Extra Credit: Neither Water nor Sand, Borderlands through Wine
With a special thanks to our friends at the Terlingua Institute for Border Studies, I give you Extra Credit: Neither Water nor Sand, Borderlands through Wine. We’re crossing back and forth between Mexico and the United States along with Slovenia and Italy to consider how borders dictate what goes into the glass and how wine can reframe our thinking about the cultural, political, and economic forces shaping these zones.
We tasted through orange wines galore, among them:
an easy-drinking Friulian Ramato
a fuller bodied Slovenian: Sivi Pinot, “Ambra,” Movia, Goriška Brda, Slovenia, 2017
a bright, cider-like Rebula: Rebula, Stekar, Goriška Brda, Slovenia, 2019
one of the most iconic and age-worthy amber wines in the world: Pinot Grigio Blend, “Bianco Breg,” Gravner, Friuli, Italy, 2011
On the Mexican side of the border, we scored:
a fresh, mineral-driven rosado: Mision Rosado, Aldo Cesar Palafox, Valle de la Grulla, Mexico, 2018
a voluptuous biodynamic Syrah that puts the Aussies to shame: Syrah, Finca la Carrodilla, Valle de Guadalupe, Mexico, 2017
a trio of the nattiest wines any country has to offer:
Pink: Rosé, “Rosa”, Bichi, Baja Norte, Mexico, 2019
pet nat: Pétillant Naturel Rosé, “Pet-Mex”, Bichi, Baja Norte, Mexico, 2019
racy red: Tempranillo Blend, “Flama Roja”, Bichi, Baja Norte, Mexico, 2019
Bill Jensen, sommelier for Michelin-starred Washington DC restaurant Tail Up Goat, and her sister Reveler’s Hour, is a breakout star of the Covid-19 Pandemic with his virtual wine school. In an effort to stay in touch with his regulars and soon-to-be regulars, he launched Tail Up Goat Wine School on March 29th, and continued every Sunday at 4 pm EST for 40 straight weeks. After a 3-week hiatus in January 2021, TUG Wine School is back for its second semester.
To gain access to the class each week, email a request to: wineschool@tailupgoat.com