Behind the Cork™ - Vilarnau Cava

Vilarnau Cava

These two wonderful Cavas are from Vilarnau in Spain. The winery is a small, artisanal, hand crafted Cava house located outside of Barcelona that dates back to 1949. Made in the traditional méthode champenoise, the Vilarnau bottles honor their Catalan roots with wrapping that reflects the beautiful avant-­garde imagery of Antoni Gaudí.

• Vilarnau Brut Reserva NV ($14.99) This Brut Cava is made from three varietals: 50% Macabeo, 35% Parellada, 15% Xarel.lo. They are each made separately. The first fermentation for each varietal takes place over 30 days before being blended. The second fermentation occurs the traditional way, in the bottle, where the yeast turns the wines in to Cava with its characteristic bubbles. It is classified as a "Reserva" because it was aged for more than 15 months in the bottle.

• Vilarnau Brut Reserva Rosé NV ($15.99) This rosé Cava is produced from 85% Garnacha and 15% Pinot Noir. They are fermented separately in stainless steel tanks for 30 days. They are then blended and bottled to start the second fermentation which takes about six weeks. It then stays in contact with the yeast for at least 15 month in the bottle during the aging process which qualifies this Cava as a “Reserva.” It has delicate flavors of ripe strawberries, raspberries and blueberries. It’s smooth, creamy and refreshing. This bottle is always a strong favorite when served!

While Vilarnau Cava itself has been organic for quite some time, the organic seal has been approved for the Brut and soon the bottles in the U.S. market will showcase the organic label with the Rosé soon to follow.

Vilarnau cavas are imported by González Byass USA and are distributed nationally, including being available on Wine.com. Cheers!

---

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

Samples Provided by Donna White Communications

Behind the Cork™ - Clean Slate Riesling

Clean Slate Riesling ($12)

This Clean Slate Riesling is from Mosel, Germany. The Mosel region has a great wine growing tradition of more than 2000 years, taken there by the Romans. It is recognized as the home of Riesling. The soil's thin slate stones are essential to ripening grapes in this cool climate because they reflect and retain heat.

This Clean Slate Riesling is made from 100% Riesling grapes that underwent a gentle pressing after which it was fermented with selected yeasts under temperature-controlled conditions and aged in stainless steel tanks for an average of four months until bottling. The vineyard was planted in 1980. The first vintage of this wine was produced in 2005.

This Riesling is a medium straw color and a light floral aroma. On the palate it is light-bodied with soft fruit flavors of apricot and a hit of lemon. It has medium acidity and is off-dry with 20 g/L residual sugar (RS) and 10.6% alcohol by volume (ABV).

Riesling is one of the the most versatile white wines for food pairing. This Riesling goes well with a wide range of food options and is particularly well suited for hot and spicy foods. But then again, it’s nice on its own. Cheers!

---

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

Inported by Winebow Imports

Sample Provided by Jarvis Communications

Behind the Cork™ - St. Supéry Estate Sauvignon Blanc

St. Supéry Estate Sauvignon Blanc ($22)

St. Supéry Estate Vineyards and Winery is a 100% Estate Grown, sustainably farmed winery located in the renowned Rutherford growing region in the heart of Napa Valley. Committed to producing the highest quality estate wines without compromise, they focus on sustainable winery and farming operations to protect the land and environment for future generations.

This wine from St. Supéry is 100% Sauvignon Blanc. After achieving the desired flavors on the vine, the Sauvignon Blanc was harvested in the cool morning hours in an effort to preserve the delicate flavors. The fruit was received in the cellar, where the grapes were pressed to tank and immediately chilled and settled prior to fermentation. All fermentation was completed in stainless steel tanks at cool temperatures to maintain and enhance the natural flavors. The final blend was completed soon thereafter to capture the lovely fresh qualities and intensity of flavor of the Sauvignon Blanc.

The St. Supéry Sauvignon Blanc is pale straw in color and has the expected aromas of grapefruit and lime. What was unexpected was the richness and smoothness of this Sauvignon Blanc. While it has nice acidity it’s more delicate than other Sauvignon Blanc wines. I found this one to be very elegant and refined.

This is truly an amazing Sauvignon Blanc and worthy of being featured as a Behind the Cork™ Exceptional Wine. If you like Sauvignon Blanc, I think you’ll love this one! Cheers!

---

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

Samples Provided by St. Supéry Estate Vineyards and Winery

Behind the Cork™ - Ponga Sauvignon Blanc

2020 Ponga Sauvignon Blanc ($13)

Ponga is the name used by New Zealand’s indigenous people for their country’s silver fern. As the silver reflects moonlight, the Maori used the leaves to mark their way at night.

This wine from Ponga is made from 100% Sauvignon Blanc from the Marlborough wine region. Fermentation took place in stainless steel vessels at 15 ̊ C to 19 ̊ C to ensure the fresh and fruit forward flavors were retained. It was then bottled early to ensure the primary characteristics were preserved.

This Ponga Sauvignon Blanc is pale straw in color. It has aromas of grapefruit, grass and green herbs. On the palate it begins light and cool, becomes quite smooth and then finishes with bright acidity. There is 5.2 g/liter of residual sugar (RS) that counterbalances the high acidity and makes for a very refreshing sip.

This wine is a great value and thus worthy of being featured as a Behind the Cork™ Wine of the Week. Enjoy with one with seafood or sip a glass before your meal, with or without hors d’oeuvres. Cheers!

---

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

Imported by Winebow Imports

Sample Provided by Jarvis Communications

Behind the Cork™ - Venturini Baldini Lambrusco

Venturini Baldini Lambrusco Sparkling Wines

Venturini Baldini is a 130 acre estate from the 17th century, situated in the hills between Reggio Emilia and Parma. They have been producing organic Lambrusco and sparkling wines since 1976. Since the early 1990’s, Venturini Baldini has been growing only organically certified grapes. The winery was one of the first in Italy and the first in the region to switch to an entirely organic production, and this commitment is now deeply rooted in their approach to farming and wine making.

In 2013, Giuseppe and Julia Prestia took over the estate from the Venturini Baldini family, continuing the visionary work of the previous owners to produce organic sparkling wines.

These are excellent examples of finely craft Lambrusco wines from Italy, not to be confused with the cheap candy-sweet Lambrusco that were popularized the 1970s and 1980s. All of these excellent wines underwent a secondary fermentation using the Charmat method to achieve the light effervescence.

Venturini Baldini Montelocco Lambrusco Emilia IGP NV ($16.99) - This Lambrusco is a single-variety wine produced with Salamino grapes. It is deep purple in color with fragrances of herbs and dark red fruit. On the the palate it has very light fizz, is off-dry and has a nice black cherry flavor. (11.5 % ABV)

Venturini Baldini Marchese Manodori Reggiano Lambrusco NV (18.99) - This is a blend of the Lambrusco varieties Marani, Maestri, Salamino, and Grasparossa. It is fruity and spicy, with hints of wild violet and mellow cherry aroma along with a delicately spicy fragrance of clove and pepper.  It medium-bodied and refreshing with light tannin. (12% ABV)

Venturini Baldini Ca’ del Vento Spumante Rosato Brut DOP ($18.99) - This sparkling rose is made from the Lambrusco varieties of Sorbara and Grasparossa.  It’s exactly what you want in a sparkling rosé. It’s lightly fragrant, dry and refreshing. (12% ABV)

These are wonderful examples of truly refined Lambrusco sparkling wines at an affordable price and therefore a great fit for being 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. The opinions expressed are entirely my own.

Samples Provided ZEDCOMM Italy