American Winery Blog

Sparkling wine, by definition, is “Wine that contains bubbles of carbon dioxide gas.”

Anyone who has tasted the stuff knows that it is so much more than a bottle of bubbly. Any winery that produces a sparkling wine knows that it’s just not that simple.

Sparkling wine has become synonymous with CELEBRATIONS, and a toast just isn’t the same with a glass of Martinelli’s (Sorry, Mom!).

Nearly every wine producing country has a rendition of sparkling wine. The Champagne region of France has dibs on Champagne, probably the most familiar of all the sparkling wines. There is the Spanish sparkler, Cava, the Italian’s have their Spumante, and if you want to get a little crazy with a red sparkling wine, try Australia’s sparkling Shiraz. That of course is just the tip of the fizzy iceberg, but I’m here to discuss American sparkling wine.

Most fine American sparkling wine is made using the methode champenoise (your grocery store brands like Andre and Cook’s utilize the charmat method to infuse the wine with carbon dioxide bubbles).

The Korbel brothers introduced sparkling wines to American production in 1892 by producing wines using Riesling, Muscatel, Traminer and Chasselas grapes. As sparkling production picked up throughout California, many noted Champagne houses came to set up wineries in the region, including Moet et Chandon (Domaine Chandon), Louis Roederer (Roederer Estate), & Taittinger (Domaine Carneros).

This foreign influence brought more traditional grapes into the production of American sparkling wine – Pinot Noir, Pinot Meunier, Pinot Blanc and of course, Chardonnay. However, just because American sparkling wine is made in the methode champenoise utilizing traditional Champagne grapes doesn’t mean that American bubbly isn’t distinctly different.

First of all, the varying regions in America that produce sparkling wines have climates and soil compositions quite different from that in Champagne! This allows for an amazing array of different flavors.

You also have to look at the blends. In Champagne, a cuvée can contain upwards of 50 different wines from 4-6 different vintages. In American sparkling wine production, cut those numbers in half and you’ll be close.

And let’s face it – American sparkling wine is just not bound by the traditions of the French Champagne. You’ll discover American bubbly produced from non-traditional grapes, like Mandolina Wines’ Bianco di Bianco, a blend of 2/3rds Muscat and 1/3 Chenin Blanc. You’ll find American sparkling wine in a can, like Rosso & Bianco’s Sofia Mini Blanc de Blancs. And American wineries are producing some pretty fun stuff as well, like Su Vino’s Raspberry “Champagne”.

So whether you want to go a little more traditional (Mumm Napa, Laetitia, Domaine Chandon) or you want to have some fizzy fun (Rosso & Bianco, Su Vino, Mandolina Wines), you’ll discover that America’s sparkling wine may not be “Champagne”, but like the land of opportunity itself, America’s sparkling wine producers are making a little something for everybody.

Cheers!

I am having a love affair.

Its been going on for about 2 years now, and with every season things between us just get hotter and hotter.

At first I thought it was just a summer fling. But then fall rolled around, and instead of cooling off – well, things got warm and spicy. By winter it was a full-fledged romance, and I couldn’t imagine anything my new love wouldn’t go well with. The more we got to know each other, the more complex, interesting and darn-right likable my love became.

I am having a love affair with Rosé.

Rosé has not always been the “trendy” pick. Rosé gets its moment in the sun during the summer, when its fruity likability makes it a shoo-in for backyard barbecues and porch sippin’.

But Rosé has only recently started to receive its due as a wine that can be served at any time of the year, with a variety of dishes, and without the shame of drinking “the pink stuff.”

Many domestic wineries have taken up producing Rosé - from Sangiovese, Syrah, Zinfandel, Cabernet Franc, Merlot, Pinot Noir, and of course an incredible array of blends. These wineries have created the Many Faces of Rosé – from dry and off-dry all the way to very sweet wines you can serve as dessert!

I have a few favorites, of course, that I would definitely recommend here. But the fact is, you have to have your own love affair with Rosé – as juicy as mine has been, I can’t make you fall in love.

But there are a few Rosés that I’d like you to meet. Whether you are a fan of dry wines, or sweet, whether you prefer to serve Rosé with dinner, as dessert, or all by itself (it has the chops to stand up to the pressure), think of these suggestions as “blind dates”. You may not fall in love, but you’ll certainly have a few stories to tell!

Here are some of my favorite “Grown-up” Rosés, just in time for Thanksgiving get-togethers and family dinners!

On the dry spectrum:

---

Getting’ a little sweeter…

---

Holiday Rosé Tip:
Rosé provides an excellent base for mulled spice wine! Many wineries sell their own special blend of mulling spices, or you can find them at your local specialty stores. Pour into a crock pot with cranberry juice and a stick of cinnamon and allow to heat and steep for 2 hours. The perfect air-freshener and party cocktail for your upcoming open house or holiday party!

Your Thanksgiving celebration wouldn’t be complete without family and friends, decadent dishes, and that perfect bottle of wine. Personally, I find that the whole thing goes down a bit better after a few glasses of wine… I’m talking to you, close-talking Uncle Bob, and to you, shrieking-laugh Aunt Susie.

Whatever Thanksgiving traditions you hold dear, the flavors of Thanksgiving are complimented by Pinot Noir, Riesling, and Rosé.

It just so happens, however, that the flavors of Thanksgiving are EXPENSIVE! Add up that turkey, the potatoes, the gravy and fixin’s, the homemade apple pies and pumpkin pies, and the last thing you want to add to the shopping list is a pricey bottle of wine.

But get ready to BE THANKFUL… there are hundreds of good wines under $20 that will enhance your Thanksgiving feast without breaking the bank.

We’ll start with Pinot Noir. Pinot Noir’s berry and spice flavors and structure make it a perfect accompaniment to your savory dishes.

Some of my favorite Pinots for Thanksgiving under $20:

---

On to Riesling – a crowd-pleaser with a variety of finishes from dry to sweet. Riesling is amazingly versatile, just like the American Thanksgiving table. Serve Riesling with a flavorful salad to start your Thanksgiving dinner off right!

Here are just a few of my favorite Rieslings under $20:

---

Lastly, we come to Rosé. I have fallen in love with Rosé as not just a great summer sippin’ wine, but as a year-rounder that makes a perfect semi-dry counterpart to even the richest Thanksgiving dishes. Rose is also a fantastic base for mulled wine – just add cranberry juice, a mulling spice packet (available at many wineries and specialty stores) and a stick of cinnamon for a warm, comforting delight after your pumpkin pie!

The Best Rosés under $20:

---

This just skims the surface of the amazing wine selections available under $20 to accompany any family gathering. I know I’ll be sipping on some of the wines I list above along with a few new discoveries… no matter what you serve this Thanksgiving, give thanks this year with those you love.

I am the Harpy of Customer Service – I nitpick and critique every single aspect, from the attire of the server to the upkeep of the location to the music volume – because all of these elements are integral to the customer experience!

This weekend I had the opportunity to visit several Walla Walla tasting rooms and have to say – I was TRES impressed. The wine being poured was delicious, but more impressive was the fact that each tasting room had gone above and beyond to create character and ambiance, and the wine was poured by knowledgeable, friendly staff. Though I didn’t get the privilege of tasting with The Winemaker in any of the locations I visited, I was able to taste with the winemaker’s wife at Trust Cellars, and the assistant winemaker at Chateau Rollat, among others.

Here is a list of Dos and Don’ts when it comes to the Tasting Room Experience.

(more…)

Drink Good Wine. Save Good Animals.

That’s the motto of Canine Wines’, a small winery out of San Francisco, California making a big difference in the lives of countless animals.

Matt Raymond and Kelly Naughtin are parents to rescued animals, Patches, a 6-year old Brittany, and Cheetah, a 16 year old tabby.  The joy that these pets brought to their lives inspired them to donate a portion of the proceeds from their winery to animal rescue organizations across the United States.

Here is their story, told in their words.

(more…)