The final event of our 10-part Wine Scholars series took place at Carmel Valley Ranch Country Club, and it felt like exactly the kind of ending this journey deserved.
Not because everything went perfectly—but because something finally clicked.
A Familiar Setting, A Different Feeling
By the tenth event, the rhythm of Wine Scholars felt familiar. Drinks and small bites to start. Easy conversation. Then that quiet shift as the blind tasting began and everyone leaned in.
But this night felt different for me.
After months of tasting, discussing, debating, and occasionally second-guessing myself, the patterns we’ve been building toward—structure, balance, restraint, ripeness—suddenly felt clear instead of theoretical. I wasn’t trying to remember rules. I was just tasting.
Setting the Palate (Something New)
Before we jumped into the blind tasting, I tried something new for the finale.
Palate Calibration Wine
To start the evening, we opened the 2023 Rodrigo Méndez Albariño “Sálvora”—one of the highest-rated Albariños ever produced—as a shared reference point before the blind tasting began.Bright, precise, and incredibly expressive, it helped everyone slow down, focus on acidity and texture, and recalibrate what great really tastes like before competition entered the picture.
It was a subtle shift in format, but it made a noticeable difference.
Unique European Varietals & Zin
The theme for the finale was Unique European Varietals & Zinfandel—a lineup designed to challenge assumptions and reward attention. Grapes you think you know, a few you might not, and just enough contrast to keep everyone honest.
The Lineup
Red Varietals
🇫🇷 Cabernet Franc — Loire Valley
🇫🇷 Carignan — Southern France
🇪🇸 Tempranillo — Spain
🇺🇸 Zinfandel — Dry Creek Valley, California
White Varietals
🇪🇸 Albariño — Rías Baixas
🇬🇷 Assyrtiko — Santorini
🇦🇹 Grüner Veltliner — Austria
Three teams competed blind, working through structure, origin, and style. And for the first time all series…
Things Finally Clicked
I wasn’t guessing anymore.
I knew which wines were French.
The Loire Cabernet Franc showed its lift and restraint. The Southern French Carignan carried warmth and earth without excess. After ten events, the framework finally felt intuitive—and out of the three teams, my team finished on top.
It felt less like a win and more like proof that the process works.
The Crowd Favorite: Carignan
One of the most satisfying moments of the night was seeing the group rally around Carignan—a varietal that was relatively new to many in the room.
Rustic, expressive, and incredibly food-friendly, it surprised people in the best way. It sparked conversation, challenged expectations, and ultimately became the crowd favorite of the night.
Exactly the kind of wine Wine Scholars exists to spotlight.
The 100-Point Wine of the Night
Elegant, layered, and completely confident in its identity, it stood out immediately once revealed. It was one of those wines that made total sense in hindsight—and that recognition felt especially fitting for the series finale.
A Strong Finish to the Series
As the tasting wrapped up, the pace slowed. Glasses lingered. Conversations stretched. The final lineup on the table felt like a quiet summary of the entire series: thoughtful, diverse, and intentionally chosen.
Ten events ago, we were learning how to taste.
Last night, we were tasting with purpose.
This finale wasn’t about perfection.
It was about progress.
And that made it the perfect way to end the Wine Scholars series.
Cheers,
Alex
