This Week In Wine: Viñedo de los Vientos Dessert Wine
Served at leFarm in Westport, Viñedo de los Vientos “Alcyone” is a wine worth sampling.
An Uruguayan dessert wine made with the Tannat grape, you'll experience luscious flavors of cocoa-dusted black raspberries, vanilla bean and exotic spices. Intense and rich without being cloyingly sweet, this wine is positively addictive. Pair with molten chocolate cake, pour over vanilla ice cream, or sip on its own as a fantastic liquid dessert!
Tannat, known as one of the most tannic grape varieties in the world, was originally grown in southwest France in the commune of Madiran. Basque immigrants brought the grape to Uruguay and it is now the country’s flagship grape.
Viñedo de los Vientos (“vineyard of the winds”) is located in Atlántida, on the southern coast of Uruguay near the capital city of Montevideo. Although on the same latitude as Mendoza in Argentina, the proximity to the Atlantic Ocean results in a cooler climate, closer to that of Bordeaux. Winemaker Pablo Fallabrino is the son of Italian immigrants and uses traditional Italian techniques in his winemaking.
Available retail for around $32 per 500ml bottle at:
Saugatuck Grain + Grape, 40 Railroad Place, Westport
Wagon Wheel Liquor, 1051 Long Ridge Road, Stamford
If you would like to “try before you buy” it may also be found by the glass at LeFarm in Westport
This Week In Wine
Reader Comments (4)
On the drier side, I had a SPECTACULAR glass of Blanco Nieva Verdejo 2009 at Barcelona the other night. It put all other whites I have been drinking to shame.
I will look out for this interesting wine though. . .
Very nice article!!
Become a fan of Alcyone Dessert Wine on Facebook:
http://www.facebook.com/pages/Alcyone-Dessert-Wine/226039893761
This wine was perfectly paired as a topping for homemade ice cream at my latest dinner party...My guests raved so much about this simple, yet delicious dessert, that they forgot about the main course! (which had been accompanied by other recommended wine). Yet another wonderful wine suggestion by Ms. Hall - your blog is top on my list! Thanks so much for the wonderful recommendation - keep up the good work! Your fan, KAD
I saw this on the leFarm dessert menu the last time we were there and couldn't resist. It was fabulous. Tannat is not a very well known grape despite being the national grape of Uruguay. It can be quite unapproachable when young due to high tannins, but fabulousTannats are coming out of Uruguay.Vinedo de los Vientos practices sustainable agriculture on top of producing fantastic wines.