Tasting - Chamisal, Stainless Chardonnay

Chamisal
Chardonnay
California
USA
$14.99
2015
From Wine.com: Tropical notes of juicy Satsuma, ripe kiwi, and mango are highlighted by aromas of candied lemon peel, apple blossom, and refreshing minerality. The palate supports the nose, revealing the Stainless winemaking with its round, weighty mouthfeel. Crisp acidity and flavors of white nectarine, papaya, and key lime pie round out the clean, lingering finish.

My Review: I found this chardonnay to smell of tropical fruits and citrus. It tasted very acidic but was balanced out with a light sweetness and strong fruit flavors including pineapple and kiwi.  It was light to medium in body and had smooth finish and light aftertaste.
https://www.wine.com/product/chamisal-vineyards-stainless-chardonnay-2015/194511

Tasting - "Red Electra Moscato"

Red Electra Moscato
Moscato
California
USA
2017
14.99
From quadywinery.com: Red Electra, first released in 2000, is garnet red, tastes of succulent cherry, berry, and pomegranate, and has a slight sparkle. Try it with all kinds of desserts and cheeses including chocolate bon-bons, truffles, spiced holiday cookies, vanilla, and fruit. Red Electra is made by combining Orange and Black Muscat grapes, and fermenting them very slowly at a low temperature so they keep their delicious flavors. That’s why Red Electra tastes like a bowl full of cherries. Red Electra makes delectable sangria and sorbet. To make sangria add chilled Red Electra to seasonal fruit and sparkling water. To make sorbet, pour into a freezer safe container and freeze overnight.

My Review: Red Electra Moscato is a very thin bodied sparkling wine.  It is extremely sweet and acidic, almost like a fruity soda.  It has berry flavors, including cherry and strawberry. It is not very complex and perhaps is more suited as a fruity beverage to idly drink rather than at a wine tasting.  It is easy to drink, but there is not much to taste.

https://shop.quadywinery.com/product/Red-Electra-Moscato-750mL

Tasting - "Bread and Butter, Chardonnay"

Bread And Butter
Chardonnay

California

United States of America

2017

$15.00

From breadandbutter.com: This Chardonnay opens with rich notes of vanilla bean and almond husk, reminiscent of a decadent crème brûlée. The creamy notes are balanced by a soft minerality and a hint of tropical fruit.  Those creamy notes continue to your palate where they are joined with bright acidity and well-integrated oak that leads into a long, creamy finish.

My Review: I thought that this Chardonnay was pretty full-bodied and found a middle ground between sweet and dry.  It was acidic and had very light tannic qualities.  It was smooth and creamy in the mouth and a long finish. There was definitely the warm sweetness of vanilla, and an amazingly buttery aftertaste.

https://www.breadandbutterwines.com/wines/

Introduction to the Geography of Wine Course

As a senior in college with no religious or personal restraints on the topic, I have had quite some experience in the field of alcohol.  Unfortunately, the majority of that experience has been in the form of shots of straight liquor, cheap beer, and mystery party punch (of which there's no real way to know what you are consuming)... Not great.  Regardless, my alcoholic beverage of choice is wine!  I do not know much about it, but, I generally do enjoy the taste of a chilled glass of a sweet wine.

The little experience I have in wine mainly comes from drinking cheap with my mom or my roommates.  Without knowing much about wine, I do know that I can buy a bottle mass produced wine from Walmart and be fairly certain of what I am getting. It's never anything spectacular, but, its "safe" and I know what I am buying without really KNOWING.  That being said I typically like moscatos, white zinfandels, and occasionally a sweet red blend.

There is a lot I hope to learn during this course.  First and foremost is how to go into a store and pick a bottle of wine.  I want to know how to read a wine bottle and know what it will taste like based on the label.  Secondly, I want to know how those bottles of wine were produced and why they are different from each other.  What processes and steps changed not only the taste, but also the color and density of the wine, and do these factors impact the value?  Lastly, I  want to learn about the culture surrounding different wines.  I want to know what makes a particular wine special to a particular region.

I am excited to be enrolled in such a special course for my final semester of college.  I cannot wait to learn about wine!