Category: Food: Wine

We Toast October 2024 with a Sparking Sake to Honor The Passionate Foodie, Richard Auffrey

This month, we'll raise a glass of sparkling Sake to another wine hero, Richard Auffrey, from The Passionate Foodie blog. Richard has been writing about food and wine for as long as we have. We've followed him for nearly two decades and find him a reliable food and wine scout.

We love his rants about the world of food and wine! His recent article, "Rant: Boston+ Area Restaurants, Want To Be Cutting Edge? Embrace Sake," inspired us to try sparkling Sake.

If you want to try Sake or learn more about it, click on the post above and the link to the food pairings he suggests. Then, stroll around the site for more on that topic or other food and wine recommendations.

We even had a bottle of sparkling Sake in our wine rack. While this particular one may not have been Richard-approved, it did come from a trustworthy wine shop owned by people who care about wines of all kinds. We suggest you go to The Passionate Foodie and let Richard recommend your choice of Sake.

Trying wines from different places, made with different grapes (OR RICE) and produced by different methods, adds spice to our monthly ritual. Since 2007, we have raised a glass of sparkling wine to greet each new month!

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Words: Penny & Ed Cherubino
Photos: Unsplash

October 1, 2024
On September 1, 2024 We Will Raise a Glass of DiBon Cava to Oz Wine Company

We always have a few bottles of Dibon Cava in our wine rack. Today, we will pop a cork and raise a glass of this great-value wine to the Oz Wine Company and its founder, Andrew Bishop.

We have toasted this Massachusett business before but recently discovered new reasons to salute their work. We have been on the hunt for non-alcoholic (NOLO) sparkling wines. Most of what we've tried disappointed. In one of our recent visits to the Oz website to see what new producers they have added to their list, we discovered that they have selected Muri Drinks from Denmark as a NOLO addition to their line.

We found that we can buy these NOLO sparklers locally at Formaggio Kitchen, which doubles as a double endorsement of their quality. The combination of a trusted wine merchant and a trusted distributor means we look forward to adding a house NOLO sparkler to our wine rack.

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Words: Penny & Ed Cherubino
Photos: ©2020 Penny & Ed Cherubino

September 1, 2024
On August 1, 2024 We’ll Toast Our Hospitality Wine Mentors with a Sparkling Wine

Most of what we've learned about wines has happened across a bar or sitting at a table in a restaurant. This is our year of toasting our wine heroes. And so, we raise a glass to all the great hospitality industry people who have shared their wine wisdom with us. We can't tell you what we will be drinking or where we will be toasting because we haven't decided yet!

We won't try to name all the people who have shared their wine advice with us, but we know they have changed many things we do around wine.

We always ask for regular wine glasses for sparkling wines since one of our favorite mentors reminded us that the wine he was about to pour, while sparkling, was a wine first and a great one. That called for an appropriate glass to swirl, sniff, and enjoy the wine with all our senses. Here's to those who enhance the full wine experience.

We have wine mentors we followed from one bar to another. We finally celebrated with one of them when he opened his own place. We love to sit at bars and have a collection of some of the greatest bartenders in the area who have shared wine info with us. Here's to all of those men and women.

We love having a half-bottle of great wine available when dining out. Here's to all the creative minds behind the wine list that includes excellent options by the glass and half-bottle.

Pairing wine with food is an art form in itself. Offering a selection of wines that match a menu with regional flair gives us a way to try wines from that area. Here's to all the restaurateurs who support the wine from their favorite food cultures.

Think of August 2024 as the month to say thank you when someone recommends a wine that is perfect for your meal. Go visit a wine mentor who has added to your wine knowledge and raise a glass to that person as you remind them of something they taught you.

Trying wines from different places, made with different grapes and produced by different methods, adds spice to our monthly ritual. Since 2007, we have raised a glass of sparkling wine to greet each new month!

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Words: Penny & Ed Cherubino
Photos: ©2020 Penny & Ed Cherubino

August 1, 2024
A July 1, 2024 Toast to the Franco Family with a Glass of Nino Franco Rustico

This month, we'll raise a glass of Nino Franco Rustico Valdobbiadene Prosecco Superiore DOCG to the Franco Family. Over the past century, they have elevated Prosecco to new levels of sparkling wine greatness.

Just as other winemakers worldwide deserve to be called heroes for the efforts they have made to raise the standard of their particular wines, the Franco family has created a line of sparking wines of superior quality.

They say, "Nino Franco's Proseccos live on imagination."

As for the secret that gives their wines something special that is hard to describe, They say:

"The truth is contained in the personalities of Primo and Silvia Franco who alchemically merge with the mystery of the terroir, linking man, nature and wine in a continuous flow of exchanges and revelations."

"Before being sparkling wines, they are mental snapshots generated by the experience and imagination of their authors. They are the result of tastings, acquaintances, advice and, why not, accidents along the way. In Nino Franco's labels, Primo's passion for architecture, Silvia's search for beauty, and the taste for a Prosecco shaped by the personality of its vineyard, which does not hide its complex character but expresses the constant tension towards the search for an absolute: 'the wine you would like to drink', reverberates."

This is one of our favorite wines. It's our house sparkler, always on hand for any meal or celebration. We often raise a glass to toast the warm, friendly family who produce it.

Here are Primo, his daughter Silvia, her mother and his wife Annalisa. Silvia is the fourth generation of the Franco family to add to the growth of excellence in wines from Valdobbiadene. We have corresponded with Silvia for many years and were happy to meet her when she came to Boston.

In the photo above, Silvia was signing a bottle of Rustico for us to have on the evening they celebrated their 100th anniversary. While they raised their glasses at the vineyard, we opened that bottle and raised our glasses here.

Trying wines from different places, made with various grapes and produced by different methods, adds spice to our monthly ritual. Since 2007, we have raised a glass of sparkling wine to greet each new month!

We purchase our bottle at Gordon's for $30.99

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Words: Penny & Ed Cherubino
Photos: ©2020 Penny & Ed Cherubino

July 1, 2024
On June 1st, 2024 We Toast Urban Grape Wine Shop with a Glass of Black Girl Magic California Sparkling Brut

We are saluting our wine heroes with our monthly toasts of something sparkling in 2024. This month, those heroes are TJ and Hadley Douglas, owners of the Urban Grape wine shops in Boston and Washington, D.C.

Our toast to them will be with a glass of Black Girl Magic California Sparkling Brut. This wine is a great example of why we support their work by shopping for wine at their South End shop.

Why Urban Grape?

We love the shopping experience at Urban Grape. Advisor, a wine industry trade publication, did a great job summarizing why it is unique when it covered the opening of their new shop in Washington, D.C.

"As America’s largest certified Black-owned beverage retailer, The Urban Grape thoughtfully curates wine, beer and spirits with an emphasis on representation for diverse makers, regions and varietals. Washington regulations that allow retailers to import products will help The Urban Grape expand the number of BIPOC-produced beverages it sells in the store and online, including products not available at retail anywhere else in the country."

"TJ and Hadley have proven that telling the stories of diverse regions and makers naturally attracts loyal customers who want to purchase outside of the traditionally stocked brands. For example, less than 1% of wine is BIPOC produced, but it is more than 20% of The Urban Grape’s sales."

We also love their progressive scale for organizing wines. We love sparkling wine that is low in alcohol and extremely food-friendly. We love Pinot Noirs, but mainly the lighter ones. We love a good dry Reisling. Here they explain how the progressive scale works.

Why Black Girl Magic California Sparkling Brut?

This was one of the diverse-origin wines we picked up with our last order from Urban Grape. As we read the story behind each selection, we decided that this was the winery with the most fascinating tale, and it was from two women who, like TJ and Hadley, are changing the wine world. Like Urban Grape, the McBride Sisters are on a mission. They say:

"Founded by real-life sisters Robin McBride and Andréa McBride John, McBride Sisters Wine Company is the largest Black-owned and largest all women-founded wine company in the United States. Our mission is to transform the industry, lead by example and cultivate community, one delicious glass at a time.

We serve the “New Majority”, that have been ignored by the U.S. wine industry for many years, who are thirsty and want to be welcomed into the world of wine. Our mission is to break down barriers and make the future of wine more accessible."

What's With the Popcorn?

We often follow the winemakers' guidance when choosing the food that accompanies our toast. And sometimes, we just want to snack and sip.

The McBride Sisters say: "Pair with oysters, sushi, fried chicken and waffles, eggs benedict – or even popcorn and movie night."

Trying wines from different places, made with different grapes and produced by different methods, adds spice to our monthly ritual. Since 2007, we have raised a glass of sparkling wine to greet each new month!

We purchase our bottle at Urban Grape for $22.

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Words: Penny & Ed Cherubino
Photos: ©2024 Penny Cherubino

June 1, 2024
We Toast May 1, 2024 with a Bottle of Dibon Cava from Oz Wines.

This is our year of toasts saluting our wine heroes. Andrew Bishop, Founder and CEO of Oz Wine Company, certainly deserves recognition. This month, we'll raise a glass of one of their great-value wines, Dibon Cava. In addition to providing us with a great selection of wines as both an importer and distributor, Oz Wines is located in Methuen, MA, so we are supporting a local business.

We have our usual details about the Dibon Cava below. However, we also want to tell you a bit about Oz wines and how we use experts like Andrew Bishop to select more interesting wines. We know we are likely to enjoy his selections.

When we're in a great wine shop looking for a new wine, we always turn the bottle over to see the name of the importer. If the wine was imported by a trusted resource like Oz Wines, it makes our short list. Then, we will ask the shop assistants for a bit more information and their opinion on this selection. We might mention other Oz Wines imports and distributes to give a clue to our taste.

Occasionally, we go to the Oz website to find more information. Once, when we bought our first Portuguese Sparkling wine, Filipa Pato's 3B Rosé, we contacted the importer to improve our wine education. This post from 2012 is an example of an Andrew Bishop educational chat.

Now back to Dibon Cava! Here's what we said back in 2012

Except for the price, which is still reasonable in today's dollars, it still holds true today.

"Dibon Cava Brut Reserve ($9.99) is so impressive, you’ll want to share this find with every wine-lover you know. If “balance” is a fault, then it’s this wine’s only fault! It will please a wide range of tastes– not too dry or too fruity. A light nose that reminded us of citrus? lemon curd? No, dried apricot.

It's light, refreshing, and inviting. Very food-friendly (spicy chicken wings, potatoes, roasted root vegetables worked for us). This cava also shines all on it’s own! And, it was still very good as it warmed."

We purchase our current bottle at Urban Grape for $14.00.

Trying wines from different places, made with different grapes and produced by different methods, adds spice to our monthly ritual. Since 2007, we have raised a glass of sparkling wine to greet each new month!

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Words: Penny & Ed Cherubino
Photos: ©2020 Penny & Ed Cherubino

May 1, 2024
We’ll Toast April 1, 2024 and Women in Wine with a Glass of NV Camille Savés “Carte Blanche” Grand Cru Brut
Our April 1, 2024 toast will salute the women who have and still are paving the way for women to make their way into the world of wine from workers, winemakers, and vineyard owners. In addition, there all the women teaching others about wine in shops, restaurants, and media. This is our year of recognizing wine heroes and the women who have fought for, made a place for themselves in the wine business, and then reached a helping hand back to other women who are HEROS!

We raise a glass of NV Camille Savés "Carte Blanche" Grand Cru Brut for all women in wine, past and present. The New York Times wine expert Eric Asimov's article "The Wine Heiresses Apparent" is recommended reading on this topic. Here is an article on Women Who Influence Wine today. Finally, a piece about Notable First Women in Wine History

This is a fantastic half bottle of Champagne that we've enjoyed locally while dining out. We also love the Camille Savés N.V. Brut Rose Grand Cru Champagne.

Here's what we learned about this wine and this wine family.
- This is a Pinot-forward Champagne blend with 75% Pinot Noir and 25% Chardonnay both from Bouzy Grand Cru vineyards. This represents the Camille Savés house style.
- The Urban Grape description is, "The wine offers up a superb nose of apple, quince, bread dough, a complex base of chalky soil tones and a nice top note of spring flowers. On the palate the wine is pure, full-bodied and beautifully delineated, with a fine core, crisp acids, lovely focus and balance, delicate mousse and fine grip on the long and classy finish."
"THE SAVÈS FAMILY has lived in the heart of Bouzy since 1894, as indicated in some registers that still exist today."

"…over the years, Louis, Camille and Hervé have followed in their father’s footsteps as head of the House, perpetuating the family values that established its reputation."

Trying wines from different places, made with different grapes and produced by various methods, adds spice to our monthly ritual.

Since 2007, we've raised a glass of sparkling wine to greet each new month!

We purchased our half bottle at The Urban Grape for $40.00. We ordered our bottle online and picked it up at our convenience. As always, this excellent wine store provides great service.

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Words: Penny & Ed Cherubino
Photos: ©2020 Penny & Ed Cherubino
April 1, 2024
We Toast March 2024 with a Half Bottle of Gruet Brut from New Mexico!

This month, we will put a half bottle of Gruet Brut in to chill and will toast March and the French winemakers who set a high standard for sparking wine from New Mexico, producing wines by the Méthod Champenoise they use in France.

We try to keep a few half bottles of this lovely sparkler on hand for spontaneous celebrations. We agree with the winemakers' description of this value-for-money wine. "Wonderful aromas of green apple and citrus mineral notes make for a delightful start to this traditional sparkler. Our Brut NV offers bright, crisp acidity complemented by a touch of yeast on the delightfully long finish. A classic house style!" We also agree with the "90 points, Smart Buy" rating of this wine by Wine Spectator.

This is our year of honoring heroes of the sparkling wine world. The Gruet family are not only heroes; they have a great story that we will quote from their website.

"In 1983, the Gruet Family was traveling through the southwestern part of the US, and while in New Mexico met a group of European winemakers who had successfully planted vineyards in Engle, near the town of Truth or Consequences, 170 miles south of the city of Albuquerque. After hearing of vineyards planted there as early as the 1600s, and learning about the specific climate and soil conditions of the region, the Gruet Family knew they had found what they were looking for. In 1984, Gilbert Gruet – whose Champagne house (Gruet et Fils) has produced fine Champagnes in Bethon, France since 1952 – made the decision to plant an experimental vineyard in Engle, NM. The plantings were exclusively Chardonnay and Pinot Noir grapes. Two of his four children, Laurent and Nathalie Gruet then relocated to New Mexico to begin their American winemaking adventure."

Trying wines from different places, made with different grapes and produced by different methods, adds spice to our monthly ritual. Since 2007, we've raised a glass of sparkling wine to greet each new month!

We purchase our bottle at Gordon's Fine Wine and Spirits for $9.99 with a case discount.

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Words: Penny & Ed Cherubino
Photos: ©2020 Penny & Ed Cherubino

March 1, 2024
Our January 1, 2024 Toast will be the Dr. Konstantin Frank Winery 2018 Brut Rosé

Our opening to 2024 will be with a bottle of Dr. Konstantin Frank Winery 2018 Brut Rosé.

Each year, we pick a theme for our monthly toasts. For 2024, we will choose wines in recognition of our wine heroes. These people have made a difference in the wine world or our personal wine education and experience.

We were introduced to the Dr. Konstantin Frank Winery by our special food and wine friends Peter and David, who shopped, cooked, and drank with us for the years they lived in Jamaica Plain. Today, they live in San Francisco and wander around the great vineyards of their region, tasting, joining wine clubs, and sharing what they learn with us when we get together.

Dr. Konstantin Frank certainly holds a hero's spot in the history of wine. We'll let the winery tell his story. They say,

"Dr. Konstantin Frank ignited the “Vinifera Revolution” a movement that forever changed the course of wine growing in the Finger Lakes and the United States. Dr. Frank’s vision, knowledge and determination are credited with elevating the New York wine industry from a state of happy mediocrity to a level that today commands world attention."

"Dr. Konstantin Frank fell in love with a special property on Keuka Lake for its exceptional characteristics – shale-based soils and steep slopes. With decades of knowledge and experience, he successfully planted the first European grape varieties on our home vineyard in 1958. Many of these Riesling, Chardonnay, and Pinot Noir vines are still in production to this day and they represent some of the oldest vines in America."

Trying wines from different places, made with different grapes and produced by different methods, adds spice to our monthly ritual. Since 2007, we have raised a glass of sparkling wine to greet each new month!

We purchase our bottle for $34.99 from the vineyard before a multiple-bottle discount.

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Words: Penny & Ed Cherubino
Photos: ©2020 Penny & Ed Cherubino

January 1, 2024
On February 1, 2024 We’ll Raise a Glass of 2021 Raventos i Blanc de Nit Cava

The 2021 Raventos i Blanc de Nit Cava is our wine of the month for our February 1st toast for a couple of reasons. We chose a theme for the sparkling wine we will feature to toast the new month. This year we will salute a wine hero each time the first rolls around.

You must admit there is something heroic about a family that has been making wine for five centuries and 21 generations. That is the epic story of the Raventós family. They proudly display their timeline of winemakers and milestones on their website.

This family has elevated Cava to a premium spot on some of the area's best wine lists. In an effort to set their wines apart from average cava production, Pepe Raventós has a new goal set in 2012 on the site.

"Because we are convinced that we have something unique to offer, one of the sparkling wines with the highest mineral expressions in the world, we are working towards creating a new Designation of Origin restricted to a well-defined area with specific winegrowing and winemaking requirements. This is why we have started to call our sparkling wines

Conca del Riu Anoia, as our dream for the future is to create a new DO for the world’s highest quality sparkling wines."

Trying wines from different places, made with different grapes and produced by different methods, adds spice to our monthly ritual. Since 2007, we have raised a glass of sparkling wine to greet each new month!

We purchase our bottle at The Urban Grape for $30.

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Words: Penny & Ed Cherubino
Photos: ©2020 Penny & Ed Cherubino

January 1, 2024