha, blackberry and boysenberry flavors supported by round, sweet tannins and toast.

My review: The mocha and chocolate tastes in this wine were a little too much for me as I typically prefer fruitier wines. I did pick up on some blackberry but it was overpowered by the other flavors. Very tannic and smooth. I did not pair this wine with food but because of the severity of the chocolate and mocha I think it would obviously be paired great with chocolate.

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Tasting - Tres Ojos Old Vines Garnacha

Name: Tres Ojos Old Vines Garnacha
Variety: Garnacha

Region: Not listed

Country: Spain

Year: 2009

Price: $6.95

Wine critic review: Bright ruby color. Primary dark berry aromas are simple but offer very good purity and focus. Juicy blackberry and bitter cherry flavors are youthfully tangy, with good back-end acidity adding snap. The clean, brisk finish leaves behind notes of sweet dark berry preserves and cracked pepper. 

My review: Another very dry wine. Burnt rubber and smoke were present in the nose which was an immediate turn off for me. Not very smooth either. Acidic wine with strong tastes of blackberry and black cherry. A little too bitter for me. I did not pair this wine with food.

Tasting - Oak Vineyard Chardonnay

Name: Oak Vineyard Chardonnay

Variety: Chardonnay

Region: Nape & Sonoma

Country: United States

Year: 2010

Price: $5.95

Wine critic review: Quite an interesting Chardonnay, in an era when so many are too sweet and extracted. There’s plenty of orange and apricot fruit flavor, but also a brilliant streak of minerality, like a lick of cold steel, and the overall taste is dry. Really easy to like, with lots of complexity to warrant repeated sipping. 

My review: Being a fan of sweeter wines, I wasn't too fond of this Chardonnay. There was some fruit flavor present but not nearly enough to please my palate. This wine was also very dry and complex. While I didn't enjoy this wine, I can think of a few friends who would and I plan on recommending it to them. I did not pair this wine with food.

Tasting - Obikwa Sauvignon Blanc

Name: Obikwa Sauvignon Blanc
Variety: Sauvignon Blanc

Region: Western Cape

Country: South Africa

Year: 2010

Price: $7.95

Wine critic review: OBiKWA Sauvignon Blanc is the ideal summer wine and smacks of crisp tropical fruit with a smattering of gooseberries and fig. If you're planning a night out with mates - don't forget to bring along a bottle of this yummy potion!

My review: Very enjoyable wine; tart but smooth. Strong tropical nose with an intensified fruity taste. Very crisp finish as well. Would like to try this wine on a day when it's nice outside with some fresh fruit. I did not pair this wine with any food.