Boston Wine Expo 2002 - Saturday
Champagnes & Sparkling Wines

I always look for my local favorites when I begin a wine expo, and this one was no exception. After a preliminary loop to get myself situated, I tracked down Westport Rivers, the sparkling wine producer from Massachusetts. They've won numerous awards for their fine sparklers, an dthey were pouring the Blanc de Blanc 94 and the Brut 97. The BdB was light, fresh, fruity and crisp, while the Brut had a more creamy flavor to it.

Next was Schramsberg Blanc de Blanc 98 from Napa Valley. Thi was light, crisp and fresh, with apple and melon flavors. Very tasty. Their Blanc de Noir was heavier, with a fresh berry flavor.

Roederer's Champagne was sweet, light, fruity, with a creamy peach-and-cream flavor. In comparison the Cava Briego Castillo de Perelade was earthy and a bit tart. Cavas are sparkling wines created in Spain.

The Domaine Chandon Napa Valley Brut was sweet and fruity, with a grapefruit flavor. Their Blanc de Noir was a sweet berry flavor with a light spritz to it.

J's Sparkling Wine is one of my favorites with sushi, and they were pouring their 1997 vintage. It was tart, crisp and dry.

The Contadi Castaldi brut from Italy was light, with rose and berry flavors to it.

If you go to a wine expo, try to hit the Champagnes and sparkling wines first! You'll get them at the best temperature - they start chilled, but often they're out of the ice so much as the day goes on that they begin to taste 'off'. Also, your palate is nice and fresh for their flavors, instead of dulled by heavier wines.

Plus, if you wait too long, they will easily be out of stock by the end of the day!

Saturday
Champagnes & Sparkling Wines
New Zealand Sauvignon Blancs
Chef Ming Tsai cooks Beef & Shitake Stew
Stonington Vineyards, a Local Favorite
Anapamu in Monterey CA
Amity from Oregon
The Ports

Sunday
Wines from South Africa
South African Chardonnays
Bordeauxs
Chauteauneuf du Pape
Sean Doucet cooks Striped Bass
Riojas
Sparkling Shiraz
Sake and New York Wines
Sauternes
Muscatel, Amontillado, and Trockenbeerenauslese