AmCham Happy Hour
**This event is on a first come first serve basis, maximum 24 people. Please register in advance to ensure that enough food will be prepared.
Come and join us for a wine tasting night!
Da Vinci Wine, in conjunction with the American Chamber of Commerce, is pleased to hold this mid-summer Wine Tasting at the Outing. Da Vinci Wine imports and specializes in fine wines from Northern California (and some from Spain). The event will introduce five wines (two whites and three reds), and discuss the wine culture in Northern California. We will also provide variety of specialties, such as Popcorn Chicken, Mussels, Taiwanese Sausage, Crispy Fried Pork, Braised Beef, Ham & Cheese, Baguette, Spicy Pan-fried Bamboo, Green Onion Cakes to creatively pair with five different wines.
The presentation will include a presentation about how to pair wine with traditional Taiwanese dishes. The bi-lingual staff can present in both English and Chinese.
About the Wine
2016 The Arsonist Chardonnay
Vineyard: Matchbook Wine Company
Appellation: Dunnigan Hills, CA
Tasting Notes
A beautiful straw color in the glass opens to enticing aromas of cream and honeysuckle that mingles with vanilla spice. Flavors of butterscotch, crème brûlèe, pineapple and mango bring this rich wine to life. The Arsonist is big and creamy, yet welcoming in its nuanced synthesis of flavors.
2017 Tinto Rey Dunnigan Hills Estate Bottled Verdejo
Vineyard: Matchbook Wine Company
Appellation: Dunnigan Hills, CA
Tasting Notes
This refreshing and distinctive Spanish wine comes right from our estate vineyards. The 2017 Verdejo has aromas of apricot, peach, honeysuckle & just a hint of perfume. The palate is bright and luscious with flavors of citrus fruits, kiwi, star fruit and lemon tart. The unique step of barrel aging a portion of this wine in neutral oak makes it silky and complex on the palate with well integrated flavors.
2016 Ancient Vines Zinfandel
Vineyard: Cline Family Cellars
Appellation: Sonoma, CA
Tasting Notes
The 2016 Ancient Vines Zinfandel shows spicy, bright strawberry, with coffee and chocolate characters. Ripe fruit and soft tannins make this a mouth-coating rich, firm textured vintage. Aging in oak has lent this wine a subtle vanilla quality that nicely complements the explosive fruit notes. Enjoy now or cellar for 5 to 7 years. ★Wine Spectator –91 Points / 2018- 40th on TOP 100
2012 el Astronomo
Vineyard: TomeVinos Selection
Appellation: Toro DO, Spain
Tasting Notes
A complex wine with concentrated flavors of black fruit (blackcurrant, black plum), spices (eucalyptus, lavender, cloves, vanilla, and minerals (stone, flint). This dry wine has medium acidity & tannin, and full body. This depth of flavors lingers in a rich, lush finish.
2016 Vasco Urbano Wine Company Sheriff GSM
Vineyard: Vasco Urbano Wine Company
Appellation: Livermore Valley, CA
Tasting Notes
The 2014 “Norm” is highlighted by its red and blue fruit driven aromatics & flavors, as well as structural tannins and acid line. The wine invites you in with aromatics of farmstead wild berry preserves, Italian blood orange, cranberry, raspberry & subtle floral undertones. The palate follows with rich, dense fruit balanced by vibrant acidity and gripping tannins.
About the Speaker
Sampson S. Mar
Mr. Mar is a civil engineer and urban planner by training. He has worked in Hawaii, Alaska, California, Taiwan and China. However, in recent years he started da Vinci Wine, specializing in importing wines from Northern California and Spain. While born in Boston, with Hawaii as his USA home, he is a long-time resident of Taipei, and raised two children (who are now adults) with his wife, Colleen. Mr. Mar is a past president of the American Club.
Having enjoyed and personally studied wine as an interest, Mr. Mar found that he could properly represent wines in Taiwan. Da Vinci Wine has successfully sponsored many wine tastings and dinners – and become somewhat of a wine “evangelist”, spreading the word about wine culture and the beautiful aspects of enjoying fine wines.
Contact Person: Kanny Shih (02) 2718-8226 ext. 211 / [email protected]
