100 Wine Blogs, 100 Days Blog 28 Wine Tasting Challenge Korbel vs. Schramsberg Part 2

28. It is Taste Time! Wine Tasting Challenge Korbel vs. Schramsberg Part 2

We reviewed the labels, the price and what each Web site had to say about their wine in Blog 26. The two wines we reviewed were Korbel Brut, California Champagne and Schramsberg, Blanc de Blancs, Brut Sparkling Wine, Vintage 2006. You can view the video Part 1 and Part 2 and read along or try your own tasting and tell me what you think. Blog 27 goes along with video Part 1 and Blog 28 goes along with video Part 2.

Video Part 2:

Korbel vs. Schramsberg. Let’s go!

1. Visual Inspection: Color and Bubbles (Look)were reviewed in Part 1 for both wines. On to Aroma.

2. Aroma (Smell) B & C

They felt that B smelled like a wine, while C smelled more like a fruit. Lindsay smelled another type of fruit in C. Some Florida wines may have oranges and peaches and are fruity. They felt that B did not have that fruity smell.

3. Flavor and Texture (Taste, Mouthfeel)B & C

Alma felt that B was not as light as C because she felt B had more flavor to it. Patti thought that B was very bubbly, tasted bubbly, and felt bubbly. Lindsay said that it tasted like a sparkling wine. Patti felt B was not fruity at all. They all felt that B had a much more smooth finish. Lindsay said that it tasted complete. Alma felt it did come together more. In comparison, B was much better. It was complete. It had a fresh mouthfeel and it matched its color. It had bubbles that had staying power. Even if you grabbed your glass and shook it, not that you are supposed to, you could see the tiny, tiny, tiny bubbles that are in there. Patti then started singing Tiny Bubbles and Alma said the wine swirls. When looking into the top of glass C, you can see big bubbles. Lindsay said C was losing it the longer you sat there. And then, the stand-off: Which did they like better, B or C? Alma said B, Patti said B, and Lindsay said B. It was B across the board.

Discussion:

If you like something light and sweet and fruity you may like C, the Korbel. It should be dry because it is a Brut but we found it to be sweet and fruity. For the price, you may want to pick Korbel. The nose goes away, but at a party and when making a toast, the mood is already there. You are drinking your California Champagne. You are popping it in your mouth and it is doing the trick.

Lindsay does not like Champagne because she does not like this type of Champagne (Korbel). She says that she would like it if it were Schramsberg instead of Korbel at the party but she always gets to taste the Korbel. Alma, thinks a Champagne or a Cava is much better than the Korbel and that the Schramsberg is definitely much better. None of them have had the Schramsberg before.

Korbel and Schramsberg were both founded in the 1800’s. They can agrue about which one came first. Schramsberg family came from Europe and settled in Calistoga in the Napa Valley, while Korbel settled on the Sonoma side .If you go to either sparkling wine house you’ll see that they all have a history there.

Again, I say, I will pick a Schramsberg any day, anytime anywhere over a Korbel. I will know the difference between the two by look, bubbles, taste, and by mouthfeel. I challenge anyone out there. Although, you can trick me on a good day. I just love that Schramsberg!

Patti stated that the Korbel left a bitter taste in her mouth. She liked the Schramsberg better. Here in the US, people will drink a “Champagne” and they won’t like it because it was one of “those”. The Schramsberg does not have that. The Schramsberg has the Chardonnay taste. It is a pure Chardonnay. It tastes light, dry, mild, and clean. What do you taste in it? Smooth, delicate, dry? The dosage is lighter being a Brut. Korbel had a fruitier taste and less of a dry taste even though it was a Brut. It tasted as if it had more sugar in it.

Lindsay then stated that she got a chocolate effect. A dark chocolate kind of scent. That is what comes with age. They felt that it was nice and that they really liked it. Whether it is Sparkling Wine, Cava, Spumanti, or anything like that, Champagne, is what I feel with the Schramsberg. I feel that it’s got a traditional Champagne taste. If I want to have Champagne, I will have Perrier Jouet, (the picture behind the girls in the video) from Champagne, France or any Champagne from France.

Our conclusion, if you want an American affordable Sparkling Wine that costs about $25.99 you can pick up a Schramsberg. If you need something even more budget-minded, the $9.99 California Champagne, Korbel, may be a good choice for you. We are at 100% here. The girls have spoken and that is it. Korbel vs. Schramsberg, who wins…Schramsberg! Cheers!

Tell me your thoughts, make them funny, keep them nice and educate me.
Bon Vin!
Veronica

100 Wine Blogs, 100 Days Blog 27 It is Taste Time! Wine Tasting Challenge Korbel vs. Schramsberg

27. It is Taste Time! Wine Tasting Challenge Korbel vs. Schramsberg

We reviewed the labels, the price and what each Web site had to say about their wine. The two wines we reviewed were Korbel Brut, California Champagne and Schramsberg, Blanc de Blancs, Brut Sparkling Wine, Vintage 2006. You can view the video Part 1 and read along or try your own tasting and tell me what you think.

Korbel vs. Schramsberg. Let’s get started!

Video Part 1:


In one corner we have the famous Korbel, Brut style, which is mass produced and used in America at weddings, New Year’s parties and momentous events. It is a California Champagne using the traditional method, aged 12 months on the lees.

Schramsberg, with small batch nurturing, is a Blanc de Blancs aged 2-3 years on the lees. Not found readily available throughout the United States. Their most affordable budget-minded Brut Sparkling Wine, using the traditional method.

In Spain it is called Cava, in Italy it is Spumante, and of course, Champagne, France is the only place to get Champagne.

The Challenge Begins:
Pop the cork and pour your sparkling wine right before the tasting for the freshest taste. Do not open the bottles and “let them breathe”. They should be served at the right temperature to get the best taste results.

1. Visual Inspection: Color and Bubbles (Look) B & C

When tasting reds or whites, you traditionally swirl your glass to bring up the aroma and to visualize the texture against the glass. With sparklers, you do not swirl your glass. First, look at the color and the bubbles.

For this blind wine tasting we labeled one wine B and one wine C. We started with C for the tasting. (Don’t ask…) We saw more bubbles in glass B from visual inspection. They were both poured at the same time into the glasses. B was a clear green-yellow color. C had a darker slight yellow-amber color.

2. Aroma (Smell) C

C smelled fruity, peachy-type smell, apple-pear, and someone even smelled banana.

3. Flavor and Texture (Taste, Mouthfeel) C

It so happened that once someone mentioned banana, I then tasted banana. Not possible, but hey, I guess it influenced me. The girls felt that it tasted like sparkling apple cider. When I tasted seriously, I tasted a pear-apple taste. In Florida, we have about 30 different types of apples and only one type of pear. We may think of apple a little more than we may think of pear. Although, pears are good for asthma, according to Alma in the video. They did not think that it was bad as far as taste goes. Does that mean that it was not good either? They also felt the aftertaste was not smooth.

What are the results so far?

Both Web sites are informative. There is a tie.

Price goes to Korbel.

Visual inspection including bubbles and color goes to Schramsberg.

Who will take the title?

Tell me your thoughts, make them funny, keep them nice and educate me.
Bon Vin!
Veronica

100 Wine Blogs, 100 Days Blog 26 Do you want to have an online wine tasting with sparklers?

26. Do you want to have an online wine tasting with sparklers?

Let’s start our wine tasting by reviewing the labels on the bottles, what each Web site has to say about their wines and the price of each. The two wines that we are reviewing are Korbel Brut, California Champagne and Schramsberg, Blanc de Blancs, Brut Sparkling Wine, Vintage 2006.


Korbel Web site:

Korbel Brut is America’s favorite methode champenoise champagne. It is used to celebrate more weddings, anniversaries, and New Year’s Eves than any other quality champagne. The goal is to make a champagne that consistently delivers a lot of quality for the price. Korbel Brut is crisp and refreshing, with a light citrus and fresh pear-like note in the finish.


Schramsberg Web site:

The first wine Schramsberg produced in 1965 and was America’s first commercially produced, Chardonnay-based brut sparkling wine. Small lots of malolactic-and barrel-fermented wines are added for complexity. The wine is aged on the yeast lees in the bottle for about two years prior to disgorgement. With its vibrant, fruitful and crisp nature, this sparkling wine will maintain its freshness, structure and refined finish for many years, even decades following its initial release.


KORBEL

Label:
Established 1882
Methode Champenoise
Korbel
California Champagne
Brut
Alcohol: 12%
Produced and Bottled by F. Korbel & Bros., Inc.
Greenville, Sonoma Co., California

Not on Label:
A blend of multiple varieties from multiple appellations and even multiple years.
Harvested: Non-vintage Blend
Appellation: California
Composition: Pinot Noir, Chenin Blanc, French Colombard, Chardonnay
Dosage: 1.00%
Production: 750,000 cases annually

$9.99 US Dollars


SCHRAMSBERG

Label:
Schramsberg
Founded 1862
Blanc De Blancs
Methode Champenoise
Brut
Vintage 2006
Produced and Bottled by Schramsberg Vineyards
Calistoga, California
100% North Coast Sparkling Wine
Alcohol: 12.9%
100% Chardonnay
Handcrafted
Cool climate North Coast Vineyards
Barrel fermentation and extended aging
Hugh Davies, Vintner

$25.99 US Dollars

If you have these two bottles in your local store, go out and buy them and give them a try. I want to hear what you have to say about each. Have someone label the glasses A and B and label the bottles A and B for a blind tasting. Do not look at which one you are trying. Try a blind tasting and see what you think. If you do not have these two bottles or cannot get them locally, just look for our next post and see what others have to say about the taste.


Tell me your thoughts, make them funny, keep them nice and educate me.
Bon Vin!
Veronica

100 Wine Blogs, 100 Days Blog 20 How California Sparkling Wine started?

20. How California sparkling wine started?

We have all heard of Dom Perignon and Cristal but have we all heard of Schramsberg? Over in Calistoga, California in 1965, Blanc de Blancs was debuting at Schramsberg Vineyards. 100% Chardonnay grapes were used from Charles Krug Winery to make the first commercial sparkling wine in California using the traditional Methode Champenoise style of winemaking. In 1967, Blanc de Noirs followed using Pinot Noirs in the classic style. They then released the Reserve, their finest sparkling wine with over four years of aging. Now, their Reserve receives over six years of aging prior to release. The Davies family owns Schramsberg Vineyards and has produced sparkling wines with individuality, elegant style and grace for over four decades.

Visit their vineyards, winery and cellars high up in the hills. Enjoy their historic cave tour and tasting or if you are really serious about learning, attend their Spring Blending Camp in March or their Fall Harvest Camp in September.

Although I have toured their cave and have tasted plenty of Schramsberg sparkling wine, there is a new vintage in particular that I have yet to try; the 2002 J. Schram (1X750ml). They have aged this wine six years using an expensive process known as “ageing en tirage” to develop their finest flavor. Here is what they have to say about it:
“J. Schram epitomizes our philosophy to create a wine in which no effort has been spared and no care has been omitted. It is our very best Chardonnay-based Brut sparkling wine. Unbelievable score of 96 Points by Wine Enthusiast! December 2009.”

Priced at $100. What do the winemakers have to say about this wine?

“This wine delivers! Even with six years ageing en tirage, this wine's youthfulness bursts with aromas of fresh Granny Smith apple and juicy pineapple, followed by mature perfumes of freshly baked sourdough, roasted almond, and just a hint of graham cracker pie crust. A bright crisp entry leads way to generous flavors of candied grapefruit and glazed pineapple, with just a touch of key lime and mango. The mid-palate is rich and ever present, finishing with a tangy and lingering acidity. The 2002 J. Schram tastes deliciously today, and will continue to age and develop for decades to come."
Winemakers Keith Hock and Hugh Davies

How do I fell about Schramsberg wine? I will drink any Schramsberg, any day, anytime, anywhere at any age! If you have a forty-five year old Blanc de Blancs lying around, I’ll be right over.

Tell me your thoughts, make them funny, keep them nice and educate me.
Bon Vin!
Veronica