August 4th of this year marked the appropriately-named National White Wine Day, while National Prosecco Day took place on August 13th. In honor of those holidays, below are 15 product recommendations and/or interesting vineyard-related news items that are keeping things interesting in Summer 2020 for wine enthuasists.
Campante 2019 Morgadio Albariño
With the Campante 2019 Morgadio Albariño, a Spanish wine hailing from the Galicia region, you can expect an intense and elegant flavoring with tropical fruit and kiwi complementing its granitic minerality. Made from free-run juice, it is a well-structured, dry Albariño with a long finish. Carrying a suggested retail price of just $21, its palate is refreshing and pairs well with pasta and shellfish alike.
Founded in 1959, vine growth on the Segura Viudas estate dates back to the 12th century. Over the years, the winery has combined the estate’s legacy with a refined approach to viticulture and winemaking to produce sophisticated and approachable Cavas from the renowned D.O. Penedès region of Spain, just outside of Barcelona. In the 1980s, the estate was purchased by the Ferrer family—whose traditional method sparkling winemaking expertise remains unparalleled—and Segura Viudas was incorporated into the Freixenet Mionetto USA portfolio in 2018.
Segura Viudas is also committed to viticultural practices that preserve harmony and biodiversity in the vineyard and sustainability of the environment; it has Wineries For Climate Change-certified since 2017). Still available nationwide, the flagship U.S. portfolio of Segura Viudas includes Segura Viudas Brut Cava ($12), Segura Viudas Brut Rosé Cava ($12), and Segura Viudas Reserva Heredad Cava ($30).
The latest offering from Cupcake Vineyards, at only 80 calories and 8 percent ABV per 5-ounce serving, Cupcake LightHearted is a new, low-cal, full-flavor wine option unlike anything you’ve ever had. It has 20 percent less calories than leading hard seltzers but the flavor is just as rich and juicy as your favorite wine. Cupcake LightHearted is currently available in 4 refreshing, aromatic varietals, including Chardonnay, Pinot Grigio, Rosé and Pinot Noir. Cupcake LightHearted is available nationwide in 750ml bottles with a suggested retail price of $9.99.
Cupcake Vineyards also has a great “Rosé in a can” on the market and its website features an interesting “Rosé Lemonade can-tail recipe,” which is easy to make.
Established in 1882 in Sonoma County’s Russian River Valley, Korbel Champagne Cellars produces the United States’ most popular méthode champenoise champagne. So how did Korbel spend its vacation this year? It tasted its way through Italy’s Prosecco DOC region and brought home an Italian sparkler of its own. Produced and bottled entirely in the Prosecco DOC, Denominazione di Origine Controllata, located in North Eastern Italy, Korbel Prosecco is made with 100 percent Glera grapes using the traditional Charmat method. Focused on a fruit-forward style with aromas of white peaches, pear and lemon zest, its dry Prosecco is light and crisp. Its sleek and stylish packaging features a bold red capsule and accent on the label for a commanding and eye-catching shelf appeal no matter the lighting at hand.
Related to Korbel, Sonoma-Cutrer Vineyards hasforged a relationship with SommFoundation with the goal of helping those in the wine industry. The SommFoundation’s scholarships create more opportunities for professionals at all levels; sommeliers, winemakers, journalists, bartenders, wine directors, restaurateurs and many others associated with the beverage industry. Sonoma-Cutrer currently provides 7 scholarships to beverage professionals who are passionate about the industry but also in need of financial assistance as they expand their wine knowledge and earn industry certifications.
There is nothing quite like a South African braai with its flowing conversation, tons of food cooked over hot coals and a top-notch wine being served. Well, one wine that perfectly exemplifies this experience is the Backsberg Pinotage Rosé with its light and floral nose, mixing well with the beginnings of relaxation, salad and seafood alike. Its palate is pleasantly-full with tons of strawberry and stone fruit to compliment the big, meaty, spicy flavors of the main courses. To wrap the night up, this rosé’s finish is zesty and long, with tangy grapefruit and sweet watermelon will make you want dessert and another bottle.
Vinebox is a subscription service that delivers seasonally-themed, wine-based boxes directly to your doorstep. As founders Matt Dukes and Rachel Vodofsky wanted to bring unique wines from around the world to consumers’ homes, the company’s team of sommeliers and experts piece together the best wines of the moment, whether they’re just bottled vintages from exciting new regions or cellar finds from a decade ago. Blends include choices like amphora-aged whites or carbonic reds alongside verticals from Bordeaux and classic aged Barolo. These are not wines you find easily at your local store, but rather they are gems you may discover on a backroad trip through Tuscany or via the picks that local restaurants save for a special occasion.
A subscription service is available for those who fall in love with the wine and want it dropped off at their doorstep monthly, Usual Wines is currently offering Summer Rosé — a pack of 12+ (single-serve) bottles of Usual Rosé — with a limited-edition Thermal Tote Bag to keep the wine chilled for hours. Said Tote Bag is complimentary with purchases of 12, 18, and 24-packs of Rosé. Usual Wines sells both monthly and one-time-order boxes of California-based sustainably-farmed Brut, Red, and Rosé varieties, also offering a “Mixed Pack.” Customers can text 415-941-0440 with any questions or to order more wine.
Larkmead Vineyards began the “Salon at Larkmead” series in 2017 with a focus on the “Future of Cabernet.” In 2019, Larkmead Vineyards broadened the subject matter with consecutive sessions on climate change. Heading into 2020, winemaker Dan Petroski — who leads the Salon series — was excited about a new round of conversations focusing on the future of wine. With COVID-19 and shelter-in-place still in effect in many areas, Larkmead has taken the Salon digital with a series of Zoom calls, and has started focusing on broader topics in the hospitality space like career development and mobility, with more salons geared toward providing hospitality professionals with tangible career advice slated for the fall.
Commented Petroski: “It’s not financially feasible for small family-run businesses to provide this sort of career development. As individuals in this industry, the responsibility falls to us. We have to prepare ourselves and our careers with education and training. Our goal is to bring our community together on a regular basis to share ideas, mentorship opportunities, and resources that help each of us to explore, identify, and express our own capabilities and talents.”
Ecco Domani Pinot Grigio wine offers light citrus and delicate floral aromas, tropical fruit flavors and a crisp, refreshing finish. You can match this Pinot Grigio wine with light pastas, poultry and fish. It is is pale straw in hue and has delicate floral aromas with a hint of citrus. On the palate, the wine offers tropical fruit flavors and a crisp, refreshing finish.
Speaking of La Marca, what better way to show your friends (and/or yourself) some extra love right now than with a custom bottle of La Marca Prosecco? You can visit lamarcaprosecco.com to find La Marca’s free label maker tool and create a one-of-a-kind label. This tool doesn’t just have to be used for gifting, anyone can use it to add a little something extra to an occasion/event or just help elevate the everyday. A promo code of “LAMARCAHOLIDAY” works for La Marca Prosecco on Drizly from August 24th through September 8th for $5 off your first purchase.
Established in 1588, Croft is the oldest firm still active today as a port wine producer, and it remains one of the most distinguished of the original founding port houses. Despite its rich heritage and history, Croft has never been constrained by tradition, and it launched Croft Pink in 2008. The first ever rosé Port, Croft Pink carries vibrant flavours of ripe cherry and raspberry with lovely nuances of honey and grapefruit, as paired with a dry, very attractive finish. In turn, it can be ideal for summer settings, a spring picnic, a chilled evening setting and/or as a cocktail on its own right.
Known for the smooth and intensely fruity style of its wines, Croft offers a wide range of high-quality ports beyond Croft Pink. This includes vintage ports and wood-aged reserves alike.
Yes, white Port is a thing. This wine is fresh, crisp, and best poured over ice or topped with tonic and garnished with a lemon. Thus, you can do as the Portuguese do and enjoy a “White Port & Tonic” as part of your weekend brunch menu. And speaking of Drizly, this wine is available for at-home delivery on Drizly with the $5 promo code “DRINKDASH” (no quotes) through December 31, 2020.
With Fonseca BIN 27 — which carries a suggested retail price of $19.99 — you can expect a ruby Port that pairs well with chocolate summer desserts, like mousse and s’mores. You can sip it neat by the fire with family and friends, or at a socially-appropriate distance, of course.
Point Reyes Cheese + Sonoma-Cutrer
Earlier this month, the aforementioned Sonoma-Cutrer presented an online pairing workshop alongside award-winning cheesemaker Point Reyes. Jill Giacomini-Basch, together with her family, launched the Point Reyes Farmstead Cheese Company in August 2000 on their Marin county dairy farm. The company is internationally-regarded as a premier producer of hand-crafted cheeses, including Original Blue, Bay Blue, Toma and Gouda; I honestly have not tasted better cheese than Point Reyes over the last 6 months. Presently, Point Reyes is offering public and private Zoom tastings for people ordering select products through its website.
DetraPel is a company that is committed to providing non-toxic protective coatings that do not contain harmful chemicals. The company is creating safer solutions as it rejects the use of harmful PFAS chemicals, which are cancerous and found in many household products. While its Outdoor Gear Protector and High Performance Outerwear Protector are intended to shield against stains and other damage done to your performance outdoor apparel like shell jackets, ski pants, gloves and hats, why not keep it on-hand for prospective wine stains? After all, this spray-on treatment instantly adds water repellency to all types of insulated and synthetic fabrics.
