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Loire Valley Wine for the Win

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With Thanksgiving around the corner, one need not look any further than the Loire Valley for wonderful wines to grace their table. Here, in the land of castles and Kings, French royalty would spend their summers in the countryside away from the hustle and bustle of Parisian city life.

Spanning 629 miles and stretching from the Atlantic Ocean to the center of France before heading south, the Loire River is the longest wild river in France. Given this vast distance covered, a diversity of climates, grapes and wines exist, making the river among the only threads that tie this large wine region together. Rather, while lumped into one large region, the Loire Valley is actually an amalgam of several smaller wine appellations that offer up a wide range of wines thanks to changing microclimates, soil types and grape varieties. This sheer diversity means that there is something for everyone from bone dry, mineral-driven whites to lusciously sweet dessert wines and everything in between. Additionally, the area is known for its full range of red, white, rose and refreshing sparklers. So, if you can’t find a Loire Valley wine to love… chances are that you don’t actually like wine 😉.

My husband and I visited the Loire Valley back in 1999, as part of a belated honeymoon trip through France. Our knowledge of the area was limited, but we were excited to visit the grand chateaux that now function as museums. However, upon arriving in the region, we quickly discovered that it was not only home to stunning scenery, exquisite castles and fabulous gastronomy, but it was also home to a plethora of wine.

To wit, we had barely entered the area when we were enticed to stop at Domaine Ackerman where we did a tasting of their Crémant de Loire sparkling wines. These Traditional Method sparklers spend a minimum of nine months aging on the lees and deliver great quality and value. It was a lovely introduction to the region and a welcome respite after our long drive.

Today, 85% of Loire Valley vineyards are farmed in adherence with one or more environmental approaches, signifying the region’s dedication to sustainable practices. The most prevalent varieties include Cabernet Franc (most notably the Bourgueil and Chinon appellations), Chenin Blanc (grown in the areas of Anjou, Saumur and Vouvray) and Melon (wines labeled as Muscadet, hailing from the Atlantic coast). Another key grape is Sauvignon Blanc, which is primarily planted in the continental climate of the Central Vineyards (with wines labeled — and perhaps more recognizable to consumers as — Sancerre, Pouilly Fume, and Menetou-Salon).

At a recent walk-around tasting and dinner at Lafayette, I had the opportunity to taste through a vast selection of Loire Valley wines, presented by category. While I didn’t try every single wine on offer (nor did I attempt to do so), I did a pretty good job, sipping (and spitting) 37 of the 50 wines. After the tasting portion of the evening, we were treated to a sumptuous, multi-course meal, paired with additional Loire Valley wines.

A few of my favorite wines from the evening are listed below, but I highly encourage you to simply seek out Loire Valley wines on restaurant wine lists and at your local bottle shop. Not only do they offer great diversity, they are generally well priced and very food friendly, making them a fantastic option for your holiday celebrations.


Sparkling
Domaine du Changeon Les Fabuleuses 2023, Crémant de Loire, France
This 100% Cabernet Franc rose sparkler offers up notes of yeast, and floral. It was slightly fuller bodied, with a heftier palate than some of the others I tasted, with a nice richness and weight, culminating in very long length.

Maison Ackerman Crémant de Loire Rosé Brut Bulle Royale, Crémant de Loire, France
Having visited this winery decades ago, it was a pleasure to become reacquainted with their wines. Another rose sparkling wine, this one brings together 60% Cabernet Franc, 30% Pinot Noir and 10% Grolleau. It displayed elegance and finesse with a fine bead on the palate, along with slight cherry and yeast aromas and flavors.

Sauvignon Blanc & Other Whites
Domaine Pre Baron Sauvignon Blanc 2024, Touraine AOC, France
A more restrained style of Sauvignon Blanc than many of those produced in New Zealand, this wine provided citrus and mineral notes, along with medium body and good length.

Vignoble Gilbert Chon, Perle Bleue – Folle Blanche 2023 Gros Plant due Pays Nantais, France
While Folle Blanche is not a well known grape, most relegated to the production of Cognac and Armagnac, this wine was a shining example of how a less lauded variety is capable of producing a simple, yet very satisfying wine. Citrus notes, crisp acidity, and good length.

Melon Blanc
Domaine Julien Braud Les Vignes du Bourg 2023, Muscadet SĂšvre et Maine AOC, France
Aged for six months on the lees in glass-lined vats, this wine shows bright acidity, yeasty aromas, joined by citrus-lime flavors on the palate, with long length.

Vignoble Gilbert Chon Muscat Chateau de la Jousseliniere 2023, Muscadet SĂšvre et Maine AOC, France
Having spent more than 8 months aging on the lees, this wine displays more pronounced yeast notes, along with minerality and very long length. It is the quintessential pairing partner to oysters.

Chenin Blanc
Alliance Loire Vouvray Sec Les Lys 2021, Vouvray, France
This wine offers up a complex mix of minerality and tree fruit, with a rich palate and really lovely mouthfeel, culminating with long length.

Domaine de la Chataigneraie Vouvray de Gautier 2023, Vouvray AOC, France
Similarly rich and complex, this wine provides very ripe tropical fruit, but is balanced with vibrant acidity.

Roses & Reds
Lacheteau Soupcon de Fruit Rose d’Anjou 2024, RosĂ© dÂŽAnjou AOC, France
A blend of 60% Cabernet Franc, 20% Grolleau, and 20% Gamay, this off-dry rose shows ripe, red berries, but remains fresh and balanced with good acidity and nice length.

Domaine Oudart Apicula 2023, Touraine AOC, France
Produced from 100% Gamay — a grape more associated with Beaujolais than the Loire — this is a fresh and fragrant quaffable red, with ripe fruit, and candied bacon.

Cabernet Franc
Catherine et Pierre Breton Trinch! 2023, Bourgueil AOC, France
Layered notes of dried herbs, spice, and black cherry, with crunchy acidity, medium+ body, integrated tannins and long length.

Amirault -Clos des Quarterons ls Quarterons2023, Saint-Nicolas-de-Bourgueil AOC, France
Biodynamically produced by members of the 6th generation, this is really lovely, with soft tannins, lots of minerality, fresh red fruit, an herbal undercurrent and long length.

Domaine Pierre et Bertrand Couly La Haute Olive 2018, Chinon AOC, France
Enjoyed with dinner, this wine was a beautiful pairing with the Short Rib Bourguignon and showed off that these wines have aging potential.

Back with Bousquet, my reunion with Anne and her wines

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It was an absolute pleasure to reacquaint myself with Anne Bousquet and Domaine Bousquet‘s wines. When I last saw Anne, it was March 10, 2020 (see story). Little did we know it, but the world was about to fall apart. Thankfully, both Anne and I survived the pandemic and I have had the opportunity to taste her wines since then (Anne and her chief agronomist presented an informative webinar in 2021).

But, as it had been such a lengthy period since our last visit, I was excited at the prospect of seeing her in person to catch up at a press dinner in late October of this year.

During the intervening years, Anne has certainly not been idle. Domaine Bousquet has been continuing its efforts not only in producing high quality wines, but also in focusing on organic practices in the vineyard. Further, the winery in Argentina’s Uco Valley has significantly expanded its hospitality. More specifically, they established an on-site bistro, hotel and robust tasting room to welcome guests. As part of the Gaia experience, the trio ensure that they have a wonderful experience at the property.

Additionally, they have been at the forefront of the elevation of gastronomy in the region. To this end, the Michelin folks recently came to the region for the very first time, recognizing that the local restaurants are worthy of rating.

Of note, during pandemic, understandably, there was more local interest whereas previously, the visitors were all tourists. However, it seems that the locals are continuing to visit the winery.

Gathered together again — in person — Anne, the group of wine industry professionals and myself enjoyed a delicious dinner at Cucina Alessa, an Italian restaurant in midtown Manhattan.

The food was a wonderful foil for the four Bousquet wines we tasted, all of which are well balanced and food friendly. Moreover, the wines continue to be good value and, with Domaine Bousquet’s membership as a B Corp (as I had previously shared), you can feel good about supporting a company that has devoted significant time and effort to organic agriculture and sustainability, among other altruistic endeavors.

Overall, it was a fantastic evening, filled with lively conversations and, of course, great wine!

Domaine Bousquet Chardonnay Gran 2022, Mendoza, Argentina, $25.00
Produced from the very first vines planted in 2000, the vineyard is at a high altitude of 4000 ft., which helps preserve the natural acidity of the grapes. The resulting organic wine spent 12 months in barrel, 75% of which was new oak. On the nose, it is slightly nutty, with apple and vanilla notes. It has medium+ body, medium acidity and long length.

Domaine Bousquet Gaia Rose 2024, Mendoza, Argentina, $20.00
The Gaia line is named for the Greek goddess of the Earth. This rose is produced from 100% Pinot Noir and is very fresh with great acidity. Notes of strawberries and cherries dominate the nose and palate, culminating in long length.

Virgen Vineyards USDA Organic Malbec 2023, Mendoza, Argentina, $13.00
Virgen was Domaine Bousquet’s first line without added sulfites and is USDA-certified, vegan and organic. Admittedly, Anne was initially worried about crafting these wines since the addition of small amount of sulfites provides protection to the wine. However, they have proven to be hearty on their own. Made from Argentina’s signature grape, Malbec, the wine was light and fresh, with berries, medium body, beautiful acidity and good length.

Domaine Bousquet Ameri Red Blend 2021, Mendoza, Argentina, $ 36.00
As Domaine Bousquet’s premium red blend, Ameri is made only in the best vintages, from grapes harvested from a “single cluster,” within a single certified-organic vineyard that stands at 4,125 ft, the highest elevation on the estate. The 2021 is comprised of 60% Malbec, 30% Cabernet Sauvignon, 5% Merlot and 5% Syrah. It offers up an intense nose of black fruit, slight oak and spice, along with a full-bodied palate with medium+ acidity and finishing with very long length.
Spice, black berry
Very long length

Blue Bin wines’ positive impact on the environment

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I first became familiar with the Ron Rubin Winery during the pandemic (See story from June 2020) as I sipped and savored his wine in my local park. I was impressed with the wines and enjoyed getting to know his story, as he pursued his lifelong dream of making wine.

More recently, I was introduced to Ron’s latest venture: Blue Bin, which builds on his commitment to sustainability, verifiable performance, transparency and accountability.
This initial effort was codified with the achievement of BCorp certification in August 2022 (presently one of only 33 Certified B Corporation wineries in the world and 1 of 5 in California). For those less or unfamiliar, “B Corp Certification is a designation that a business is meeting high standards of verified performance, accountability, and transparency on factors from employee benefits and charitable giving to supply chain practices and input materials.” (For more details on B Corp Certification, please see the organization’s website.)

Blue Bin’s claim to fame is that it is “The first premium wine bottle made from 100% recycled material in the United States”. More specifically, the fully recyclable is a hybrid of plastic, lined with Plasmax, an ultra-thin protective layer of glass. The result is packaging that is both lighter and shatterproof. 

Admittedly, the switch from glass to plastic might make the wine look unusual (and interestingly, when I brought a bottle to a holiday party, there was some concern that the bottle could be mistaken by the children present for a bottle of soda), but it is worth changing your perspective on what a bottle of wine should look like. In fact, one third of a wine’s carbon footprint is attributed to the glass bottles in which it is usually packaged. While glass is an excellent option for storing wine, it is also a heavy one and thus impacts shipping. Moreover, glass bottles are not always recycled in the United States, further complicating the problem.

Despite the unique packaging, Blue Bin’s wines are still well made wines and good examples of their respective grape varieties. At the moment, there are four wines made under the Blue Bin label: Pinot Grigio, Chardonnay, Sauvignon Blanc and Rose, all produced with fruit sourced from California, utilizing sustainable growing practices.

So, in the end, the wines might look a little different, but there is no impact on the taste; only a positive impact on the environment. They taste like
wine (and good wine, at that)!

TASTING NOTES

Blue Bin Pinot Grigio 2022, California, USA, $15.00
Aromas and flavors of smoke and citrus, with a dry palate, bright acidity, medium body, culminating in long length.

Blue Bin Chardonnay 2022, California, USA, $15.00
Pear and honeysuckle greet the nose, this dry wine has nice acidity, ripe red apple and pear fruit and is medium bodied with good length.

Blue Bin Sauvignon Blanc 2022, California, USA, $15.00
An intense nose of herbal and citrus notes, this dry wine offers up bright acidity, medium+ body and long length.

Blue Bin Rose 2022, California, USA, $15.00
Redolent of cherries and melon, this wine is slightly off dry, with medium acidity,
medium body and flavors of ripe watermelon and berries, with long length.


Fun times with fresh wines, Rioja’s El Coto wines

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A Not-So-Silent Disco with El Coto


Last week we were excited to participate in a Silent Disco event at Fort Tryon Park with friends and neighbors. Yet, at the last minute, the event was postponed due to inclement weather. Yuck! (And good call on the organizers’ part as dancing in the rain with expensive headphones isn’t a great idea). But, we were disappointed not to get together and enjoy each other’s company.

Accordingly, we moved the celebration indoors, sans dancing, and invited the group to gather at our apartment. I offered up wine; our neighbors said they’d bring snacks. True to their word, H and T arrived at our door with a tray, bearing cheeses, salami, fruit and crackers. Meanwhile, I had set the table with a few snacks of our own and had chilled several wines from El Coto. Situated in Spain’s Rioja region, this winery was established in 1970 and is still going strong.

Despite the wet weather, it was still a hot and muggy summer night, so we were all eager to enjoy some chilled wines. The El Coto Blanco and El Coto Rose were the perfect options to pair with our impromptu party!

I opened up the rose first and the bottle was soon empty (a clear crowd favorite!), necessitating that we turn our attention to the white, which was also greatly appreciated by our guests. As it grew late, we wrapped up our conversations, and cleaned up as everyone soon cleared out. All in all, it was a lovely evening!

A few days later, I opened up the El Coto Crianza, which had been touted as being a red wine capable of being chilled. My previous experience with chilled reds has been primarily limited to Beaujolais and other fresh and fruity reds; I wondered how the Rioja would fare with time in the fridge. I needn’t have worried; it was really nice and paired well with my leftover paella.

Looking for refreshing wines to enjoy on a hot summer day? Look no further than this trio from El Coto!

TASTING NOTES

El Coto Blanco 2022, Rioja, Spain, SRP $11.99


This wine is a blend of 93% Viura, 4% Sauvignon Blanc and 3% Verdejo. It displays notes of citrus and pear on the nose. The dry palate provides medium acidity, medium body and flavors of citrus, pear and apple, culminating in long length.

El Coto Rose 2021, Rioja, Spain, SRP $11.99

Bringing together Rioja’s traditional Tempranillo (90% ) and Garnacha (10%), this beautifully-hued salmon pink wine offered up aromas and flavors of raspberry and strawberry. It is fresh and lively, with medium acidity, medium body, and medium plus length. Easy drinking and very food friendly.

El Coto Crianza 2019, Rioja, Spain, SRP $16.99

Sporting 100% Tempranillo, this wine was aged in oak for at least 12 months with an additional six months in bottle, prior to release, as befits its Crianza designation. Aromas of wood, blackberry and raspberry greet the nose. The palate is dry, with bright acidity, flavors of berries, oak and spice, with medium plus body and medium length.

Picnic season returns… wines for spring and summer 2023

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Spring has been a long time coming this year. While Mother Nature graced us with a beautiful glimpse of picture-perfect weather in early April, the cold, wet weeks that followed left much to be desired. We are now happy to see the sun and feel its warmth, beckoning us outside. In a word (or more precisely two), it’s Picnic Season!

That means a lot of things, but chief among them is what wines to enjoy al fresco this spring and summer. In that regard, I recently had the very pleasant opportunity to taste through a selection of wines from Spanish wine producer, Hammeken Cellars. With Sailé Ramirez at the helm as CEO, the company has launched six new brands and planted over 250,000 trees as part of their sustainability program.

In fact, during that spring preview weekend in April, my husband and I had a picnic date night in Fort Tryon Park, toting along two rosés from their collection: Radio Boka Rosé and Sedosa Rosé.

Outside was no longer an option for a while, so the Radio Boka Verdejo was enjoyed indoors at the dining table, but the Gotas de Mar Albarino was a welcome companion as I introduced my friend, Sharon, to the joys of fancy picnics when we met up in Prospect Park for lunch and a production of MoliĂšre’s Tartuffe.

In keeping with the theme of freshness and al fresco dining, I’m including tasting notes from a recent seminar with Domaine Bousquet, since several of its current releases are also perfect picnic pairings, particularly, their sparkling rose and LO CA Chardonnay.

TASTING NOTES

WHITES

Radio Boka Verdejo 2021, VDT Castilla, Spain, $12.00
Aromas of bitter almond, pear, and citrus on both the nose and palate, this complex wine offers up medium body, medium acidity and long length.

Gotas de Mar Albariño 2022, Rias Baixas, Spain, $25.00
Produced from 100% Albariño from 15-25 year old vines, this wine was aged for six months on its lees. Notes of citrus and riper tree fruit are joined by minerality and salinity, with medium body, good acidity and long length.

Domaine Bousquet LO CA Chardonnay 2022, Uco Valley, Argentina, $14.00
LO CA is a local calorie and low alcohol wine, which required numerous attempts to get it right due to ensure a wine that was stable and of the quality they desired. The resulting wine has 9% abv and 2% residual sugar. Green apple, musk and citrus greet the nose and persist on the palate with high acidity, minerality, medium body and long length.

ROSÉS

2021 Radio Boka Rosé, VDT Castilla, Spain, $12.00
Tasted alongside the Sedosa rosé, this wine was less ripe, with slightly higher acidity. It is redolent of fresh raspberries and citrus, with medium body and long length.

Sedosa Organic Rosé 2021, VDT Castilla, Spain, $20.00
Comprised of 100% Bobal from 15 year old vines, this wine is pale salmon in color with aromas of berries, and melon and a hint of floral. The dry palate provides ripe fresh berries, good acidity and long length.

Domaine Bousquet Sparkling Rose NV, Uco Valley, Argentina, $13.00
This sparkling wine is produced using the Charmat Method, bringing together 75% Pinot Noir and 25% Chardonnay. Deep salmon in color, with a persistent bead, it is fresh and lively with tart cherry notes, a lovely mousse and long length.



Chateau Maris, A Sustainability Story

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Reinterpreting the triangle trade in an eco-friendly and fair trade way, the Brittany-based Grain de Sail partners with organic and biodynamic French wine producers to ship the bottles to New York City aboard their carbon-free cargo sailboat. From New York, the boat heads to Central America where it takes on organic coffee and cocoa beans, which will be roasted and produced (respectively) by Grain de Sail’s operation in Brittany.

Grain de Sail’s most recent arrival in Brooklyn’s harbor included 1,200 bottles of “NaĂŻve Wine” from Chateau Maris, a biodynamic producer located in the Languedoc. This is just the latest in a string of Chateau Maris’ sustainable efforts and decarbonized solutions, which became the first winery in all of Europe to become a Certified BCorp.

The partnership between Chateau Maris and Grain de Sail was a natural one (pun intended), since both companies share the same set of values. Equipped with solar panels, an insulated hull and a heat exchange system, the cargo ship is outfitted with the latest and greatest technology to ensure that the boat is ecologically sound and the products are safely transported.

Making the trans-Atlantic voyage in 24 days, Grain de Sail’s reliance on wind power makes the crossing 50x greener than sending the wines by the usual container ship. And, these days, with the backlog of containers in the U.S.’ Port Elizabeth, the producers can actually get their wines into the market faster, despite the lengthier trip (24 days via sailboat vs 5 days via container ship).

“If the wine sucks, the conversation ends.” ~Jacques Herviou

At an event showcasing both the sailboat and Chateau Maris’ “NaĂŻve Wine”, members of the press had the opportunity to meet representatives from both companies, taste the wines and enjoy a beautiful Manhattan sunset.

Back in the day, Jacques Herviou, one of Chateau Maris’ three partners, used to sell high end wine such as Grand Cru Burgundy. But, during his visits to various less developed countries, he saw pollution and other environmental issues that upset him. Returning home, it became hollow to sell luxury products to the rich, sparking his desire to be a part of the solution instead.

In 1996, Jacques made the acquaintance of a New York-based investor, Kevin Parker, who is passionate about sustainability and biodynamic winemaker Robert Eden. The trio purchased the well-regarded Chateau Maris only to discover that they had been sold a lemon of a vineyard.

More specifically, they realized that the soil was completely depleted as a result of years of being poisoned with pesticides, insecticides and fertilizers. Thus, it was incumbent upon them to breath new life back into the soil in order to create a wine with life.

They experimented with various compost piles, treating one with a biodynamic preparation, which they found to be substantially better than the non-treated pile.
They became certified through EcoCert in 2002, by Biodyvin in 2004 and by Demeter in 2008. But, Jacques is quick to note it was a business decision to go biodynamic rather than a romantic or marketing one. As he so eloquently put it, “If the wine sucks, the conversation ends.”

These wines assuredly do NOT suck! Over the course of the evening, we tasted:
–Rose de Nymphe Emue 2021: A pale-hued pink, this rose is similar in style to its neighboring Provence and was crisp and refreshing with lovely fresh fruit.
–Naive 2020: The wine of the hour, having made its maiden voyage on the Grain de Sail, this Grenache-based wine has no added sulfur, yet it is stable and redolent of red fruit, with good acidity and medium body. It fittingly features a label with a drawing by surrealist painter, Henri Rousseau.
–Dynamic 2016: This beautiful Syrah is bold, full-bodied and meaty, yet still elegant with dark fruit and ripe tannins.

Beyond the vineyard, Chateau Maris strives to implement its sustainability efforts throughout the entire process. In this regard, as a certified BCorp, this commitment extends to the company’s governance, environment, community, workers and customers, which has led to its designation as “Best for the World” Environment in both 2017 and 2018. Moreover, Wine Spectator magazine has named it, “One of the 5 most environmentally friendly wineries in the world.” Further efforts include the planting of trees through Trees for Jane as well as donations to ASPAS to restore a wildlife area in the Languedoc and La Maison de l’ Abeille de Cassagnoles to preserve and protect the bee population.

Moreover, they are constantly looking at new ways to reduce their carbon footprint, which is why the partnership with Grain de Sail was such a good fit. Herviou was very pleased with the way that things had gone with the maiden voyage and was excited about Grain de Sail’s newest ship slated for completion in 2024, which will have a much larger shipping capacity. Wishing them all smooth sailing!

Picnics of Perfection and the Perfect Wines to Pair with them

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The fires of Beltane have come and gone, ushering in warmer weather and brighter days as we await next month’s Summer Solstice. For me, this means outdoor dining
and, while outdoor dining took on new meaning this past year, there’s something about eating outside that generally adds to the ambience (although less so in February — at least in New York). Of course, with lovely weather, verdant lawns, delicious food and great friends, a picnic is an especially lovely experience. Thus, my tiffin box and I were delighted to take to the park recently in search of sun, al fresco fare and good company, accompanied by good wine.

I can still remember one of my first picnics as a young child. I simply draped a cloth on an old tree stump and proceeded to enjoy my lunch. As I got older, my picnics became more elaborate, particularly when my husband and I began to explore the joys of picnicking on our first visit to France together. This is not particularly surprising given that the word pique-nique dates to 17th century France. In any event, we would attend the local farmer’s market, select an assortment of bread, cheeses, meats and a bottle of wine before finding the perfect spot in which to partake of our meal. These pleasant memories set the stage for our future outings in parks, at polo events and elsewhere.


Consequently, today, picnics are a big part of our summer plans and I am always at the ready with my picnic backpack, picnic blanket and the aforementioned tiffin box. While I take great pleasure in the creation of a beautiful meal in a beautiful setting, your ideal picnic might simply be a blanket and baloney sandwiches. Neither one of is right, as long as we are both having a great time!

That being said, I do feel that any meal is elevated by the presence of wine and picnics are no exception. Seek out fresh whites, crisp rosĂ©s and bubbles of all shades as refreshing, food friendly and fun options to adorn one’s outdoor feast.

Here are some wonderful wine options to get you started!



WHITES
Veramonte Organic Sauvignon Blanc 2020, Casablanca Valley, Chile, $11.99
From the cool Casablanca Valley in Chile, this wine offers up fresh herbal and citrus aromas, which persist on the palate with zippy acidity, medium body and good length. As an organic wine, it represents only a small percentage of Chilean vineyards that have sought out this designation.

Merry Edwards Sauvignon Blanc 2019, Russian River Valley (CA), USA, $45.00
From the highly respected producer, Merry Edwards, this Sauvignon Blanc is a more concentrated option with rich fruit notes of pear and citrus along with an herbal character on the nose. It provides good acidity, is slightly riper than the 2018, with medium-to-full body and very long length. This is a pricier option than the others listed here, but is definitely worth the splurge.
For more on Merry Edwards, see these stories:
– In Pursuit of Pleasure, Promise and Pinot
– Making Merry for the Holidays

Vilarnau Brut Reserva NV, Cava, Spain, $14.99
Cava producer, Vilarnau, has been around since 1949 and is located in the of heart of Catalonia in Sant Sadurni d’Anoia, just outside Barcelona. Its current labels pay homage to Antoni Gaudi, whose many masterpieces can be found in the city. Also an organic wine, this traditional blend of Macabeo, Parellada, Xarel-lo, is aged over 15 months in bottle, with toasty, yeasty, apple notes on the nose and palate, good persistence of bubbles, and long length.

Corvezzo Prosecco DOC Extra Dry, Treviso, Italy, $13.00
Founded in 1960, this family-owned winery is now run by Giovanni Corvezzo, who was responsible for converting the vineyards to organic farming in 2013, and has since earned its organic certification in Italy. With a very fresh nose of cotton candy, pear and floral notes, this lovely sparkler is dry on palate, with good persistence of bubbles, vibrant acidity and long length.

ROSES
Domaine Bousquet Gaia Rosé 2020, Mendoza, Argentina, $20.00
While I had the pleasure of tasting wine with Anne Bousquet just before the pandemic, this is a new wine from the winery. Produced from 100% Pinot Noir grapes, the nose is redolent of raspberries and strawberries that persist on the dry palate, along with medium+ acidity, medium body and long length.

Corvezzo Prosecco DOC Rosé Extra Dry, Millesimato Treviso, Italy, $13.00
It’s official! Prosecco can now legally be produced as a rosĂ© sparkling wine. Another organic and vegan option from Corvezzo, this wine offers up aromas of berries, cherry and peach, with beautiful freshness on the palate, and a gentle perlage, along with long length.

Vilarnau Brut Reserva Rosé Delicat NV, Cava, Spain, $15.99
From the same producer noted above, with its Gaudi-inspired label, this sparkling rosé is soon to be certified organic. A blend of 85% Garnacha and 15% Pinot Noir, the wine displays fresh floral and berry notes with a lovely dry, effervescent palate, and balanced acidity, culminating in long length.

If you desire your own very special picnic without doing all the work, check out Perfect Picnic.

‘Tis the Season to Think… Pink

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As the old year draws to a close and the new one lingers on the horizon, the arrival of the Winter Solstice (on or about December 21) brings with it the shortest day – and longest night – of the year. From its Latin roots, we are reminded that on this day, the sun stands still; we can take a moment to reflect and look up at the stars.

Gazing upward, Orion greets us from his perch in this sky. Home to three of the 25 brightest stars, Orion’s gleaming placement among the stars permits him to be seen all over the world, regardless of hemisphere. This winter constellation, named for the myth of Orion, and seen so well amidst the darkness, poetically alludes to the regenerative powers of the sun as Orion’s own eyesight was restored by its healing rays. And, just south of his brilliant belt, Orion’s faithful companion, Sirius, also known as the Dog Star, literally sparkles as brightest star in the sky.

In olden days, this moment in the calendar marked the end of harvest (and all of the hard work it entailed) and signaled instead a time to celebrate. Rome’s festival of Saturnalia took place from December 17 to 25 – those Romans knew how to party!

So, taking a cue from these ancient holidays, now is the perfect time to raise a glass (or two) in celebration of this festive season and all that we have to be thankful for!

Of course, you can toast the holidays with red or white, but why not think pink this season? If you’ve put away your rosĂ©, along with your bathing suits and shorts, it’s time to reconsider your rosĂ© routine. Unfortunately, rosĂ© has become nearly synonymous with the lazy, hazy days of summer and relegated to pool parties and picnics.

But, rosé is much more than that! Yes, rosé is perfect for the hot and humid temperatures of June, July and August, but it is not a pair of white pants and can be drunk after Labor Day. If rosé is here to stay (which it most definitely is), it should stay all year round. In fact, rosé is such a versatile wine that it should be a welcome addition to the table any time of year.

So, it was a pleasure to receive a quartet of rosĂ©s from Provence, which itself is nearly synonymous with rosĂ©, to mark this year’s holidays and share with friends  at a Solstice celebration. As 2019 looms large and, with it, the sparkle of a brand-new year, fresh with promise, the bright, fresh flavors of rosĂ©, along with their warm pink hues, provide a nice respite from the gloomy grey skies of winter!

TASTING NOTES
ChĂąteau Coussin  La Croix du Prieur RosĂ© 2017, CĂŽtes de Provence, France, $14.00
Primarily produced from Grenache, this wine presents intense notes of strawberry, spice, perfume and floral.

Chùteau Henri Bonnaud Terre Promise Rosé, 2017, CÎtes de Provence, France, $15.00
Comprised of half Grenache and half Syrah, this wine greets the nose with lovely cherry and berry aromas that persist on the medium-bodied palate, along with a hint of floral.

ChĂąteau Leoube Le Secret de Leoube RosĂ© 2017, CĂŽtes de Provence, France, $40.00
Bringing together Grenache, Cinsault and Cabernet Sauvignon, this wine presents delicate floral aromas with beautiful minerality on the bright and refreshing palate, culminating in long length.

Mirabeau en Provence Pure Rosé 2017, CÎtes de Provence, France, $20.00
A blend of Grenache and Syrah, this wine offers up aromas of strawberry, citrus and musk on the nose, which give way to more peachy notes on the medium-bodied palate with long length.