Behind the Cork™ - Le Orme Barbera D' Asti

2020 Michele Chiarlo Le Orme Barbera D’Asti ($12)

Since 1956, Michele Chiarlo has been vinifying the essence of Piedmont, loving and developing the most incredible wine region in the world. They cultivate 110 hectares of vineyards between the Langhe, Monferrato, and Gavi areas, within them the finest crus while fully respecting the ecological criteria, terroir, and their expression.

This 100% Barbera is from several vineyards south of the Asti Hills in Piedmont, Italy. It was fermented in steel tanks with 10 days of maceration with skins while undergoing pumpovers. Malolactic conversion also occurred in steel. It was then aged for a minimum of one year with three months in French oak casks.

This Le Orme (the footsteps or the legacy) Barbera D’Asti DOCG is medium ruby in color with a nice aroma of red fruit. On the palate, this medium-bodied wine has flavors of red cherry and blackberry with herbal and peppery notes. Barbera is typically higher in acidity and this one is medium-high with medium tannin. It finishes bright and spicy with good fruit flavor.

If you haven’t tried a Barbera, you’re missing out. And this Barbera D’Asti is a good one at a great price. That makes it a great fit as the Behind the Cork™ Wine of the Week. Cheers!

How Do You Like Your Chardonnay - Bright and Crisp or Soft and Buttery? Part 1

Photo by Corina Rainer on Unsplash

Chardonnay is one of the most widely planted varieties. Although it is probably best known as the white grape of Burgundy and a major grape of Champagne. Chardonnay is a versatile grape, and its style can vary widely depending on where it’s grown and how it’s made.

Basically, Chardonnay produces wines of a light golden hue, with notes of citrus, green apple, with floral aromas. On the palate, Chardonnay has moderate acidity and moderate alcohol with a medium body. But beyond that, it’s said that Chardonnay is a bit of a chameleon — it reflects its winemaking process more than almost any other grape.

So, let’s start by exploring the first style of Chardonnay: Crisp and Bright.

This style is based on Chardonnay’s natural high acidity with flavors of green apple, lemon, lime and pineapple. It is fermented and aged in stainless steel tanks so as to leave these flavors unaltered. They are minimally aged and consumed young so as to feature the bright acidity, crisp citrus and tropical fruit flavors as well as its minerality.

This style of Chardonnay can most notably come from France (Chablis), New Zealand, Oregon and California. It’s probably the style to start with if you are unsure about Chardonnay. It’s going to be light, refreshing and mouthwatering. And, if you are already a fan of Sauvignon Blanc or Pinot Grigio, you’ll likely also enjoy a bright and crisp, un-oaked Chardonnay.

Next time we’ll take a look at the Soft and Buttery style of Chardonnay. Cheers!

Behind the Cork™ - Fiuza 3 Castas Reserva

2020 Fiuza 3 Castas Reserva ($8.66)

This wine is from Tejo, a historic wine region in central Portugal, inland from Lisbon, and known for its diverse terroirs shaped by the Tejo River, which divides it into the Bairro, Campo, and Charneca zones. The region, formerly known as Ribatejo, produces affordable high-quality red, white, rosé, and sparkling wines from both indigenous Portuguese grapes and international varieties.

Fiuza 3 Castas Reserva is produced from three grape varieties (hence the name, 3 Castas) including 34% Touriga National, 33% Alicante Bouschet and 33% Sousão (aka Vinhao). It was partially aged in French oak.

This wine is medium purple in color with very delicate aromas of blackberries and plum with hints of spice. On the palate, this medium-full bodied wine has flavors of black fruit and candied cherry (from the Alicante Bouschet) along with blueberry (from the Touriga Nacional) and medium-high acidity from the Sousão. It finishes smooth and fruity with just a hint of sweetness.

This Fiuza 3 Costas Reserva is a very nice wine at a great price, making it a great fit as the Behind the Cork™ Wine of the Week. 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™ - Finca Los Principes Rioja Gran Reserva

2016 Finca Los Principes Rioja Gran Reserva ($19.99)

Finca “Los Principes” (The Princes) is a wine from the Spanish wine region of Rioja.

This wine is made from grapes grown in a historic vineyard in the foothills of the Cantabria Mountains that stretch across northern Spain. The winery has six generations of winemaking experience.

This Rioja wine is produced from 100% Tempranillo grapes. Per the standards for a “Gran Reserva,” it was required to undergo a minimum of five years of aging, with at least two of those years in oak barrels.

This Finca Los Principes Rioja Gran Reserva is a medium ruby red in color with big aromas of red fruit, oak and herbal notes including tobacco. On the palate, this is a medium-full bodied wine with nice flavors of red cherry, black cherry and fig. The oak aging leads to some subtle flavor of cocoa. This wine is medium-high in tannin and acidity and finishes a bit spicy with an every so slight tartness.

Gran Reserva wines from Rioja can be extraordinary. And, this Finca Los Principes is indeed. And, at this price, is a terrific fit as the Behind the Cork™ Wine of the Week. Cheers!