ABigSlice Journal

Sharp Mountain has a Winner

I love surprises, especially pleasant ones. Clare and I were returning to Atlanta from Ellijay in North Georgia. We were trying to make it back in time for an appointment. About half way home we received a call letting us know that the appointment had been delayed an hour. At the same moment we passed by a sign pointing the way to Sharp Mountain Vineyards. Somebody was trying to tell us something. If it involves wine, we listen! So we turned off the highway and made our way to this little building beside which ran rows of grape vines.

Inside was Jan Rathgeb, the wife part of the this husband and wife operation. We started talking about and sampling her wines. Once again, let me take this moment to plead with those of you out there to support your local wineries. When we began to taste what the Rathgebs had done, we started to feel our own pride. Granted, Clare and I had nothing to do with these wines, but I was so proud of the efforts that my state was making, and surprised at the results.

Back to the story... Clare and I have been conducting wine seminars around Atlanta for the last several months, and in three days we were hosting a tasting of Chardonnays at Voila Market Cafe in Decatur, Georgia. After we tasted the Sharp Mountain Chardonnay we decided to include it. All of our tastings are conducted blind. This eliminates any preconceived notions and forces the tasters to describe the wines objectively.

When the Sharp Mountain Chardonnay was poured, the smell caught the tasters off guard. There is an old world earthiness to this wine. A little more, and it might be too much, but it added interest, something unexpected. The taste is all apples and pears. clean and acidic. Not the usual oak that I have come to expect in most Chardonnays. (Jan had informed us that she was not a fan of oaky wines - I love her for that.) The tasters guessed Australia, Burgundy... but the answer was much closer, Jasper, Georgia. When it was unveiled Donna Ruppert, the owner of Voila, exclaimed, "GEORGIA?!?"

Providence drove us to Sharp Mountain, we want to drive you there. Thanks to Jan Rathgeb for her hospitality and her delilcious wines! See you again real soon!

For more information about Sharp Mountains Vineyards, click here.

Come to Your Senses

The ViniCode™ has officially arrived! We knew it was a wonderful system with which to review wines, but we also believed that its true potential lies as a teaching tool. In a joint effort between A Big Slice and the Atlanta Wine Club, we debuted "Come to Your Senses - A Sensual Wine Experience" at Voila Market Café in Decatur, Georgia. Come to Your Senses is a year long series of classes that progresses grape by grape through the ViniCode™. Session One featured the Riesling grape in all of its guises, from floral and sweet to oily and dry. The focus is not on a particular bottle, but rather style. Attendees will learn to stop asking for a varietal, and have the knowledge and confidence to ask for the taste that they prefer. Many thanks go out to Donna Ruppert of Voila, for providing a perfect venue, and to Steve Saenz and Kimberly Zwaagstra of the Atlanta Wine Club. For more information, click here.