Winery Visit: Attimo Winery

On Friday February 15^th I visited the Attimo Winery located in Christiansburg, VA. At this point I had tasted wines at the Vintage Cellar but had never been to a winery and experienced a tasting there.

The view driving up to the winery

The Attimo winery is a very new winery, it has only been open for two years. The winery is located at 4025 Childress Road Christiansburg, VA 24073. The owners are Virginia Tech grads, Rik and Melissa Obiso, who decided to move back to Christiansburg and start a winery. Rik spends a much of the year in Georgia (the sovereign state near Turkey and Russia) where he learned the art of wine making and old world techniques. Melissa runs the restaurant portion of the winery. The name Attimo is an Italian word meaning moment. Every wine at the Attimo winery is named after a moment in life, making their wines very personal and giving them individual meanings.

A view of the vines in the background

The first thing we did when we entered the winery was participate in a wine tasting. These are the eight wines we tried:

Yesterday’s Song: This is a Chardonnay that is dry, crisp, and lightly oaked with pear notes. The grapes are grown in Charlottesville. I found it to have an apple scent, crisp green pear taste and a medium finish.

Sonnet 98: Named after Shakespeare’s sonnet, this Vidal blanc is dry, crisp, and floral, with hints of fresh green. The grape is grown at the Attimo winery. I found it to have a harsh acidic smell but a surprisingly sweet and sugary taste.

Off-the-Cuff: This Riesling and Chardonnay mix is semi-sweet and fruity. I found it very sweet.

Just Kissed Blush: This raspberry vidal blanc mix was also very sweet. It had a huge raspberry taste and was almost reminiscent of syrup.

After Midnight: This wine is a semi-sweet red with fruity flavors and a velvety texture. I thought it was a very versatile wine. I could drink it with brunch, alone, or with many different dinner entrees.

Bull Frog Symphony: This wine is a blend of six different wines. It is a dry red blend. I found it to be light but with a very peppery punch.

Deep Silence: This cabernet franc is a dry red with intense berry flavors and light smoky pepper finish. I found it smooth.

AD 325: This Chambourcin is a dry red with bold flavors and cherry undertones is fermented in concrete. 

The dining area where we did the wine tasting

Brochure with wine descriptions

  
After the tasting, Rik took us on a tour to show us how he makes the wine. While the grapes are growing the Obiso’s highly trained border collies patrol the area to keep out everything from rabbits to deer. Then, when the grapes are ready volunteers from Virginia Tech and seasonal workers help pick all of the grapes. Then Rik uses a manual powered press to mash the grapes. Depending on the type of grape, he then barrels them in different types of barrels.

Manually operated press

Wooden barrels used for oaked wine

After the tour, we tasted the reserve wines. The reserves that we tried were: 

Masquerade: This chardonnay is dry, smooth and very oaked. I tasted the buttery flavor that came from the oak. 

Aviator: This cabernet franc is aged for a year it has a smoky smell and rich distinct mocha flavors with oak. 

Vertex: This cabernet sauvignon is grown in Hampton Roads. It is a dry red with rich and black currant flavors and French oak notes. 

Seduction: This is a sweet, fortified red, vintage ruby port aged twenty-two months. It comes direct from Portugal with hints of raspberry and raisins.

In a few months the newest reserve, called Blaze, a Vidal and Traminette blend, will be available. Blaze is an orange colored wine. We were told it will be dry and fiery, definitely a unique wine.

Both Rik and Melissa were very knowledgeable about winemaking and the wine at their winery. To find out more about their winery, visit their website at www.attimowinery.com. I had a great time at the Attimo winery and am considering bringing my parents there when they visit this spring. Although we did not try any of the food, the menu looked very good and I would love to pair some of their wines with dinner.

Tasting: Morada Sangria

• Name: Morada Sangria
• Variety: Blend of Reds
• Region: La Mancha
• Country: Spain
• Year: NV
• Price: $4.95

My Review: This sangria has a floral and citrus smell of both oranges and lemons. It has a dark orange and mango flavor. The finish was long with the same fruity taste and some added strawberry flavor.

Shop Review: Morada Sangria is a traditional Spanish drink made with red wine and citrus extracts. Garnet color and fresh on the palate. Pasteurization preserves the color, aromas and flavors. 7% Alc. It is a very refreshing Sangria with around 85 grams of sugar. Sangria is now one of the hottest items in the beverage industry and it's growing exponentially year to year. Serve well chilled, on its own or with lemonade and slices of fruit like peach, banana or apple.
 
I did not try this wine with food.

Tasting: Lost Vineyards

• Name: Lost Vineyards
• Variety: Shiraz and Cabernet
• Region: Argentina
• Country: Sourced from several areas of Argentina
• Year: NV
• Price: $3.95

My Review: This wine did not have a very big smell. It had a harsh oak taste and a bitter finish.

Shop Review: 60% Shiraz 40% Cabernet Sauvignon. It is dry and contains subtle tobacco undertones with a black licorice, cherry, scent. The oak is in the background. Would pair well hamburger or a steak rather than stand alone.

I did not try this wine with food.

Tasting: Villa Pozzi Nero

• Name: Villa Pozzi Nero
• Variety: D'Avola
• Region: Sicily
• Country: Italy
• Year: 2010
• Price: $8.95

My Review: This wine has a blackberry and raspberry smell. It has a light mid taste with a surprisingly big berry finish.

Shop Review: Very dark purple, with a reddish-violet edge, typical of this grape. Black plums, a hint of licorice and subtle spice, not overly complex but appealing. A big mouth full of juicy black fruit is well structured by tart acidity and soft but distinct tannins.


I did not try this wine with food.

Tasting: Tres Ojos Rose

• Name:Tres Ojos Rose
• Variety: Tempranillo and Garnacha
• Region: Calatayud
• Country: Spain
• Year: 2009
• Price:$3.95

My Review: This wine has a fruity nose with a surprisingly bitter taste. The alcohol taste comes through stronger than I would like, but it is 14.5% so it was not surprising.

Shop Review: 50% Tempranillo 50% Garnacha. This medium rose-colored rosado boasts a spicy red cherry/plum nose with a soft lush attack of red berry fruit flavors and a crisp dry finish. Simple and refreshing and a natural for tapas.

I did not try this wine with food.

Tasting: Les Perles Piquepaul

• Name: Les Perles Piquepaul
• Variety: Piquepaul
• Region: Cotes de Thau
• Country: France
• Year: 2011
• Price:$7.95

My Review: This wine has a sour or green apple smell. The acidity comes through in the mid and after taste. It has a short finish that includes more fruit flavor.

Shop Review: Light and young, this is a straightforward but enjoyable selection that would be an ideal match for light fare such as grilled chicken salads or fluke. Apple flesh, nectarine, and sweet citrus oil aromas and flavors appear on the nose and palate, while the short finish is infused with a flavor of green melon rind.

I did not try this wine with food.

Tasting: Gabriella Chianti

• Name: Gabrielle Chianti
• Variety: 100% Sangiovese
• Region: Tuscany
• Country: Italy
• Year: 2008
• Price: $7.95

My Review: This wine had a cinnamon smell with a spicy and even more cinnamon mid taste. This wine had a dry short finish.

Shop Review: This beautiful wine has the very deep red, almost purple, color that you would expect in a Chianti.  The first thing you notice is the fruit, balanced by a bit of spice.  It's a good dry wine with a bold flavor.  Even with it's boldness, this Chianti is velvety smooth. 

 

I did not try this wine with food but I would drink it with steak.

Tasting: Lavarini Valpolicella Classico

• Name: Lavarini Valpolicella Classico
• Variety: 65% Corvina Veronese, 25% Rondinella and 10% Molinara
• Region: Valpolicella
• Country: Italy
• Year: 2010
• Price: $6.95

My Review: This wine had a buttery smell with a fatty and dark cherry mid taste and a very spicy finish.

Shop Review: The red ruby color and the dry taste gives this wine joviality and cordiality.  It is fresh and fruity, with lovely strawberry and cherry aromas and flavors, with nice spice and silky texture.
 

I did not try this wine with food.

Tasting: Dom de Mirail

• Name: Dom de Mirail Cabernet / Merlot Rose
• Variety: Cabernet and Merlot
• Region: Cotes de Gascogne
• Country: France
• Year: 2011
• Price: $5.95

My Review: This wine had a crisp smell and tastes like aquafina bottled water with a light candy taste. There was a hint of strawberry at the finish. 

Shop Review: There is a fresh, crisp character to this light rose.  It is eye-watering in its refreshing character, with balancing acidity, smoothing out the edges with a touch of caramel.

I did not have this wine with food, but I would pair it with a light lemon cake.

Tasting: Norton Torrontes

• Name: Norton Torrontes
• Variety: 100% Torrontes
• Region: Lujan de Cuyo
• Country: Argentina
• Year: 2011
• Price: $5.95

My Review: This wine had a floral and almost perfume scent. I felt that it had a very light taste, but was actually a very thick wine. There was a medium finish.

Shop Review: Greenish yellow with hints of gold, this Torrontes has intense aromas of white peach, rose petal, and jasmine.  Norton Torrontes 2011 is pleasant and well balanced on the palate.

I did not have this wine with food but I would drink it on its own or with a light salad.

Tasting: Dibon Cava

• Name: Dibon Cava
• Variety: Xarel-lo, Parellada and Macabeo
• Region: Penedes
• Country: Spain
• Year: NV
• Price: $9.95

My Review: This wine had an apple smell. It was surprisingly dry during the mid taste with a tropical finish. I even tasted some papaya on the finish.

Shop Review: Xarel-lo, Parellada and Macabeo. The nose offers regal yeast and richness, while the palate has complexity to prop up apple, citrus and grapefruit flavors. Solid from front to back, with health and freshness.

I did not have this wine with food but I would pair it with seafood.

Tasting: Beringer Reisling

• Name: Beringer Riesling
• Variety: Riesling
• Region: California
• Country: United States
• Year: 2009
• Price: $5.95

My Review: This wine has a light and floral scent, the mid taste was very light as well and almost watery. I barely tasted any finished. I was surprised that this Riesling was not very sweet at all. I have never had a Riesling that wasn’t thick and sugary.

Shop Review: This wine is the perfect balance of honeysuckle and peach flavors. A perfect compliment to light fare, appetizers, or just sharing with friends.

I did not try this wine with food but I would drink it with light seafood appetizers like calamari.

Tasting: Opera Prima Pink

• Name: Opera Prima Pink
• Variety: Moscoto
• Region: Alella
• Country: Spain
• Year: NV
• Price: $5.95

My Review: This wine has a light pink color. The smell is almost soapy with light floral hints. It has a lilly taste with a light and refreshing finish. However, the bubbles are almost overwhelming to the taste.

Shop Review: This fine sparkling presents an intense aroma of fresh berries and tropical fruits with hints of white flavor petals. Delicate bubbles caress the palate offering a silky and pleasant sweetness well balanced by a crisp, refreshing finish. Ideal on its own, as an aperitif or with al types of sweets and deserts.

I did not try this wine with food but I would drink it alone before brunch or after dinner.

Tasting: Black Opal Shiraz

• Name: Black Opal Shiraz
• Variety: Shiraz
• Region: Barossa Valley
• Country: South Eastern Australia
• Year: 2011
• Price: $5.95

My Review: This wine has a dark red cherry color. It has a very light spice smell but then a big spice mid taste as well as dried fruit, specifically plum. I thought that this wine had a very strong finish with more of a peppery taste.

Shop Review: The Black Opal wines are sourced from vineyards found in South Australia along the Limestone Coast, at Langhorne Creek and in the infamous Barossa Valley. It is rich red in the glass. Aromas of blackberry, pepper and spice followed with rich plum flavors round out the palate. Soft tannins give structure to the fruit-driven palate.

I did not try this wine with food but I would pair it with a roast beef and green vegetable dish.

Tasting: Sokol Blosser Meditrina

• Name: Sokol Blosser Meditrina
• Variety: 28% Pinot Noir, 50% Syrah, 22% Zinfandel
• Region: Oregon
• Country: United States
• Year: NV
• Price: $7.95

My Review: This wine has a burgundy color with a buttery, butterscotch, and caramel smell. The mid taste is heavily black cherry with a very short finish.

Shop Review: It’s created from the finest Pinot Noir, Syrah, and Zinfandel. The taste is lush and velvety with expressive notes of raspberry and cherry. It pairs nicely with pasta and anything off the grill.

I did not try this wine with food but I would pair it with grilled chicken or shish kabob.

Tasting: Wine Men of Gotham

• Name: Wine Men of Gotham
• Variety: 80% Chardonnay, 20% Semillon
• Region: Grenache
• Country: South Australia
• Year: 2008
• Price: $5.95

My Review: This wine has a very light color, almost clear. It has a tart lemon smell with hints of green melon. It has a bitter and acidic middle taste. This wine had a smoother finish than I expected with undertones of passionfruit.

Shop Review: Gotham’s 2008 Wine Men of Gotham Chardonnay Semillon is a blend of 80% Chardonnay and 20% Semillon. It gives a moderate intensity of melon, guava, apricot, and butterscotch aromas. The medium bodied palate provides attractive acidity along with plenty of tropical fruit flavors and a medium-long finish.

I did not try this wine with food but I would pair it with any type of salad.

Tasting: Primo Amore Moscato

• Name: Primo Amore
• Variety: Moscato
• Region: Puglio
• Country: Italy
• Year: 2011
• Price: $8.95 

Shop Review: Straw-yellow with golden reflections and a delicate mousse. Fruity and very inviting, with intense scents of peaches and exotic fruit. Fresh and pleasantly sweet with a taste that reveals its varietal characteristic.

My Review: A very light yellow in color, clearly a sparkling wine. A hint of apples and very sweet on the nose. The mid taste was more peachy and almost an apricot and white grape taste. It was surprisingly crisp on the finish. 

I did not try this wine with food but it is definitely a dessert wine or would be nice with a light brunch.

Tasting: Finca del Castillo

• Name: Finca Del Catillo
• Variety: Tempranillo
• Region: La Mancha
• Country: Spain
• Year: 2011
• Price: $4.95

Shop Review: Rooty, spicy and baked on the nose, with aromas that lean towards raisin.  The palate is more gritty and acidic, with raisin, cola, and spice flavors.  Darkens up on the finish, which is long and peppery, with adequate juiciness and a final note of tomato. (Vintage Wine Cellar)

My Review: This wine has a darker red color with darker scents on the nose. It has an almost vegetable mid taste with a dry finish.

I  did not have this wine with food, however I would drink it with a red meat dish and potatoes. 

Tasting: Georges Duboeuf

• Name: Georges Duboeuf 
• Variety: Gamay
• Region: Beajolais
• Country: France
• Year: 2012
• Price: 3.95

Shop Review: Bright and tangy, offering a classic banana note on the nose, with flavors of raspberry, wild strawberry and light spice.  Modest finish. (Vintage Wine Cellar)

My Review: This wine is a pink/red color and buttery on the nose. The mid taste opened up a mix of sugary and fruity flavors. The finish had a hint of spice but was not overbearing.

I did not try this wine with food, however I would pair it with a strawberry and balsamic vinaigrette salad.

Tasting: Mars and Venus Chardonnay

• Name: Mars and Venus Chardonnay
• Variety: Chardonnay
• Region: Central Valley
• Country: Chile
• Year: 2011
• Price: $5.95

Shop Review: A very nice value Chardonnay that comfortably over-delivers vs. its modest price tag. No oak here, just bushels of clean, crisp Chardonnay apple and stone fruit with a hint of caramalized pineapple. Juicy and clean, this is a mid-weight white that'sjust perfect for parties or weeknight sipping. (Vintage Wine Cellar)

My Review: This wine has an almost clear color with a slight golden hue. The first scent I picked up on the nose was a semi-sweet apple. The mid taste was sweeter than I expected and the finish was clean with no bitterness. For the cheap price, you could not taste the alcohol at all.

I did not try this wine with food, but I would recommend it as a dessert wine.

Tasting: La Cappuccina Soave

• Name: La Cappuccina Soave
• Variety: Garganega
• Region: Soave
• Country: Italy
• Year: 2011
• Price: $7.95

Shop Review: Bright straw yellow in color. Delicate on the nose, with notes of flowers and almonds. Dry, well-structured and delicately fruity, with hints of bitter almonds on the finish that is typical of Garganega-based wines. (Vintage Wine Cellar)

My Review: I found this wine to be slightly sweet on the nose with a lemony citrus scent as well as the floral scent that the shop review mentions. It had a fruity semi-sweet mid taste that was incredibly light. The finish did have a hint of bitterness, but much less than many other white wines I have tasted.

I did not have this wine with food, however I would pair it with fruit at brunch or a citrus chicken dish and light salad at dinner.