A Little Wine Tasting.....

Recently we ventured over to our local Longhorn’s Steakhouse for a little family dinner. I was pleasantly surprised to find they had added a wine flight to their menu.

What is a wine flight? Wise Geek advises:

Wine flights, also sometimes referred to as tasting flights, are tastings of multiple wines, in order to get a feel for breadth or depth. Wine flights are usually intended for those new to the experience of tasting wine, or those who want to increase their understanding of a specific region, vintage, or varietal.

A wine flight can include anywhere from three or four wines to upwards of 50. The number of wines, the way they are presented, and the quality of the wines, usually depends on the context in which they are served. Wine flights may be offered in tasting bars, in restaurants, or at wineries or special events. They will often be based around a central theme, but may also just be a chance to try a number of different types of wine.

Longhorn’s flight had three wines along with a small place mat that described each wine. The flight included:

Red Rock Malbec…..”Malbec pairs great with grilled steaks. You will smell ripe cherries and boysenberries when you swirl the glass. The taste is a silky feeling with a smooth and fruit-flavored finish.” This particular wine is from California.

Red Diamond Merlot…..This wine was my personal favorite. I’m anxious to purchase my own bottle. The description read, “This wine is from Washington, a state becoming known for excellent merlot. It smells like sweet cherries and vanilla with flavors of black cherry, berry and plums when you sip. The finish is smooth with a medium body.”

The third choice was a Cabernet Sauvignon from the wineries of Chateau St. Jean out of California. “This is the boldest of the trio. Swirl and smell the aromas of dark fruits like blackberry and plums, then taste the rich fruit flavors and just a hint of the oak barrel where it was aged.”

I hope Longhorn’s continues to do this. It’s a great way to discover new wines to enjoy!