Tag: sparkling wine

Brix Wine Shop Makes Our Nino Franco Dreams Come True!
Last Thursday, we had the opportunity to taste five wines from Nino Franco Spumanti srl and to meet Silvia Franco.

For years we’ve told you of our love for Nino Franco Rustico Prosecco. And, we’ve been unsuccessfully scouting sources for other wines from this vineyard.

Imagine our elation when we were invited to a tasting at Brix Wine Shop that included the opportunity to not only try more of this winery’s sparklers, but also to meet Silvia, in person, after a couple of years of internet communication about her family’s wines.

Brix Hosts Gracious and Hospitable Tastings

They provided everything from the right glassware for sniffing and sipping to an antique copper spittoon for those limiting their alcohol intake. And, this tasting attracted a charming crowd who chatted with both Silvia and among themselves. We were all assisted by a most helpful staff.

We tasted and loved each of the five wines brought in for this event:
- Nino Franco Rustico NV
- Nino Franco Faive Rose 2012
- Nino Franco Primo Franco 2012
- Nino Franco V. Della Riva San Floriano
- Nino Franco Grave di Stecca
Silva Franco Was as Gracious as Brix

The Brix invitation to meet “Prosecco’s Princess Silvia Franco” said, “If the bubbles don’t win you over (which they will), Silvia’s charming personality and in-depth knowledge will captivate you.” And, they were right.

She greeted guests, poured wine, talked wine, answered questions, and signed bottles upon request. Her warm personality and vivacious Italian spirit added as much sparkle to the evening as her wines. We look forward to seeing her again the next time she’s in Boston.

30 Years of Primo Franco

We had Silvia sign one of our bottles of Primo Franco, a wine named for her father. Later this month, as she and her family celebrate the 30th Vintage of Primo Franco in Valdobbiadene, we’ll open this bottle and toast them here in Boston.

Thanks to the Brix team for making this possible. We recommend that wine lovers sign up for their email announcements of tastings. They have introduced us to other favorite winemakers and wineries over the years.

Get there soon to enjoy this special and intriguing selection of Nino Franco wines. If you can’t stop by, give Brix a call and ask about putting together a few bottles or a case for delivery.

Breaking News about the Primo Franco!

We just saw this announcement in Glass Of Bubbly:

“In the the world of elite bubbles Primo Franco 2013 has been recognised & awarded in the first edition of The Champagne & Sparkling Wine World Championships”:
- Gold Medal
- Best In Class Medal
- World Champion Medal”
Congratulation to the entire Nino Franco team and family.

If you love sparkling wine, consider joining Our Sparkling Resolution and begin each month with a glass of bubbles.

And, here’s Our Sparkling Resolution Winner’s List

Want to learn more about wine? Remember to click over to Amazon from here to support this site! Here are three of our favorite wine books.

The Food Lover’s Guide to Wine

The New Wine Lover’s Companion

The Wine Bible

Details:

Words: Penny & Ed Cherubino
Photography: © 2014 Penny & Ed Cherubino

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Wine of the Week: Nino Franco Valdobbiadne Superiore D.O.C.G. Brut
October 6, 2014
Guy Larmandier, Cramant Grand Cru Blanc de Blancs, Our May Sparkler

This time, our Sparkler of the Month is a Champagne, Guy Larmandier, Cramant Grand Cru Blanc de Blancs Brut NV to be specific. Happy new month!

Those of you who follow our sparkling wine posts may have noticed that we seldom choose a 100% Chardonnay wine. But, we did take this recommendation at Gordon’s because it was from one of our favorite importers, Neal Rosenthal.

We took this gem from our wine rack to Provincetown to sit and sip by the sea. Note that this is a Grand Cru Champagne from the Village of Cramant. It is not a Crémant from another part of France.

And, it lived up to our expectations! It’s a blanc de blancs that is playing in a different key. Penny couldn’t place the fruit she was tasting, so she looked up reviews and then asked Ed what he thought it was. His answer was one shared by experts, pear!

This is a celebration wine, a bit more expensive ($59.99) than some of our selections, but anytime we’re in Provincetown, we want to celebrate! We sipped this bottle over a couple of days and Ed thought it got better when it had more time in the glass and longer to breath. He reminds you not to serve it too cold.

And, we’ve learned, if you’re going to have a blanc de blancs, make it one from a great importer like Neal Rosenthal.

Here’s More About Our Sparkling Resolution

And, Our Sparkling Resolution Winner’s List

Do you have an Amazon Gift Certificate to use? Or do you need to buy one for a gift? Remember to click over to Amazon from here to support this site!

Details:

Words: Penny & Ed Cherubino
Photography: © 2014 Penny Cherubino

May 1, 2014
Guy Larmandier, Cramant Grand Cru Blanc de Blancs, Our May Sparkler

This time, our Sparkler of the Month is a Champagne, Guy Larmandier, Cramant Grand Cru Blanc de Blancs Brut NV to be specific. Happy new month!

Those of you who follow our sparkling wine posts may have noticed that we seldom choose a 100% Chardonnay wine. But, we did take this recommendation at Gordon’s because it was from one of our favorite importers, Neal Rosenthal.

We took this gem from our wine rack to Provincetown to sit and sip by the sea. Note that this is a Grand Cru Champagne from the Village of Cramant. It is not a Crémant from another part of France.

And, it lived up to our expectations! It’s a blanc de blancs that is playing in a different key. Penny couldn’t place the fruit she was tasting, so she looked up reviews and then asked Ed what he thought it was. His answer was one shared by experts, pear!

This is a celebration wine, a bit more expensive ($59.99) than some of our selections, but anytime we’re in Provincetown, we want to celebrate! We sipped this bottle over a couple of days and Ed thought it got better when it had more time in the glass and longer to breath. He reminds you not to serve it too cold.

And, we’ve learned, if you’re going to have a blanc de blancs, make it one from a great importer like Neal Rosenthal.

Here’s More About Our Sparkling Resolution

And, Our Sparkling Resolution Winner’s List

Do you have an Amazon Gift Certificate to use? Or do you need to buy one for a gift? Remember to click over to Amazon from here to support this site!

Details:

Words: Penny & Ed Cherubino
Photography: © 2014 Penny Cherubino

May 1, 2014
Guy Larmandier, Cramant Grand Cru Blanc de Blancs, Our May Sparkler

This time, our Sparkler of the Month is a Champagne, Guy Larmandier, Cramant Grand Cru Blanc de Blancs Brut NV to be specific. Happy new month!

Those of you who follow our sparkling wine posts may have noticed that we seldom choose a 100% Chardonnay wine. But, we did take this recommendation at Gordon’s because it was from one of our favorite importers, Neal Rosenthal.

We took this gem from our wine rack to Provincetown to sit and sip by the sea. Note that this is a Grand Cru Champagne from the Village of Cramant. It is not a Crémant from another part of France.

And, it lived up to our expectations! It’s a blanc de blancs that is playing in a different key. Penny couldn’t place the fruit she was tasting, so she looked up reviews and then asked Ed what he thought it was. His answer was one shared by experts, pear!

This is a celebration wine, a bit more expensive ($59.99) than some of our selections, but anytime we’re in Provincetown, we want to celebrate! We sipped this bottle over a couple of days and Ed thought it got better when it had more time in the glass and longer to breath. He reminds you not to serve it too cold.

And, we’ve learned, if you’re going to have a blanc de blancs, make it one from a great importer like Neal Rosenthal.

Here’s More About Our Sparkling Resolution

And, Our Sparkling Resolution Winner’s List

Do you have an Amazon Gift Certificate to use? Or do you need to buy one for a gift? Remember to click over to Amazon from here to support this site!

Details:

Words: Penny & Ed Cherubino
Photography: © 2014 Penny Cherubino

May 1, 2014
Doubling-Up on April Bubbles with Val de Mer Crémant

Toasting the arrival of a new month is always more fun if you double-up on the bubbles! And with a bottle (or two) of Val de Mer Crémant de Bourgogne, you won’t be disappointed.

This lively sparkler is the creation of Patrick Piuze who’s been making quite a name for himself in Chablis. This exacting winemaker uses hand-harvested grapes that are fermented and aged in stainless steel without the added dosage.

We liked this crémant’s clean, crisp quality with a hint of green pear. The 100% Chardonnay comes through with a simplicity and purity without the distraction of oak. This wine could win over even a member of the ABC (Anything But Chardonnay) Club!

Here’s what other tasters say about Val de Mer Crémant de Bourgogne …

“This sparkler is loaded with chalky minerality and has a bright snappy style that makes it a perfect aperitif bubbly.” (K&L Wines)

“The palate is bright, fresh, and crisp, showing those apple notes with a dry sage edge to the finish.” It “…goes well with all cocktail party snacks, especially smoked salmon canapés and baked brie.” (Astor Wine & Spirits)

We liked this French bubbly with a kielbasa & cabbage dish and a stack of our new favorite Sardinian Parchment Crackers (more on those, here). Our list of possible food pairings is growing, but the month is young.

We’re beginning April with a winning sparkler and a positive attitude that spring is finally here to stay. And should there be a wrinkle or two along the way, we always have a spare bottle of bubbles to keep our spirits high. Cheers!

We purchased out bottles of Cremant de Bourgogne Val de Mer at Bauer Wine & Spirits ($16.99).

Here’s More About Our Sparkling Resolution

And, Our Sparkling Resolution Winner’s List

Do you have an Amazon Gift Certificate to use? Or do you need to buy one for a gift? Remember to click over to Amazon from here to support this site!

Details:

Words: Ed Cherubino
Photography: © 2014 Ed Cherubino

Note on Comments: We monitor comments constantly and anything that is pure spam, inappropriate, or nasty is swept away. In addition to readers’ comments, we welcome hearing from the people, places, and services we cover. Often, those add great insights for our readers. As long as it doesn’t become a pure ad, we’d love to hear from you. We do reserve the right to edit ads and links out of comments.

Related articles

Nigl Brut de Brut – A Gruner with Bubbles!

A French “Value Sparkler” with No Compromises, le Moulin Blanquette de Limoux

Pouring Jewels from a Bottle of Bailly Lapierre Crémant!

April 1, 2014
Doubling-Up on April Bubbles with Val de Mer Crémant

Toasting the arrival of a new month is always more fun if you double-up on the bubbles! And with a bottle (or two) of Val de Mer Crémant de Bourgogne, you won’t be disappointed.

This lively sparkler is the creation of Patrick Piuze who’s been making quite a name for himself in Chablis. This exacting winemaker uses hand-harvested grapes that are fermented and aged in stainless steel without the added dosage.

We liked this crémant’s clean, crisp quality with a hint of green pear. The 100% Chardonnay comes through with a simplicity and purity without the distraction of oak. This wine could win over even a member of the ABC (Anything But Chardonnay) Club!

Here’s what other tasters say about Val de Mer Crémant de Bourgogne …

“This sparkler is loaded with chalky minerality and has a bright snappy style that makes it a perfect aperitif bubbly.” (K&L Wines)

“The palate is bright, fresh, and crisp, showing those apple notes with a dry sage edge to the finish.” It “…goes well with all cocktail party snacks, especially smoked salmon canapés and baked brie.” (Astor Wine & Spirits)

We liked this French bubbly with a kielbasa & cabbage dish and a stack of our new favorite Sardinian Parchment Crackers (more on those, here). Our list of possible food pairings is growing, but the month is young.

We’re beginning April with a winning sparkler and a positive attitude that spring is finally here to stay. And should there be a wrinkle or two along the way, we always have a spare bottle of bubbles to keep our spirits high. Cheers!

We purchased out bottles of Cremant de Bourgogne Val de Mer at Bauer Wine & Spirits ($16.99).

Here’s More About Our Sparkling Resolution

And, Our Sparkling Resolution Winner’s List

Do you have an Amazon Gift Certificate to use? Or do you need to buy one for a gift? Remember to click over to Amazon from here to support this site!

Details:

Words: Ed Cherubino
Photography: © 2014 Ed Cherubino

Note on Comments: We monitor comments constantly and anything that is pure spam, inappropriate, or nasty is swept away. In addition to readers’ comments, we welcome hearing from the people, places, and services we cover. Often, those add great insights for our readers. As long as it doesn’t become a pure ad, we’d love to hear from you. We do reserve the right to edit ads and links out of comments.

Related articles

Nigl Brut de Brut – A Gruner with Bubbles!

A French “Value Sparkler” with No Compromises, le Moulin Blanquette de Limoux

Pouring Jewels from a Bottle of Bailly Lapierre Crémant!

April 1, 2014
Doubling-Up on April Bubbles with Val de Mer Crémant

Toasting the arrival of a new month is always more fun if you double-up on the bubbles! And with a bottle (or two) of Val de Mer Crémant de Bourgogne, you won’t be disappointed.

This lively sparkler is the creation of Patrick Piuze who’s been making quite a name for himself in Chablis. This exacting winemaker uses hand-harvested grapes that are fermented and aged in stainless steel without the added dosage.

We liked this crémant’s clean, crisp quality with a hint of green pear. The 100% Chardonnay comes through with a simplicity and purity without the distraction of oak. This wine could win over even a member of the ABC (Anything But Chardonnay) Club!

Here’s what other tasters say about Val de Mer Crémant de Bourgogne …

“This sparkler is loaded with chalky minerality and has a bright snappy style that makes it a perfect aperitif bubbly.” (K&L Wines)

“The palate is bright, fresh, and crisp, showing those apple notes with a dry sage edge to the finish.” It “…goes well with all cocktail party snacks, especially smoked salmon canapés and baked brie.” (Astor Wine & Spirits)

We liked this French bubbly with a kielbasa & cabbage dish and a stack of our new favorite Sardinian Parchment Crackers (more on those, here). Our list of possible food pairings is growing, but the month is young.

We’re beginning April with a winning sparkler and a positive attitude that spring is finally here to stay. And should there be a wrinkle or two along the way, we always have a spare bottle of bubbles to keep our spirits high. Cheers!

We purchased out bottles of Cremant de Bourgogne Val de Mer at Bauer Wine & Spirits ($16.99).

Here’s More About Our Sparkling Resolution

And, Our Sparkling Resolution Winner’s List

Do you have an Amazon Gift Certificate to use? Or do you need to buy one for a gift? Remember to click over to Amazon from here to support this site!

Details:

Words: Ed Cherubino
Photography: © 2014 Ed Cherubino

Note on Comments: We monitor comments constantly and anything that is pure spam, inappropriate, or nasty is swept away. In addition to readers’ comments, we welcome hearing from the people, places, and services we cover. Often, those add great insights for our readers. As long as it doesn’t become a pure ad, we’d love to hear from you. We do reserve the right to edit ads and links out of comments.

Related articles

Nigl Brut de Brut – A Gruner with Bubbles!

A French “Value Sparkler” with No Compromises, le Moulin Blanquette de Limoux

Pouring Jewels from a Bottle of Bailly Lapierre Crémant!

April 1, 2014
Nigl Brut de Brut – A Gruner with Bubbles!

While on the lookout for a worthy sparkler to ring-in December, as part of our Sparkling Resolution, we discovered a Gruner Veltliner with bubbles – the 2005 Nigl Brut de Brut.

Since Gruner has been a long-time favorite with us, the addition of fizz, and in this case Chardonnay, seemed like an interesting marriage. Well, we’re here to say, “It’s wedded bliss!”

These new "wine" glasses were inspired by running out of glasses to share a wine with neighbors on a recent Ptown vacation. We substituted a martini glass that worked well and was fun!

This Austrian sparkler is definitely food-friendly, but also very enjoyable all by itself. Followers of wine site CellarTracker said it best, tasting “…flavors of tart apple with peach,” calling the Nigl Brut de Brut “…dry, crisp, with racy acidity,” "…quite spirited and fun to drink,” and “…a very nice alternative to Champagne.”

Choosing a sparkling version of a familiar wine might not always be this satisfying, but we’ll try it again. In fact, if you’re looking for a holiday gift for someone who likes wine and has a favorite grape, see if there’s a sparkling version?

We found our bottle of 2005 Nigl Brut de Brut at The Urban Grape, South End.

Here’s a peek at Our Sparkling Resolution Winner’s List!

…And, Sunday Dog will return to this spot, next week!

Do you have an Amazon Gift Certificate to use? Or do you need to buy one for a gift? Remember to click over to Amazon from here to support this site!

Details:

Words: Penny & Ed Cherubino
Photography: © 2013 Penny & Ed Cherubino

Note on Comments: We monitor comments constantly and anything that is pure spam, inappropriate, or nasty is swept away. In addition to readers' comments, we welcome hearing from the people, places, and services we cover. Often, those add great insights for our readers. As long as it doesn’t become a pure ad, we’d love to hear from you. We do reserve the right to edit ads and links out of comments.

December 1, 2013
Nigl Brut de Brut – A Gruner with Bubbles!

While on the lookout for a worthy sparkler to ring-in December, as part of our Sparkling Resolution, we discovered a Gruner Veltliner with bubbles – the 2005 Nigl Brut de Brut.

Since Gruner has been a long-time favorite with us, the addition of fizz, and in this case Chardonnay, seemed like an interesting marriage. Well, we’re here to say, “It’s wedded bliss!”

These new "wine" glasses were inspired by running out of glasses to share a wine with neighbors on a recent Ptown vacation. We substituted a martini glass that worked well and was fun!

This Austrian sparkler is definitely food-friendly, but also very enjoyable all by itself. Followers of wine site CellarTracker said it best, tasting “…flavors of tart apple with peach,” calling the Nigl Brut de Brut “…dry, crisp, with racy acidity,” "…quite spirited and fun to drink,” and “…a very nice alternative to Champagne.”

Choosing a sparkling version of a familiar wine might not always be this satisfying, but we’ll try it again. In fact, if you’re looking for a holiday gift for someone who likes wine and has a favorite grape, see if there’s a sparkling version?

We found our bottle of 2005 Nigl Brut de Brut at The Urban Grape, South End.

Here’s a peek at Our Sparkling Resolution Winner’s List!

…And, Sunday Dog will return to this spot, next week!

Do you have an Amazon Gift Certificate to use? Or do you need to buy one for a gift? Remember to click over to Amazon from here to support this site!

Details:

Words: Penny & Ed Cherubino
Photography: © 2013 Penny & Ed Cherubino

Note on Comments: We monitor comments constantly and anything that is pure spam, inappropriate, or nasty is swept away. In addition to readers' comments, we welcome hearing from the people, places, and services we cover. Often, those add great insights for our readers. As long as it doesn’t become a pure ad, we’d love to hear from you. We do reserve the right to edit ads and links out of comments.

December 1, 2013
Nigl Brut de Brut – A Gruner with Bubbles!

While on the lookout for a worthy sparkler to ring-in December, as part of our Sparkling Resolution, we discovered a Gruner Veltliner with bubbles – the 2005 Nigl Brut de Brut.

Since Gruner has been a long-time favorite with us, the addition of fizz, and in this case Chardonnay, seemed like an interesting marriage. Well, we’re here to say, “It’s wedded bliss!”

These new "wine" glasses were inspired by running out of glasses to share a wine with neighbors on a recent Ptown vacation. We substituted a martini glass that worked well and was fun!

This Austrian sparkler is definitely food-friendly, but also very enjoyable all by itself. Followers of wine site CellarTracker said it best, tasting “…flavors of tart apple with peach,” calling the Nigl Brut de Brut “…dry, crisp, with racy acidity,” "…quite spirited and fun to drink,” and “…a very nice alternative to Champagne.”

Choosing a sparkling version of a familiar wine might not always be this satisfying, but we’ll try it again. In fact, if you’re looking for a holiday gift for someone who likes wine and has a favorite grape, see if there’s a sparkling version?

We found our bottle of 2005 Nigl Brut de Brut at The Urban Grape, South End.

Here’s a peek at Our Sparkling Resolution Winner’s List!

…And, Sunday Dog will return to this spot, next week!

Do you have an Amazon Gift Certificate to use? Or do you need to buy one for a gift? Remember to click over to Amazon from here to support this site!

Details:

Words: Penny & Ed Cherubino
Photography: © 2013 Penny & Ed Cherubino

Note on Comments: We monitor comments constantly and anything that is pure spam, inappropriate, or nasty is swept away. In addition to readers' comments, we welcome hearing from the people, places, and services we cover. Often, those add great insights for our readers. As long as it doesn’t become a pure ad, we’d love to hear from you. We do reserve the right to edit ads and links out of comments.

December 1, 2013