bostonzest

Category: Food: Wine

  • We Toast December 2023 with Adami’s Cartizze Dry Valdobbiadene Superiore di Cartizze DOCG Prosecco

    December is a time of many celebrations, and we will toast this month with a very special Prosecco, Adami's Cartizze Dry Valdobbiadene Superiore di Cartizze DOCG. Our first post about the wines from this family of winemakers was back in 2008. We are long-time Prosecco fans.

    We've been following a few vineyards like this one, which are dedicated to improving the wine and offering a sparkling wine that stands out from the average wines in this category. 

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    A dear friend who had often enjoyed a glass of Prosecco with us presented us with our first bottle of Adami many years ago. Since we loved it (and he's a person who spoiled his friends with wonderful and unexpected presents), we enjoyed a bottle often when he spotted it on a shelf.

    We often added the more basic DOC Prosecco to our wine orders and occasionally found a DOCG available. This one will be our introduction to the top of the rating system Superiore di Cartizze DOCG. You'll usually find these designations on the verifying neck label of the bottle shown below.

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    Perhaps to you, this is all alphabet soup. We recommend this article from Wine Enthusiast, "Everything You Need to Know About Prosecco." 

    Here are the translations of those letters from author Lauren Mowery.

    "While these designation names are overwhelming and verbose, just remember the following: Prosecco DOC is light and quaffable; Superiore DOCGs are a cut above, with terroir-driven Rive followed by Cartizze at the top."

    "Valdobbiadene Superiore di Cartizze DOCG sits at the top, the crown jewel or grand cru of Prosecco’s ambition. Wines come from a subzone in Valdobbiadene called Cartizze, which has carried its own set of regulations since 1969."

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    We purchased our bottle at Gordon's Fine Wines for $36.99, which became $28.79 with a case discount. That is a fabulous value for a Prosecco with this designation.

    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!

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    Words: Penny & Ed Cherubino
    Photos: ©2023 Penny Cherubino 

  • We’ll Toast November 1, 2013 with a Half-Bottle of Gruet Brut Rose from New Mexico

    This month, we have opted to toast the first of November with a half-bottle of Gruet Brut Rosé from New Mexico for a few reasons. 

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    Gruet Winery offers a variety of wines from its line in both full and half bottles. 

    First, we want to encourage everyone to buy and enjoy more half-bottles of wine! They work for times when just the two of you want to enjoy a toast or when you want to open your meal with something light and sparkling and have another wine with your main course.

    Second, half-bottles are great to have on hand for serendipitous celebrations. Years ago, a good friend started her own consulting business. She called Penny to share the news that she had landed her first big client. Penny invited her to come over and pop a cork of Gruet to mark the occasion. It was just a few minutes out of each of their busy day, but the woman talked about that little celebration for years.

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    Finally, with the holiday season approaching, it's good to have a great value wine on hand in quantity. Gruet is reasonably priced and of very good quality. It can serve as the wine at a party or meal. Its New Mexico origin is a real conversation starter. It also makes a great gift. The case we purchased will be given out to those who deserve something a little extra from us with their tip at year's end.

    Here's a great article with "8 Things You Should Know About Gruet Winery."

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    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 purchased our half-bottle at Gordon's Fine Wine and Spirits for $9.99 as a part of a case deal.

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

  • We Toast October 2023 with a Great Holiday Wine, Dibon Cava Brut Rosé

    Penny was selecting a bottle of Dibon Cava Brut Rosé from our wine rack to give as a thank-you gift to a friend when she suggested we write about Dibon for our October 2023 toast. 

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    We've been enjoying and recommending this wine for more than a decade. We like to call it a budget sparkler with a high-end taste. Back then, it was about $10.00 a bottle. Our latest purchase from Gordon’s Fine Wines was still just $11.99 with the case discount.  

    We’re not the only ones who recognize the quality of this wine. First, the importer is a company we trust, Oz Wines. Over the years, we’ve enjoyed many wines selected by this team. Seeing the Oz name on a bottle is reason enough for us to try it.

    The Winery Bodegas Pinord winemakers describe this rosé cava. They recommend its tiny, delicate bubbles, gentle red fruit aroma, full mouth-feel, and elegant finish. You’ll also notice on their site that it's made from organically grown grapes and is only 11.5% ABV. 

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    Dibon Rosé would be a great toasting wine for a Thanksgiving meal. It has a palate-cleansing freshness we enjoy with food. It also makes an excellent mixer for drinks that call for adding sparkling wine like a mimosa, Aperol spritz, or bellini. One of our favorite wine mentors kept this brand behind the bar for precisely that purpose!

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    Bonus Recommendation! Dibon also makes an excellent Brut Reserve Cava if that's your toasting preference.

    Dibon Cavas are great value wines for toasting, gifting, as mixers, or to have on hand for last-moment celebrations. We regularly add a few bottles to our orders to have on hand all year round,

    However, this time of year, consider ordering it by the case. Some shops will offer a discount for as little as six bottles. We suggest calling your favorite wine merchant to ask if they have Dibon Rosé in stock. If they don’t, they can order what you need in time for the holiday season.

    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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    We purchased our bottle from Gordon’s Fine Wines for $11.99 with the case discount.

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    Words: Penny & Ed Cherubino
    Photos: ©2012-2023 Penny & Ed Cherubino 

  • We’ll Toast September 2023 with Massachusetts’ Own Sparkler, Westport Rivers RJR Brut Cruvée

    Westport Rivers Vineyard and Winery was founded by the Russell family in 1986. Our first visit to this lovely destination in Westport, Massachusetts was in the year 2000. We'll raise a glass and remember our past enjoyment of this place and this wine with a glass of 2012 Westport Rivers RJR Brut Cuvée.

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    Here's a quote from our first BostonZest post on this wine that was published in 2010.

    In it Ed wrote, 

    "I can remember a trip to Westport Rivers Vineyard 10-years ago, after Penny and I had discovered their wines. Carol & Bob Russell showed us around their operation with a passion that continues to shine through in every bottle they produce.

    We've been fans of their artistry ever since that visit and never miss the chance to show-off RJR to our out-of-state visitors. RJR's price has varied through the years. We picked up this bottle, on sale, for around $20.

    To me it has a fresh, bright, appley quality and rivals some much costlier and more well-known champagnes. We love to slip it into blind tastings, just to see the "I can't believe it" looks from our guests."

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    This is a great time of the year for day trips, and Westport is an easy and enjoyable day trip from Boston. The Vineyard website contains information on tastings, tours, and special events. Be sure to click on the Contact/FAQ tab for more details. The photos below are courtesy of Westport Vineyard and Winery.

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    Westport_Grapes

    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 purchased our bottle at Gordon's Fine Wines for $28.79 with a case discount. 

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    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: ©2010 to 2023 Penny & Ed Cherubino 

  • Our August 2023 Toast Will Be Filled with Nino Franco Rustico Memories

    On August 1, 2023, we'll raise a glass of Nino Franco Rustico and recall all the times this sparkler has been part of great moments and quiet times. This Prosecco is our house wine, one we always have on hand and ready to pop open and enjoy. And, after all these years, we still love it.

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    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!

    When we sip Rustico, we often think of Provincetown. We would bring it with us from our home stash in the early years. We were overjoyed when a new wine shop carried this favorite, and we could support one more local business.

    Here are a few views of Nino Franco Rustico in Provincetown.

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    We will always smile when we remember meeting the charming Silvia Franco here in Boston.

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    We hope you find a great wine as your house wine and enjoy many beautiful moments with the people you love and the wine you can always rely upon to make you smile with each sip.

     

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

  • We’ll Toast July 2023 with Dr. Konstantin Frank’s 2018 Brut Rosé

    We're staying near home with our choice of an American wine for July 2023. This month we'll toast with and enjoy the memories brought to us by Dr. Konstantin Frank's 2018 Brut Rosé. This groundbreaking vineyard is in the Finger Lakes region of New York.

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    Wines usually remind us of the people we have shared them with or the wine mentors who taught us about them. In this case, that would be our friends David and Peter. The first time we heard about Dr. Konstantin Frank and his wonderful wines was soon after we met them and discovered we shared a love of food, wine, and sharing great food experiences.

    A Finger Lakes wine also reminds us of trips to Limerock Speedway in Caledonia, NY. There was a time when we drove a mid-engine sports car and were autocross and auto racing fans and would make the trip to this area to enjoy the schedule of events at this track. If you're planning a trip to this delightful area in the fall-foliage season, consider adding visits to both the Dr. Konstantin Frank Vineyard and Limerock to your itinerary. 

    About Dr. Konstantin Frank's 2018 Brut Rosé

    The vineyard describes this wine:

    "Our Brut Rosé is a blend of 95% Pinot Noir and 5% Pinot Meunier. The grapes are hand harvested and very lightly pressed. Secondary fermentation took place in bottle for a minimum of 30 months in our historic underground cellar. 

    Seductive and shimmering, the light rosé color pulls you into its fragrant fruitiness. Strawberries and tart cherries circled by mouthwatering shale minerality completes this sunny and sophisticated wine.

    Perfect for celebrations and special occasions. Pair with oysters, lobster, smoked salmon, fried foods, egg dishes, sushi, popcorn, or seafood-based Chinese dishes."

    Wine Enthusiast gave this wine a score of 90 saying:
    "A perfumed, creamy and silky sparkling rosé with delicate raspberry and strawberry aromas and a hint of candied orange. Flows gracefully over the palate, the mousse very neatly matched with the creaminess from lees contact. The finish is very clean, in spite of a hint of sweetness. Drink now."

    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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    We purchase our bottle from the vineyard for $31 after a 6-bottle discount. Sadly, we have to inform you that this wine is currently sold out. 

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    Words: Penny & Ed Cherubino
    Photos: ©2023 Penny  Cherubino 

  • We’ll Toast June 2023 with a Favotive Prosecco Venti22due Superiore Conegliano-Valdobbiadene D.O.C.G.

    Venti22due Superiore Conegliano-Valdobbiadene D.O.C.G. has made our list of favorite Proseccos despite the fact that we are yet to purchase a bottle of it ourselves.

    That's because a dear friend has made a habit of buying a bottle for us as a gift for many occasions or just because he wants to surprise us with something nice. We're fortunate to have him in our lives for many reasons beyond his lovely gifts.

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    We have a strong preference for wines that are low in alcohol, and this one is just 11% ABV. It's from the heart of Prosecco country and is eligible to use Superiore Conegliano-Valdobbiadene D.O.C.G. on the label. 

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    Prosecco is a perfect summer sparkler. The best of them (and this is one) are food-friendly, crisp, and refreshing. There was once a tradition in Italy that a glass of Prosecco would be served to diners as soon as they were seated in a restaurant. While this has faded away, we think that having a bottle of Prosecco chilled and ready to share with unexpected guests is a delightful way to say, "Welcome!"

    Here's the information on the label and hang tag.

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    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 bottle was a gift.

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    Words: Penny & Ed Cherubino
    Photos: © 2019 – 2020 Penny & Ed Cherubino 

  • On May 1, 2023 We Honor Rollin Soles with a Glass of 2016 RMS Brut from ROCO Winery

    This month we'll celebrate the memories of many great wines created by winemaker Rollin Soles at both ROCO and Argyle Wineries in Oregon. We will raise a glass of his 2016 RMS Brut from ROCO Winery. The RMS stands for Rollin Michael Soles, and we decided to enjoy the oldest of the three vintages we have on hand. 

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    These three (RMS Brut 2016, 2017, and 2018) were part of a special offering we bought directly from the vineyard.

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    We've been following Rollin Soles and enjoying his wines for decades. He's been making wine in the Willamette Valley since 1986. Our first glass of his wine was an Argyle Sparkler on the wine list at Hamersley's Bistro. We began buying this for home service from Bauer Wine and Spirits and remember when it was available for less than $20 for a magnum.

    We recall serving magnums of Argyle at a July 4th fireworks party on our roof deck and having a guest shocked when he learned the low cost of a wine he thought to be extravagant hospitality on our part. 

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    Above are a few of the wines we have enjoyed over the years from this great winemaker. We met him at a tasting at Bauer Wine years ago and learned that one reason we love his wine is that we love the same things in a wine that he does. He loves pinot noir and great sparkling wine, and we love pinot noir and great sparkling wine.

    In an interview with Owen Bargreen, Rollin said, "I’ve been helped along and inspired by large to small producers in Champagne. Everyone has been so very generous with their time, and they’ve not been afraid to open a lot of beautiful wines that should have been enjoyed by a roomful of buyers! During my early days: Bollinger by far and continuing, Billecart Salmon, Roederer, and Dom Perignon Today: Vilmart, Pierre Peters, Geoffroy, Goutourbe, Jean Milan, Pehu Simonet and so many more."

    This list includes many of our favorite Champagnes and some we want to try. Bollinger is also at the top of that list for us. We like the same wines!

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    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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    We purchase our bottle of 2016 ROCO RMS Brut in a special package from the vineyard. To find special offers like this consider signing up for email from your favorite vineyards.

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    Words: Penny & Ed Cherubino
    Photos: ©1995-2020 Penny Cherubino, Photos of Rollin Soles courtesy of ROCO Winery.

  • Our April 1, 2023 Toast Will be a Gruet Sauvage a Sparkling Wine from New Mexico

    We’ll raise a glass of Gruet Family Sauvage Blanc de Blanc to April 2023. The Sauvage will stand in for all our favorites from this family of winemakers from New Mexico. This year we're choosing the wines for our toasts on the first of each month because of the good memories we have of time spent with these sparklers and the people they bring to mind.

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    Sauvage will always stand for the last gathering we had with friends on March 1, 2020, before the pandemic changed our lives. Here's what we said about it, then.

    However, we were introduced to Gruet Blanc de Noir about fifteen years ago by Howey Rubin from Bauer Wine and Spirits. He was one of our early Boston wine mentors. 

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    It was the perfect glass of sparkle for so many occasions. We'd buy cases of half-bottles and always one ready to celebrate when a friend landed a new job, had a birthday, or it was simply a lovely evening to enjoy a sip of wine with neighbors on the roof deck.

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    We often mention our wine mentors. We've been fortunate to learn more about wine from a series of generous people we've met along the way. Recently someone asked what we mean by mentors. Here's a definition that expresses what we mean when we use the term.

    "A mentor is a person or friend who guides a less experienced person by building trust and modeling positive behaviors. An effective mentor understands that his or her role is to be dependable, engaged, authentic, and tuned into the needs of the mentee."

    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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    Our bottle was a gift from a friend and wine mentor!

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    Words: Penny & Ed Cherubino
    Photos: ©2008-2023 Penny & Ed Cherubino 

  • On March 1, 2023 We’ll Raise a Glass of Raventos i Blanc de Nit Cava

    This month we'll raise a glass of Raventos i Blanc de Nit cava. This sparkler certainly qualifies for inclusion in our year of choosing wines associated with great memories and great people. We have a scrapbook of photos of this wine in some of our favorite places. Moreover, we are grateful to four wine mentors for sharing their knowledge of this cava and its history with us.

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    This is one of many wines we discovered thanks to recommendations from Thomas Fielding and Scott O’Connor, one time owners of Perry's Wine and Spirits in Provincetown. These former restaurateurs chose the selection at their shop like a well-curated wine list. 

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    Perry's was always a stop on our initial shopping trip when we arrived for a week or two. We also loved their clever "OPEN" and "NOPE" signs. The last we heard, these gentlemen were headed for retirement in Mexico.

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    Thanks to them, we enjoyed many bottles of this great value wine as we made memories in one of our very special places. We'll think of those times with every sip this month.

    Back in Boston

    Penny ordered Raventos so often at Select Oyster Bar that the staff would often just ask, "The usual?" Select owner, and another wine mentor, Michael Serpa, told us more about the winery and its history. 

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    On the other side of town, we learned even more from Alcove Boston owner and long-time wine educator Tom Schlesinger-Guidelli. He likes this wine so much that he offers it in half bottles, 750s, and magnums. We've followed Tom around since his early years as a bartender at Craigie on Main. 

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    Raventos says, "Five centuries of winegrowing, tradition and family."

    Raventós i Blanc is a winery with one of the longest documented winegrowing traditions in the world. The family farm where our wines are now produced has belonged to the Raventós family since 1497. Five centuries working 90 hectares of vines and forest, a dynasty closely associated with the land from one generation to the next. Today, Pepe Raventós, who represents the twenty-first generation of the family, farms 44 plots using biodynamic winegrowing methods and is committed to maintaining the estate of vines, wood and lake as a complete entity. Raventós i Blanc is faithful to tradition and upholds the relationship between man and nature at the very core of its production philosophy."

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    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 Gordon's Wine and Spirits for $24.99.

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

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    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: © 2014-2023 Penny Cherubino