​First Annual Festival of Wines

By Chris Larson Cjlarson75@gmail.com

The holidays are sneaking up on us faster than we would like to admit. There is one particular holiday shopping experience that really seems to frustrate a lot of my customers at the liquor store and if you are like any of them, you often feel overwhelmed and uninformed when it comes to shopping for wines to give as gifts or bring to a holiday celebration.

Fear not, my friends, for the First Annual Festival of Wines is Wednesday, November 9th at The Sanctuary Events Center and is a perfect opportunity to experience an impressive number of wines.

Brought to you by the folks who have been putting on Fargo Whiskey Fest for the last three years, this is no ordinary tasting event. In addition to the goals of educating consumers about 72 different wines that are available at a variety of price points, Republic National has pledged proceeds from the event to “Cully’s Kids.”

Many of these wines are created to be consumed with food and The Chef’s Table at the Sanctuary will be serving up delicious bites that are sure to pair well with a variety of wines. Those who have attended Whiskey Fest in the past are probably already familiar with how these folks treat their VIPs, but for the uninitiated I highly recommend securing a VIP ticket that allows opportunities to sample from several different fine wines rarely opened for sampling events.

I have selected six wines from the list of VIP table offerings to highlight as ones to seek out at the event. While the other 54 wines available with a regular admission ticket include some excellent wines from wineries like Ste. Michelle, Simi, Meiomi, Gnarly Head, Cavit, Coppola, Round Pond and more, the rare opportunity to experience wines this good is without a doubt worth the extra price of a VIP ticket. Ratings for all of these wines are all going to be 88 points or higher, depending on vintage and most are 90+ year after year.

Franciscan Cuvee Chardonnay - Lovely mix of light lemon, full flavors of pear and apple, full bodied and creamy like most bigger California Chardonnays but with a light finish of minerality and just a touch of honey sweetness. Try this one out if you are looking for something to pair with your holiday turkey. $35-40

Cakebread Chardonnay - Very similar to the Franciscan in that it is loaded with pear and apple but with a touch more spice, a bit more oak, and a little more melon. This wine almost always earns a 90 point rating with every vintage and pairs quite well with a variety of dishes. $45-50 retail

Freemark Abbey Cabernet - Comprised of grapes grown from a variety of areas in Napa and aged two years primarily in french oak, this cab with bordeaux varietals of merlot, petite verdot and cab franc delivers a beautiful nose of dark fruit with a hint of licorice and spice. Earthy with a touch of smoke, this big wine must be decanted but will deliver a rare flavor and finish for under $50 a bottle.

Caymus Napa Cabernet - Another must-decant wine (some suggest a full two hour decant), this big bold cabernet is packed with dense black currant, raisin, vanilla, oak, and even hints of dark chocolate, this wine is wound up but packs a punch of fruit flavor. While many suggest cellaring Caymus to really allow the wine to evolve into a more delicate and nuanced pour, consumers with a desire for a big bold California cabernet have come to trust the Wagner family to deliver year after year with a cab that consistently scores above 90 points. $80 retail at most stores.

Belle Glos Clark & Telephone Pinot Noir - Deep scarlet in color this wine comes right at you with aromas of cinnamon, cranberry and a touch of ginger. I’ve heard people call this wine “Christmas in a glass” with its strong presentation of blackberry, huckleberry, and raspberry in the body and delicate notes of a variety of spices dancing around the palate. This wine can be enjoyed without having to open it up hours beforehand, but cellars well and the beautiful wax-dipped bottle makes an excellent gift. This wine retails for $50-65

Tenute Silvio Nardi Brunello de Montalcino - With ratings ranging from 92 to 95, this wine delivers the full power of Sangiovese grapes. Full of intense and complex ripe fruit aromas but with nuances of spice and earth, the big body of this wine holds up especially well with lamb and aged cheeses, and the bright acidity and strong tannins finish long and sweet. No, really, this wine has a finish that lingers in the most beautiful and pleasing way. $80-$90 retail.

IF YOU GO

First Annual Festival of Wines

Wednesday, November 9, 5-8pm

Sanctuary Events Center, 670 4th Ave N, Fargo

$25, or $50 for VIP ticket

eventbrite.com