Wine Tasting - Tera Box Cabernet Sauvignon

Today I am tasting a Cabernet Sauvignon from Tera Box. This boxed wine was produced in Manteca, California, in the San Joaquin Valley. It comes in a 3 Liter box, and at $16.99 that is a pretty good deal. I was unable to find a vintage for this wine, as it wasn't listed on the box, possibly since multiple wine vintages were mixed for a consistent taste.

First, I smelled for aromas, I noticed mostly cherry, with some violet aromas as well. After tasting, I noticed a bold juicy taste. Like most Cabernet Sauvignon's this wine has a strong body and is very tannic in composition and is very dry.

I also tried this wine with some food. From Owens Hall on the Virginia Tech Campus, I got steak with a mushroom gravy, mashed potatoes, macaroni and cheese, broccoli, and a dinner roll. The wine paired excellently with the steak, the tannins of the wine complemented the richness of the steak and the gravy. The wine also paired really well with the mac and cheese, the richness of the cheese went well, exposing more flavors in the wine itself. The wine went alright with everything else but definitely went best with the steak and mac and cheese. Overall, I enjoyed this wine, it tastes good for the price, and I think it's quite good value for money.

Wine Tasting - Vendange Pinot Grigio

Today I am tasting a Pinot Grigio box wine. This wine is from Vendange Wine Cellars, in Lathrop and Lodi in California. I purchased this wine late night at a Sheetz for around $4 in a 500ML tetra pack. I was unable to find a vintage for this wine, its possibly made from a blend of different vintages as to ensure a consistent taste from year to year, but I'm not too sure.

First, I smelled the wine, it had aromas of apple and pear, with some hints of apricot. Next, during the tasting, I noticed a crisp bite, with a strong green apple flavor. There was also a less pronounced pear flavor. This wine was also quite acidic, and also pretty sweet. The body was very light, with a very smooth and almost watery mouthfeel. For a cheap gas station box wine, I would say it's quite good, and I wouldn't hesitate to purchase it again if I needed a predictable tasting wine at an affordable price.