Behind the Cork™ - Alta Vista Brut Rose

Alta Vista Brut Rosé ($18.99)

Alta Vista was founded by Count Patrick d’Aulan, heir of more than 250 years of winemaking tradition. With an enterprising spirit, he arrived in Argentina in the 1990s looking for the best regions of Los Andes.

The winery is located in Chacras de Coria, Mendoza. Having been built in 1890, it is a local heritage site of Mendoza.

Count Patrick d’Aulan and his family, former owners of Piper Heidsieck, one of the oldest Champagne Houses, developed the project and started the restoration.

This Alta Vista Brut Rosé is produced from Malbec (50%) & Pinot Noir (50%) that was sourced from the Albaneve estate vineyard. Using the Charmat method, the second fermentation took place in a pressurized tank.

This Brut Rosé is pale salmon in color with aromas of cherry, strawberry and floral notes. On the palate, this light-bodied wine has citrus notes, bright refreshing acidity and medium bubbles. While being on the sweeter end of the “Brut” range, the citrus and acidity combine to create agrapefruit-like finish with a combination of tartness and sweetness. [ABV: 12.8, TA: 7.6 g/L, pH:3.0, RS: 11 g/L]

This Alta Vista Brut Rosé is light and refreshing - a great sparkling wine that combines Alta Vista's French heritage with Argentina's unique terroir. That makes it a perfect fit as this week's Behind the Cork™ Wine of the Week. Cheers!

Disclosure of Wine Sample Submission: I received this sample at no cost for review. The opinions expressed are entirely my own.

Media Sample Provided by Alta Vista Wines via Kobrand Wine and Spirits

Behind the Cork™ - Bouvet Rose Excellence Brut Sparkling Wine

Bouvet Excellence Brut Rosé NV ($19.99)

Since 1851, Bouvet Ladubay, in the Loire Valley, has been one of France’s greatest producers of méthode traditionnelle (naturally fermented in the bottle) sparkling wine.

Founded in 1851 by Etienne Bouvet and his wife Célestine Ladubay, Bouvet Ladubay is the second oldest sparkling wine-producing house in Saumur. By 1890, it had become France’s largest producer of Méthode Traditionnelle wines.

Today, they are run by the fourth generation of the Monmousseau family, producing close to 7 million bottles of wine.

This Bouvet Excellence Brut Rosé is produced from 100% Cabernet Franc, sourced from about 80 growers around Saumur and the Loire Valley area, a classic grape of the region. The grapes undergo a quick maceration on the skins followed by production in the méthode traditionnelle, this sparkling rosé is aged in the bottle on lees for 9 to 24 months.

Bouvet Excellence Brut Rosé is a beautiful light salmon color with very delicate aromas. On the palate, this sparkling rosé is light-bodied with strawberry, raspberry and peach flavors. It’s soft and easy to drink, not sweet, with vey light bubbles that lead to a creamy finish.

This Bouvet Excellence Brut Rosé is a wonderful addition to a warm summer day and goes with most any foods. And, at this price, is a great fit as the Behind the Cork™ Wine of the Week. Cheers!

Disclosure of Wine Sample Submission: I received this sample at no cost for review. The opinions expressed are entirely my own.

Media Sample Provided by Bouvet Ladubay via Kobrand Wine and Spirits

Sparkling Wines to Consider for the Holidays

Sparkling wines really do shine during the holidays—both literally and figuratively. Here’s a few tips on the various types of sparkling wines to enjoying them to the fullest.

Champagne

Champagne is a sparkling wine that is produced in the relatively small region of Champagne in France. An entry level bottle of Champagne is going to start in the $50 range.

Some Champagne facts:

  • Champagne is typically produced from three grapes — Pinot Noir, Chardonnay and Pinot Meunier

  • To be called Champagne, it must be produced in the Champagne region of France. Otherwise, it must be called Sparkling Wine

  • Champagne is produced using a process called the méthode champenoise where the bubbles are formed in the bottle during a second fermentation.

U.S. Sparkling Wine

In the U.S., there are a tremendous number of makers of sparkling wine. Most will produce a wine that can taste very much like the French Champagne. And, you can also find rosé sparkling wines.  An entry level bottle of sparkling wine in the U.S. can be as little as $10. Read more

Prosecco and Asti

In Italy, Prosecco is their signature sparkling wine. Produced in the Veneto region just north of Venice, this sparkling wine usually produces bigger bubbles. Bottles of Prosecco can be purchased in the $10- $15 range. Read more

Cava

The sparkling wine of Spain is Cava that is produced in the Catalonia region of Spain where Barcelona is located.  Nice bottles of Cava can be purchased for around $15. Read more

Styles of Champagne and Sparkling Wine

Brut Nature - This style is bone dry meaning it has little or no sugar content (0–3 g/L sugar).

Extra Brut - This style is also very dry but, it can have up to twice the sugar level of Brut Nature (0–6 g/L sugar). This little bit of sweetness creates a wonderful balance with Champagne’s naturally high acidity.

Brut - This is the most common style. While considered “Dry” this style can have twice the sugar of Extra Brut (0–12 g/L sugar).

Extra Dry - This is the one that always confuses people. This style is sweeter which actually makes it also taste a bit fruity (12–17 g/L sugar).

Dry - The confusing continues. This style is getting up there in sweetness (17–32 g/L sugar).

Demi-Sec - Now you’re talking Sweet (32–50 g/L sugar). This style works well with desserts or cheeses.

Doux - This one, while very rare to find, is really sweet (50+ g/L sugar).

A few serving tips

  • Chill properly: About 40–45°F (4–7°C) is ideal

  • Use proper glassware: Tulip or white wine glasses preserve aroma better than narrow flutes

  • Open gently: Twist the bottle, not the cork, for a quiet, elegant release

No matter which type or style you choose, give sparkling wines a try this holiday season. Cheers!

Prosecco - The Sparkling Wine of Italy

Photo by Fran Taylor on Unsplash

Sparkling wines always seem to be special. And plenty of corks get popped each year. It’s estimated that in 2024, the global consumption of sparkling wine was about 5.4 billion liters or 7.2 billion bottles!

In 2024, the Prosecco DOC denomination of Italy produced about 660 million bottles. So, Prosecco DOC accounts for about 9‑10% of global sparkling wine consumption.

Prosecco is the sparkling wine from the Veneto region of northeastern Italy that is often compared to the best known sparkling wine, Champagne. But, unlike Champagne, it is produced using the Charrmat method where the secondary fermentation occurs in large stainless steel tanks versus in the bottle. And, the grapes used in Prosecco but be at least 85% Glera whereas Champagne is produced from Chardonnay, Pinot Noir and Pinot Meunier. Prosecco’s bubbles do tend to be larger and actually softer than Champagne.

Prosecco is produced in several quality levels:

  • Prosecco DOC - The most common Prosecco that is produced is the Veneto and Friuli Venezia Giula regions

  • Prosecco Conegliano Valdobbiadene Superior DOCG - a top-tier Prosecco made exclusively in a specific hilly area of Veneto

  • Prosecco Colli Asolani DOCG - Known as Asolo Prosecco Superiore DOCG, this is the second DOCG-level Prosecco zone though smaller and less famous

  • Prosecco Conegliano Valdobbiadene Superiore Rive DOCG - Some of the highest-quality, terroir-specific sparkling wines within the Prosecco world

  • Prosecco Valdobbiadene Superiore di Cartizze DOCG - The most prestigious, limited, and luxurious of the entire Prosecco classification system

These Prosecco sparkling wines are produced in the following styles:

  • Extra Brut - Contains 0-6 g/L of Residual Sugar that tend to somewhat rare

  • Brut - Contains 0-12 g/L of Residual Sugar with crisp, clean and zesty flavors

  • Extra Dry - Contains 12-17 g/L of Residual Sugar with sweet, fruit flavors

  • Dry - Contains 17-32 g/L of Residual Sugar that is sweet and rich, a dessert-like wine


So, be sure to look for and try Prosecco. It’s a lot more affordable than Champagne with similar light, fresh and fruity flavors. Perfect for any celebration for just sipping with most any food. Cheers!

Behind the Cork™ - Virginia Wine Governor's Cup Winning Red Wines

The Virginia Wine Governor's Cup® Winning Red Wines

As noted in a previous blog, a qualified team of judges sampled over 620 of the best Virginia wines, ciders and meads from across the Virginia Commonwealth. 

The Virginia Governor’s Cup Competition is one of the most stringent and thorough wine competitions in the United States. The contest is a result of a partnership between the Virginia Wineries Association, which owns and manages the competition and the gubernatorial-appointed Virginia Wine Board.

The highest 12 ranking red and white wines make up the 2025 Governor's Cup Case.  

Here’s the first of the winning reds included in the Governor's Cup Case:

Trump Winery Sparkling Rosé ($44.99)

Trump Winery (formerly Kluge Estate Winery and Vineyard) is a winery on Trump Vineyard Estates in the Piedmont region of the Commonwealth of Virginia in the county of Albemarle. It is within both the Virginia and Monticello viticultural areas and is among the 23 wineries on the Monticello Wine Trail.

The winery and vineyard were established by Patricia Kluge in 1999, and later purchased by Trump in 2011.

Jonathan Wheeler oversees their sparkling, white, and red wine programs. With extensive experience since 2006 and a background from Sonoma, Monterey, Marlborough, and the Finger Lakes, he holds a B.A. in Chemistry from SUNY Oswego and is a member of the Winemaker’s Research Exchange in Virginia.

This Trump sparkling rosé is produced from 88% Chardonnay and 12% Pinot Noir. It is medium copper in color with a delicate that includes cherry and floral notes. On the palate this wine is very bubbly with flavors of strawberry, cherry and grapefruit. [ABV: 12.5%, TA: 10 g/L, pH: 3.25, Residual Sugar: 0.9%]

This is a very refreshing sparkling rosé and a Virginia Wine Governor's Cup® winning wine featured as this week’s Behind the Cork™ Wine of the Week. Cheers!

Disclosure of Wine Sample Submission: I received these samples at no cost for review.

Media Samples Provided by Virginia Wine and Donna White Communications