A Rut-Buster White Wine from Greece – Assyrtiko

The beginning of school is around the corner, and sadly, summer is winding down.  Isn’t it time to break out of the Chardonnay, Blanc, and Pinot Grigio rut? Are you dreaming of something other than the staycation?  How about a virtual trip to Greece?  A refreshingly different wine from the Greek Island of Santorini, Assyrtiko will…

T.G.I.F. Champagne and the like – Gruet Brut Rose Sparkling Wine

As Gomer Pyle would say “SUprise, SUprise – a sparkler from New Mexico!  Gruet makes both Vintage, and Non-Vintage sparkling wine, and still wines. A family who previously made Champagne in France established it.  While traveling through the Southwest in 1983, they fell in love with New Mexico and decided to produce sparkling wine here…

T.G.I.F. Champagne and the like…2004 Korbel Le Premier

This week’s sparkling wine is a Korbel’s “ultimate reserve champagne”, from the 2004 vintage.  Korbel, which sells the largest volume of sparkling wine (over 1 million cases) produced using the Méthode Traditionnelle, makes a very modest 1400 cases of this “prestige” cuveé.  It’s unusual to see a vintage sparkler at this price point.  So what’s the difference…

T.G.I.F. Champagne and the like…NV Louis Bouillot Cremant de Bourgogne Perle d’Aurore

This week’s sparkling wine is a Crémant from the Burgundy region of France, the N.V. Louis Bouillot Perle d’ Aurore (Pearl of Dawn).  It is a sparkling Rosé. Burgundy is best known for their world-class Pinot Noir and White Burgundy (Chardonnay). N.V. Louis Bouillot Cremant de Bourgogne Rosé “Perle d’Aurore” Region: France; Burgundy; Cremant de Bourgogne…