Different perspectives on what sparkling wine can be

We continually search to find really “good”, interesting wines from along the Mediterranean basin and from afar to bring home to offer our valued guests. Here is a taste of four sparkling wines it has taken some time to gather. While Champagne is still “King of the Hill” in the bubbly category, there are some

Interesting Sparkling Wine

While Champagne is the traditional bubbly most will look to pop, we think there is a growing opportunity to try sparkling wines from “other” wine growing regions, ones that are more affordable in price. The really good ones are somewhat hard to find, but they are certainly worth the effort when you take your first

A Different Slant on Bubbly

‘Tis the season for bubbly. Here is your chance to taste four very special, unique wines, yes, a completely different slant of what bubbly can be! This certainly proved to be an eye opener for many.  Airole Lambrusco “Marcello”–We start this tasting with a sparkling (fizzy) red wine—100% Lambrusco Maestri, grown at 750 to 1000

A Quartet of Grower Champagne

Our New Year’s Eve winetasting in VINO, included 3 top echelon “grower” Champagne.  (A friend brought the 4th, just to share).  The recoltant manipulant (grower) category of Champagne seems to be really catching on & growing across the country.  Here are 3 certainly worth checking out! Jean Milan Blanc de Blancs “Grand Cru”  100% Chardonnay

Sparkling Wine Tasting 09-12-13

Yes, we did another sparkling wine tasting in VINO tonight.  As is often the case….the goal was simply to show yet another dimension to the world of wines. Punta Crena Mataossu Spumante Brut  grown on the steep, rocky hillsides of Liguria, undergoes ML & secondary fermentation & aged on the lees for 10 months.  This

An article from Winophilia 12-31-12

http://www.winophilia.com/2012/12/30/champagne-for-everyone-part-two/#more-5183

More Grower Champagnes

Yes, tonight we did yet another tasting of Grower Champagnes.  Just so we are clear….Recoltant Manipulant Champagnes are NOT necessarily better because they are small, or farm their own grapes or make their own wine.  In the finest cases it is an issue more about artisanal & hand crafted.  On this night we tasted several.

Older Dom Perignon

Out of the gates, the 1988 was lighter in color, much more refined, precise & high toned.  In comparison, it took the 1982 some air time to really start opening up & show its stuff.  It eventually & really proved to become quite a remarkable glass of Champagne–nutty, toasty, much more lush, deep, harmonious & interesting.

Last Night’s Champagne tasting @ VINO

It is always a real hoot & actually quite the learning experience when you get a bunch of real wine fanatics together to do a themed wine tasting.  Well….last night was the night….at VINO….& Champagne was the theme. Everyone graciously brought a bottle or two to share & the tasting was quite comprehensive that’s for sure.

Sparkling wines–staff training at DK Steakhouse

(photo–by Rick Lilley) Last night was a real fun get together with some of our restaurant teammates to discuss & taste some interesting sparkling wines from around the world. Hopefully participants walked away with some further insight & information on the category. The 3 most commonly used ways to produce sparkling wine– 1) Carbonation. Yup,