Judith Smelser Wine Reviews

Terlan pinot grigio: Proof that an open mind is key to enjoying wine

Before I get to the main topic of this post, I want to take a moment to rejoice with four (that I know of so far) friends from my blind tasting group here in Orlando who passed the Certified Sommelier exam in Tampa today! I’m so proud of them and of Orlando’s growing wine scene!

One of the things I love about wine is how often it surprises me – now that I’ve learned to let it.

A few weeks ago at my Tuesday night blind tasting at Swirlery Wine Bar in Orlando, we tried a lovely white wine, with apple and white flowers on the nose. The palate was expressive with peach, pear, and mineral notes, a round mouthfeel, and good, balanced acidity.

I liked this wine a lot.

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Judith Smelser Beyond Central Florida

Slovenian Orange Wine & Japanese Koshu BTG … in Miami?!

South Florida is hardly considered a Mecca for adventurous wine palates. On a visit there last week, I found a handful of places that are trying to change that.

The standout among them is Uvaggio Wine Bar on Coral Gables’ Miracle Mile (ok, it’s a little south of Miami). This little bar-restaurant and its completely unpretentious sommelier Heath Porter are making wine waves. Just check out this wine list!!

Uvaggio
Geeking out over Uvaggio’s list

21 wines by the glass and half glass, plus Coravin specials … and not a cab or a pinot grigio in sight. The most conventional thing on the BTG list is a Chardonnay from Arroyo Grande near San Luis Obispo, California.

Everything else ranges from the sublime (half glass of Barolo, anyone?) to the completely weird and obscure (read on!). This place is a wine geek’s paradise. I wanted to try everything.

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Judith Smelser Uncategorized

Welcome to My Wine Blog!

For years, people have been telling me I should write a wine blog.

Another wine blog?!

Sure, I love wine, I go to several tastings a week, and I always seem to be talking about wine, but … another wine blog?! Just what the world needs, right?

Well, I’ve finally caved in, so here it is — My Wine Blog!

Berns
1975 Graves at Bern’s Steak House, Tampa

I don’t pretend that it will be particularly unique, or that it’ll fill any particular niche, or that it’ll have any consistent theme, or even that I’ll post at consistent intervals.

But I do think it’ll be fun to have a place to write about wine for my friends (and any innocent bystanders), and a place to organize my burgeoning collection of notes and thoughts about wines I’ve tried, fallen in love with, and been surprised by.

 

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