Behind the Cork™ - Domane Wachau Gruner Veltliner

2021 Domäne Wachau Grüner Veltliner Federspiel Tarrassen ($18.99)

Domäne Wachau is deeply rooted in the Wachau region of Austria and manages 30 percent of the entire Wachau vineyard area (400 hectares), including half of Austria’s most iconic vineyard, Achleiten. Additional famous vineyards such as Kollmitz, Liebenberg and Tausend-Eimer-Berg are found on the Domäne Wachau’s vineyard map and make it the only winery in the Wachau with wines from all of the most prestigious sites in the region.

The grapes for this Grüner Veltliner (grew-ner felt-lee-ner) Federspiel (11.5%-12.5% ABV) Terrassen are from steeply terraced vineyards above the Danube River, throughout the Wachau valley in Austria. It is here that two-thirds of the world’s Grüner Veltliner grapes are grown.

This wine is one of two key styles of Grüner Veltliner wine. It is lighter, fresher and with minerality and citrus character. And, like this one, is often bottled with a slight spritz that helps to emphasize its fresh fruity notes.

This wine is pale gold in color with aromas of green apple and citrus. On the palate, it has bright fruit flavors, very light bubbles, refreshing acidity and wonderfully light finish. This is a dry wine with just 1 g/l of residual sugar.

This is a super refreshing wine that should be well chilled. Cheers!

Samples Imported and Provided by Gonzalez Byass (via Donna White Communications)

Behind the Cork™ - Josh White Wines

Josh White Wines

Josh Cellars is produced by Joseph Carr who named his wines “Josh” for his father.

Josh Cellars is produced as a negociant brand. That means they don’t actually own a winery or any vineyards. At first that might seem odd. But, it’s actually much like some of the world’s greatest chateaux in Bordeaux and Burgundy France.

As a negociant, they work with California’s best growers to acquire grapes from select vineyards in California’s most prestigious appellations––Napa Valley’s Rutherford, Stags Leap District, Oakville, Coombsville, Mt. Veeder, and Carneros AVAs, along with Paso Robles to the south. Then, they allow their winemaker, Wayne Donaldson, to make their wines using his experience of over a decade making sparkling wine at one of the world’s largest and most prestigious champagne house where blending is essential to making great wines.

2021 Josh Cellars Pinot Grigio ($14.99)

This Pinot Grigio is straw color with aromas of pear, cantaloupe and minerals. On the palate it has flavors of green apple with bright acidity and an easy finish. (12.5% ABV)

2020 Josh Cellars Sauvignon Blanc ($14.99)

The Sauvignon Blanc is a pale straw yellow in color with aromas of grapefruit, honeydew and citrus. On the palate it has bright flavors of pineapple and tropical fruit with refreshing acidity that lingers. (13% ABV)

2020 Josh Cellars Chardonnay ($14.99)

This Chardonnay is pale gold in color with aromas of pear and baked apple. On the palate it has bright fruit flavors with a touch of lemon zest. It is balanced with 10% new French oak to add just a hint of oak. This Chardonnay does undergo malolactic conversion to give it a soft mouth-feel but still retains it fruit-forward flavors.

Each of these wines is fermented in stainless steel tanks to maximize the varietal expression, preserve aromas and produce their wines in the signature Josh Cellars style - fruit forward and a long finish. They are affordable and attainable making them a great fit as Behind the Cork™ Wines 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 by Joseph Carr Wines (via Donna White Communications)

Behind the Cork™ - Monte Velho Wines

These Monte Velho wines are from Portugal’s Esporão Group. Both are produced from blends of grapes from Portugal’s Alentejo region. This region, in eastern Portugal, covers approximately one-third of the country and is best known for its red wines. But, whites and rosés are rapid-growing segments.

Monte Velho (MON-tay VELL-yo), meaning “old mound,” references a high point on the property, capped by the ancient fort depicted on their labels.

2021 Monte Velho White ($12): This wine is a blend of Alentejo’s unique grapes: 40% Antão Vaz, 20% Perrum, and 40% Roupeiro. Antão Vaz, a full-bodied white, is known for its vibrant tropical fruit flavors while Roupeiro adds citrus notes and acidity. These two big-flavored grapes are softened by Perrum, a grape known as a low-sugar producer. This white blend is pale gold in color with aromas of tropical fruit, green apple and hints of citrus. On the palate it is soft with delicate flavors, medium acidity and a refreshing finish.

2021 Monte Velho Rosé ($12): This wine is the most recent addition to the Monte Velho wines, making its U.S. debut in spring 2022 with the 2021 vintage. It is produced from a combination of red grapes (Touriga Nacional, Aragonez, Syrah, Trincadeira and Tinta Caiada) and white (Arinto). This Monte Velho Rosé is a medium salmon color with aromas of strawberry and citrus notes. On the palate it has flavors of cherry and raspberry, good acidity and a light and refreshing finish. At 1 gm/l of residual sugar and 12.5% ABV, this is a dry wine yet it has sweet fruit flavors.

Both of these wines are certified vegan by the European Vegetarian Union. Being affordable and attainable, these wines are a great fit as Behind the Cork™ Wines 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 by Esporão Group (via Creative Palate Communications)

Behind the Cork™ - Le Petit Verre Wines

Le Petit Verre Wines

From the Tupungato Valley of Argentina’s Uco Valley comes Le Petit Verre Wines. And, they are imported by Origins Organic which is run by Anne Bousquet of the Domaine Bousquet family winery in Argentina.

Roughly translated as “The Small Glass,” Le Petit Verre wines come in convenient 250 ml cans (1/3 of a bottle) for easy storage and carrying where ever you chose to go.

The grapes for both of these wines are 100% certified organic from Tupungato Valley, a high-altitude sub-zone of Mendoza’s Uco Valley that you may already know for producing great wines, especially Malbec.

Le Petit Verre Bubbly Rosé ($13 for a 4-pack)

This wonderful bubbly is produced from 50% Pinot Noir, 30% Syrah and 10% Viognier. It has a beautiful salmon color, is lightly bubbly with delicious vibrant fruit flavors, good acidity and a refreshing finish.

Le Petit Verre Malbec ($13 for a 4-pack)

Argentina’s Uco valley is famous for its Malbec and this one is produced from 100% Malbec. It’s medium-purple in color, has nice black fruit aromas that follow right into the flavors of this wine with moderate tannin, and a classic tart cherry flavor finish.

Don’t let the can fool you, both the Bubbly Rosé and Malbec are serious wines that can be enjoyed anytime. These wines, made from organic grapes, are a great value and are widely available which makes them a great fit as the Behind the Cork™ Wines of the Week. Look for these and enjoy! 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 Origins Organic Imports (via Creative Palate Communications)

Behind the Cork™ -- Sandy Giovese Vino Rosso

Sandy Giovese Vino Rosso ($32)

Amy Ezrin, the founder of Sandy Giovese wines, was training to be an opera singer and lived in Italy for eight years. During this time, she found that she was an OK singer but was really good at speaking Italian and tasting wine. So, she got into the wine business.

She jokes that her alter ego was Sandy Giovese, which is a play on the name of one of Italy’s greatest red grapes, Sangiovese.

This Sandy Giovese Vino Rosso might seem to just be a fun and whimsical box of wine. But, it’s actually a seriously good wine that also happens to be a tremendous value.

Sandy Giovese Vino Rosso is organically farmed and produced from 85% Sangiovese (the grape that is famous for Chianti wine) and 15% Trebbiano.

Vino Rosso is medium ruby in color with jammy aromas of red fruit and herbal notes. On the palate it has the classic Sangiovese flavor of red cherries. It’s medium bodied with medium acidity and finishes light and refreshing.

If you are still on the fence with respect to box wine, here’s your reason to hop off and pick one up! This one is 3 liters of really nice wine for the price of a couple of bottles. And, it’ll last for weeks (if you have enough restraint!). All this make the Sandy Giovese Vino Rosso a great fit as the Behind the Cork™ Wine of the Week.

And, look for Rosie Giovese Vino Rosato (Rosé) also in the 3 liter box! Cheers!

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

Sample Provided by Sandy Giovese Wines (via Savona Communications)