bostonzest

Tag: sparkling wine

  • Toasting July with Szigeti Grüner Veltliner Brut

    On a recent check of our wine rack, we remembered enjoying a few bottles of Szigeti Grüner Veltliner Brut  over the years. We first toasted with this back in 2011. It's time to share the remaining bottle with friends at our July 1st toast to a Happy New Month. 

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    This wine is from Austria and is made from 100% Grüner Veltliner grapes. This is a grape we turn to when we're eating foods that are difficult to pair with wine, like salads, asparagus, or artichokes. It's a food-friendly wine, also perfect with seafood, oysters, fried, salty, fatty dishes. As a grape we just enjoy, we often try any bottle we spot by a new producer on a wine list. 

    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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    This is another wine from a trusted importer, Winebow.   If you ever see us shopping for wine, you'll notice us reading the back labels to see who selected this wine to import or distribute. When in doubt, we opt for someone who has introduced us to wonderful wines in the past.

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    Related Posts:

    Our Sparkling Resolution is covered in this post : Join Us as We Toast…

    A Few of Our Favorite Gifts for Wine Lovers

    Here are all the wines we've covered. Since this is a category, this post may appear at the top. Just scroll down for more.

    What's on your Food Lover's Shopping List?

    Details:

    Words: Penny & Ed Cherubino
    Photos: ©2019 Penny Cherubino 

  • Our Happy New Month Toast for March Will Be with a Prosecco…

    However, we have not decided which Prosecco, so we have chilled two of our favorites. 

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    On the left is Adami Bosco di Gica Brut Valdobbiadene DOCG Prosecco Superiore.

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    We have written more about that here.

    On the right is Bisson Glera Vino Frizzante Trevigiani. 

    6a00e54fc42bb8883401b8d2de5dc0970c-800wi

    That one was covered in this post.

    We love both of them and have been going back and forth all week about which to have. They are both light and lively and perfect for the start of our favorite hospitality season. It is traditional in parts of Italy to greet guests with a glass of prosecco. 

    They are both just 11% alcohol by volume which is an important stat for the warmer months.

    We'll have to come back and let you know which one we opened or if we opened both and took the opportunity to taste them together.  

    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!

    Related Posts:

    Our Sparkling Resolution is covered in this post : Join Us as We Toast…

    A Few of Our Favorite Gifts for Wine Lovers

    Here are all the wines we've covered. Since this is a category, this post may appear at the top. Just scroll down for more.

    What's on your Food Lover's Shopping List?

    Details:

    Words: Penny & Ed Cherubino
    Photos: ©2019 Penny & Ed Cherubino 

  • Our Happy New Month Toast for March Will Be with a Prosecco…

    However, we have not decided which Prosecco, so we have chilled two of our favorites. 

    IMG_3863

    On the left is Adami Bosco di Gica Brut Valdobbiadene DOCG Prosecco Superiore.

    6a00e54fc42bb8883401543419cdd3970c-800wi

    We have written more about that here.

    On the right is Bisson Glera Vino Frizzante Trevigiani. 

    6a00e54fc42bb8883401b8d2de5dc0970c-800wi

    That one was covered in this post.

    We love both of them and have been going back and forth all week about which to have. They are both light and lively and perfect for the start of our favorite hospitality season. It is traditional in parts of Italy to greet guests with a glass of prosecco. 

    They are both just 11% alcohol by volume which is an important stat for the warmer months.

    We'll have to come back and let you know which one we opened or if we opened both and took the opportunity to taste them together.  

    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!

    Related Posts:

    Our Sparkling Resolution is covered in this post : Join Us as We Toast…

    A Few of Our Favorite Gifts for Wine Lovers

    Here are all the wines we've covered. Since this is a category, this post may appear at the top. Just scroll down for more.

    What's on your Food Lover's Shopping List?

    Details:

    Words: Penny & Ed Cherubino
    Photos: ©2019 Penny & Ed Cherubino 

  • We Toast February 2019 with Prosecco Venti22due from a Good Friend

    The official name of this award-winning sparkling wine is "Venti22due" Prosecco Superiore Conegliano-Valdobbiadiene D.O.C.G. 

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    We have a wonderful friend who shares our love of sparkling wines and often drops off a bottle of something he thinks we'll love. Over the holidays he presented us with this one, providing an opportunity to learn more about this vineyard in one of the most desirable sections of the Veneto. 

    Fortunately we can share what separates this area from other prosecco producing regions in a 5 minute video from the producer's site.

    We were pleased to have the refinement of this Prosecco D.O.C.G clearly explained and are looking forward to pop-in' the cork on our bottle tonight. 

    IMG_2921 - Version 2 - 2019-01-28 at 13-04-28

    Ordinarily we'd say search for this label, but since the bottle is part of a limited production run and distribution, you may not find it. In that case, grab any sparkler you like and join us in toasting February. Since we know so little about this particular wine, we're including a photo of the hang tag which tells all of us a bit more.

    IMG_2935

    We loved this quote from the producer, "Prosecco Venti22due should be served at the ideal temperature of 45 degrees F (4-5 degrees C). At this temperature you can almost taste the aroma of the apple and cherry trees that grow on the top and bottom edges of the vineyard, Vinicollina Tesini."

    4836856_orig

    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.

    Because we did not buy this bottle, we can't tell you the exact price or where to find it. From what we've seen online, it will cost around $40.

     IMG_2951

    UPDATE: (02.01.19) We just toasted February with Prosecco Venti22due. It's everything described above and more! We chilled the bottle to about 40º F, served in a large wine glass (great for swirling), and sipped our way through the slowly rising temperatures. 

    Snacking on sliced bits of Cheddar and cubes of a Braeburn apple made for a very special late afternoon interlude. Un delizioso prosecco!

     

    Related Posts:

    Our Sparkling Resolution is covered in this post : Join Us as We Toast…

    A Few of Our Favorite Gifts for Wine Lovers

    Here are all the wines we've covered. Since this is a category, this post may appear at the top. Just scroll down for more.

    What's on your Food Lover's Shopping List?

    Details:

    Words: Penny & Ed Cherubino
    Photos: Courtesy of Vinicollina Tesini ©2019 Penny & Ed Cherubino 

  • We Toast February 2019 with Prosecco Venti22due from a Good Friend

    The official name of this award-winning sparkling wine is "Venti22due" Prosecco Superiore Conegliano-Valdobbiadiene D.O.C.G. 

    8594336

    We have a wonderful friend who shares our love of sparkling wines and often drops off a bottle of something he thinks we'll love. Over the holidays he presented us with this one, providing an opportunity to learn more about this vineyard in one of the most desirable sections of the Veneto. 

    Fortunately we can share what separates this area from other prosecco producing regions in a 5 minute video from the producer's site.

    We were pleased to have the refinement of this Prosecco D.O.C.G clearly explained and are looking forward to pop-in' the cork on our bottle tonight. 

    IMG_2921 - Version 2 - 2019-01-28 at 13-04-28

    Ordinarily we'd say search for this label, but since the bottle is part of a limited production run and distribution, you may not find it. In that case, grab any sparkler you like and join us in toasting February. Since we know so little about this particular wine, we're including a photo of the hang tag which tells all of us a bit more.

    IMG_2935

    We loved this quote from the producer, "Prosecco Venti22due should be served at the ideal temperature of 45 degrees F (4-5 degrees C). At this temperature you can almost taste the aroma of the apple and cherry trees that grow on the top and bottom edges of the vineyard, Vinicollina Tesini."

    4836856_orig

    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.

    Because we did not buy this bottle, we can't tell you the exact price or where to find it. From what we've seen online, it will cost around $40.

     IMG_2951

    UPDATE: (02.01.19) We just toasted February with Prosecco Venti22due. It's everything described above and more! We chilled the bottle to about 40º F, served in a large wine glass (great for swirling), and sipped our way through the slowly rising temperatures. 

    Snacking on sliced bits of Cheddar and cubes of a Braeburn apple made for a very special late afternoon interlude. Un delizioso prosecco!

     

    Related Posts:

    Our Sparkling Resolution is covered in this post : Join Us as We Toast…

    A Few of Our Favorite Gifts for Wine Lovers

    Here are all the wines we've covered. Since this is a category, this post may appear at the top. Just scroll down for more.

    What's on your Food Lover's Shopping List?

    Details:

    Words: Penny & Ed Cherubino
    Photos: Courtesy of Vinicollina Tesini ©2019 Penny & Ed Cherubino 

  • Toasting November with a Special Wine: Guy Larmandier, Cramant Grand Cru Blanc de Blancs in a Special Place

    November is a month to give thanks, so we are going to toast it with a Champagne: Guy Larmandier, Cramant Grand Cru Blanc de Blancs at Select Oyster Bar.

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    We recently had another reason to celebrate, so we shared a half bottle of Guy Larmandier Blanc de Blancs over lunch. It reminded us that this is one of the few all Chardonnay Champagnes that we have on our favorites list. It's from one of our favorite importers, Neal Rosenthal. And, it made the beautifully curated wine list at one of our favorite places, Select Oyster Bar. That certainly qualified it for a place in this year of favorites.

    6a00e54fc42bb8883401a511ab4a9f970c-800wi

    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! This year we have selected a favorite wine for our monthly toast. 

    We hope you'll join our Sparkling Resolution. You don't have to buy a bottle. You can go to your favorite place with a good wine list and enjoy a glass of sparkle over lunch or dinner or share a bottle or half bottle as we will today. 

    We'll toast all the people along the way, from grapevine to glass, who dedicate themselves to bringing great wine our way!

     

    Related Posts:

    Here's the original post on this wine.

    Our Sparkling Resolution is covered in this post : Join Us as We Toast…

    A Few of Our Favorite Gifts for Wine Lovers

    Here are all the wines we've covered. Since this is a category, this post may appear at the top. Just scroll down for more.

     

    What's on your Food Lover's Shopping List?

    Details:

    Words: Penny & Ed Cherubino
    Photos: ©2018 Penny & Ed Cherubino 

  • Toasting November with a Special Wine: Guy Larmandier, Cramant Grand Cru Blanc de Blancs in a Special Place

    November is a month to give thanks, so we are going to toast it with a Champagne: Guy Larmandier, Cramant Grand Cru Blanc de Blancs at Select Oyster Bar.

    IMG_1930

    We recently had another reason to celebrate, so we shared a half bottle of Guy Larmandier Blanc de Blancs over lunch. It reminded us that this is one of the few all Chardonnay Champagnes that we have on our favorites list. It's from one of our favorite importers, Neal Rosenthal. And, it made the beautifully curated wine list at one of our favorite places, Select Oyster Bar. That certainly qualified it for a place in this year of favorites.

    6a00e54fc42bb8883401a511ab4a9f970c-800wi

    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! This year we have selected a favorite wine for our monthly toast. 

    We hope you'll join our Sparkling Resolution. You don't have to buy a bottle. You can go to your favorite place with a good wine list and enjoy a glass of sparkle over lunch or dinner or share a bottle or half bottle as we will today. 

    We'll toast all the people along the way, from grapevine to glass, who dedicate themselves to bringing great wine our way!

     

    Related Posts:

    Here's the original post on this wine.

    Our Sparkling Resolution is covered in this post : Join Us as We Toast…

    A Few of Our Favorite Gifts for Wine Lovers

    Here are all the wines we've covered. Since this is a category, this post may appear at the top. Just scroll down for more.

     

    What's on your Food Lover's Shopping List?

    Details:

    Words: Penny & Ed Cherubino
    Photos: ©2018 Penny & Ed Cherubino 

  • September’s Toast: Here’s to Keeping Summer Going with Etxaniz Txakoli Rose!

    If there is a Txakoli on a wine list, you can be sure Ed will consider ordering it. In this year of old favorites for our Happy New Month toast, we'll pour from on high with a bottle of Etxaniz Txakoli Rose.

    6a00e54fc42bb8883401b8d1d7d590970c-800wi

    After a scorching month of August, we're hoping for a September that's more typical of a Boston summer. We've been hoarding a few bottles of this favorite wine from the Basque region of Spain. This particular producer creates one of our favorites. It's a nice low 11.5% alcohol by volume and is wonderfully food friendly. Lower alcohol makes for a more refreshing warm weather drink.

    6a00e54fc42bb8883401b7c84de597970b-500wi

    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! In 2018 we decided to feature a year of old favorites like this one. Tonight we'll pop the cork and pour this frizzante wine from on high to create its signature froth! 

    On egin!  (A Basque toast which roughly translates, "Enjoy your meal!")

    6a00e54fc42bb8883401b7c84decff970b-800wi
     

    Related Posts:

    Our Sparkling Resolution is covered in this post : Join Us as We Toast…

    A Few of Our Favorite Gifts for Wine Lovers

    Here are all the wines we've covered. Since this is a category, this post may appear at the top. Just scroll down for more.

    What's on your Food Lover's Shopping List?

    Details:

    Words: Penny & Ed Cherubino
    Photos: ©2018 Penny & Ed Cherubino 

  • September’s Toast: Here’s to Keeping Summer Going with Etxaniz Txakoli Rose!

    If there is a Txakoli on a wine list, you can be sure Ed will consider ordering it. In this year of old favorites for our Happy New Month toast, we'll pour from on high with a bottle of Etxaniz Txakoli Rose.

    6a00e54fc42bb8883401b8d1d7d590970c-800wi

    After a scorching month of August, we're hoping for a September that's more typical of a Boston summer. We've been hoarding a few bottles of this favorite wine from the Basque region of Spain. This particular producer creates one of our favorites. It's a nice low 11.5% alcohol by volume and is wonderfully food friendly. Lower alcohol makes for a more refreshing warm weather drink.

    6a00e54fc42bb8883401b7c84de597970b-500wi

    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! In 2018 we decided to feature a year of old favorites like this one. Tonight we'll pop the cork and pour this frizzante wine from on high to create its signature froth! 

    On egin!  (A Basque toast which roughly translates, "Enjoy your meal!")

    6a00e54fc42bb8883401b7c84decff970b-800wi
     

    Related Posts:

    Our Sparkling Resolution is covered in this post : Join Us as We Toast…

    A Few of Our Favorite Gifts for Wine Lovers

    Here are all the wines we've covered. Since this is a category, this post may appear at the top. Just scroll down for more.

    What's on your Food Lover's Shopping List?

    Details:

    Words: Penny & Ed Cherubino
    Photos: ©2018 Penny & Ed Cherubino 

  • Toasting August with the Flame and Spark of Nino Franco Faìve Brut Rose!

    In this year of favorite wines and friendship, we will be toasting with a bottle of Nino Franco Faìve Brut Rosé. A wine has to have special meaning for us to take it with us to Provincetown. This year a bottle joined us there in spring and another will join us with friends to toast August.

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    We must explained the name of this lovely Rosé. "Faìve, from the Venetian dialect, are the small gilded red tongues of flame and sparks rising towards the sky from a great fire, lightly and freely carried by the wind."  Sylvia Franco told us the pronunciation is Fie-EE-vay!

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    Our stash of Faìve was hiding in plain sight on the top of a bookcase. We've been rationing this harder-to-find wine. But the time has come to enjoy this special bottle and share the experience with friends. Then we'll go hunting for a new supply!

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    Here is what Nino Franco says about this special Rosé from their collection:

    • "Variety and Grapes: 80% Merlot 20% Cabernet Franc.
    • Vinification Technique: Short skin and must contact at a low temperature to obtain the right colour. The first fermentation in steel tanks and the second one in “cuve close”.
    • Type: Rosé Brut.
    • Colour: Rose petal -like pink.
    • Flavour: Perfume of small red fruits. Mineral and floral notes.
    • Taste: In the mouth, pleasurably fresh. Dry with soft tannins and persistent bubbles.
    • Matching: Well paired with mortadella, meat and mushroom dishes, fish or vegetable soups. Excellent with “Lasagna”, “Parmigiano" or the typical Italian dish “vitello tonnato” .
    • Serving Temperature: 6° – 8° degrees" (~ 43°F – 46°F)

    While we are enjoying this old friend from our wine rack, we hope you'll pull a bottle you have been saving and join our sparkling resolution as we toast the new month of August 2018. 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!

    Here is an earlier post about this wine from 2015!

    We Toast the Month of May with Nino Franco Faive Rosé Brut

    Related Posts:

    Our Sparkling Resolution is covered in this post : Join Us as We Toast…

    A Few of Our Favorite Gifts for Wine Lovers

    Here are all the wines we've covered. Since this is a category, this post may appear at the top. Just scroll down for more.

    What's on your Food Lover's Shopping List?

    Details:

    Words: Penny & Ed Cherubino
    Photos: ©2018 Penny & Ed Cherubino