bostonzest

Tag: sparkling resolution

  • We Celebrate Oregon Terroir with the 2013 RMS Brut from Rollin Soles’ ROCO Winery

    This month's wine, selected for its specific terroir, is the 2013 RMS Brut from Rollin Soles' ROCO Winery. We have a long-running resolution to toast each new month with a glass of sparkling wine. In recent years we've tried to set a theme for each year and 2020 is our year of terroir.

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    We're still sheltering in place so we were happy that our wine rack contained another great example of a winemaker who knows and uses the terroir of a specific place to create a great wine.

    We've had the distinct pleasure of meeting Rollin Soles and years of pleasure drinking the wines he masterminds. (We borrowed this photo below from the ROCO Facebook page. We suggest you follow them to learn about their wine, their art gallery, and the many important causes they support)

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    When you go to the ROCO website and click on the vineyards tab, you'll find this at the top of the page:

    "Every vineyard has its own microclimate, soil composition, slope, and relationship with the sun. When people speak of “terroir,” these unique attributes are what they’re talking about—the essence of a place captured in wine. At ROCO, we are keen on delivering the pleasure of place through the prism of vineyard-designated wines."

    We first wrote about this wine last year. Click on the link below for more information and to read Rollin's winemakers notes.

    Our November Sparkler Is 2013 RMS Brut from Rollin Soles' ROCO Winery

    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 at Bauer Wine and Spirits for $29.99. If you want to keep track of what you paid for a bottle of wine and where you purchased it, we suggest writing on the bottle with these Sharpie Metallic Fine Point Permanent Markers. It works for us!

    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: ©2020 Penny & Ed Cherubino

    The photo of Rollin Souls is courtesy of ROCO Vineyards.

  • On April 1, 2020 We Toast the Franco Family in Valdobbiadene with Nino Franco Rustico Prosecco

    Since 2020 is our year of exploring the terroir of sparkling wines, we knew we'd include a selection from Nino Franco. This family of winemakers has been working for 100 years at distinguishing wines produced in Valdobbiadene from other proseccos. Over the past month, our thoughts have been with them hoping the vineyards provide a safe haven. Salute! Good health to you and your neighbors from your friends in Boston.

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    As we write this post, we're sheltering in place and choosing our sparkling wine of the month from our own wine rack. Fortunately, we usually have a few bottles of Nino Franco Rustico on hand. Today we are going to lift a glass and share with you some of our favorite photos of enjoying other bottles of this lovely wine.

    This time, instead of gathering friends on our roof deck, we'll connect over the Internet and raise our glasses from a safe distance. We hope you will do the same and use our monthly toast to connect with someone you are missing.

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    About the attention to the grape and the place, Nino Franco says, "At the beginning of the 90s, convinced that you need to control production right from the origins to obtain a good wine, Primo took over the running of a vineyard where he experimented with new planting techniques and the use of old clones."

    This year Primo Franco released a book on the passion the family has towards their products, "The Prosecco Way of Life."

    6a00e54fc42bb888340240a4a1a5a6200c-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!

    6a00e54fc42bb888340240a4a1a5ba200c-800wi 6a00e54fc42bb888340240a4a1a5be200c-250wi

    We purchased our bottle at Gordon's for ~$25.00.

    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: ©2020 Penny & Ed Cherubino 

  • On April 1, 2020 We Toast the Franco Family in Valdobbiadene with Nino Franco Rustico Prosecco

    Since 2020 is our year of exploring the terroir of sparkling wines, we knew we'd include a selection from Nino Franco. This family of winemakers has been working for 100 years at distinguishing wines produced in Valdobbiadene from other proseccos. Over the past month, our thoughts have been with them hoping the vineyards provide a safe haven. Salute! Good health to you and your neighbors from your friends in Boston.

    6a00e54fc42bb8883401b8d1eb18a3970c-800wi

    As we write this post, we're sheltering in place and choosing our sparkling wine of the month from our own wine rack. Fortunately, we usually have a few bottles of Nino Franco Rustico on hand. Today we are going to lift a glass and share with you some of our favorite photos of enjoying other bottles of this lovely wine.

    This time, instead of gathering friends on our roof deck, we'll connect over the Internet and raise our glasses from a safe distance. We hope you will do the same and use our monthly toast to connect with someone you are missing.

    6a00e54fc42bb888340223c84f3d60200c-800wi

    About the attention to the grape and the place, Nino Franco says, "At the beginning of the 90s, convinced that you need to control production right from the origins to obtain a good wine, Primo took over the running of a vineyard where he experimented with new planting techniques and the use of old clones."

    This year Primo Franco released a book on the passion the family has towards their products, "The Prosecco Way of Life."

    6a00e54fc42bb888340240a4a1a5a6200c-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!

    6a00e54fc42bb888340240a4a1a5ba200c-800wi 6a00e54fc42bb888340240a4a1a5be200c-250wi

    We purchased our bottle at Gordon's for ~$25.00.

    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: ©2020 Penny & Ed Cherubino 

  • Raventos i Blanc de Nit Takes Us to Spain for Our February 1st Toast

    Raventos i Blanc de Nit is such a favorite with us that one of the staff at Select Oyster Bar asked Penny if she wanted her usual last week, meaning Raventos. That question put it next up on the list of wines we would feature this year as we explore the concept of terroir.

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    Each month in 2020, we'll feature a bottle of wine from a different place. Some will be new to us and some, like this one, will be old favorites from great winemakers who respect the land and let the natural taste of the grapes and the land come through in the glass.

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    The Raventos family has been making wine on their land since 1497. They say, "We stand up for the huge potential that our terroir has for creating sparkling wines."

    The Oxford Dictionary defines the word terroir as, "The complete natural environment in which a particular wine is produced, including factors such as the soil, topography, and climate." And, "The characteristic taste and flavor imparted to a wine by the environment in which it is produced."

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    The words "Conca del Riu Anoia" on the label are a part of an effort by the Reventos family to create a recognized wine appellation with some of the specific characteristics we happen to look for in a wine. These standards include: using native varietals, biodynamic methods, estate-grown grapes, and proper aging.

    They write, "Our dream is for the Raventós i Blanc wines to have their own name: Conca del Riu Anoia, the name of a small geographical area, centred around the River Anoia Basin, between the Catalan Pre-Coastal and Coastal Ranges."

    IMG_7579

    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! Please join our Sparkling Resolution.

    We purchased our bottle at Gordon's Fine Wines & Liquors for $26.99. 

    We've enjoyed this wine by the glass at Select Oyster Bar and by the half-bottle (they also have it through magnums) at Alcove.

    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: ©2020 Penny & Ed Cherubino 

  • Raventos i Blanc de Nit Takes Us to Spain for Our February 1st Toast

    Raventos i Blanc de Nit is such a favorite with us that one of the staff at Select Oyster Bar asked Penny if she wanted her usual last week, meaning Raventos. That question put it next up on the list of wines we would feature this year as we explore the concept of terroir.

    6a00e54fc42bb8883401a3fd0cb728970b-800wi

    Each month in 2020, we'll feature a bottle of wine from a different place. Some will be new to us and some, like this one, will be old favorites from great winemakers who respect the land and let the natural taste of the grapes and the land come through in the glass.

    IMG_7583

    The Raventos family has been making wine on their land since 1497. They say, "We stand up for the huge potential that our terroir has for creating sparkling wines."

    The Oxford Dictionary defines the word terroir as, "The complete natural environment in which a particular wine is produced, including factors such as the soil, topography, and climate." And, "The characteristic taste and flavor imparted to a wine by the environment in which it is produced."

    IMG_7575

    The words "Conca del Riu Anoia" on the label are a part of an effort by the Reventos family to create a recognized wine appellation with some of the specific characteristics we happen to look for in a wine. These standards include: using native varietals, biodynamic methods, estate-grown grapes, and proper aging.

    They write, "Our dream is for the Raventós i Blanc wines to have their own name: Conca del Riu Anoia, the name of a small geographical area, centred around the River Anoia Basin, between the Catalan Pre-Coastal and Coastal Ranges."

    IMG_7579

    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! Please join our Sparkling Resolution.

    We purchased our bottle at Gordon's Fine Wines & Liquors for $26.99. 

    We've enjoyed this wine by the glass at Select Oyster Bar and by the half-bottle (they also have it through magnums) at Alcove.

    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: ©2020 Penny & Ed Cherubino 

  • Opening 2020 with Roses de Jeanne by Cedric Bouchard

    We're celebrating a new decade with Roses de Jeanne Champagne from a groundbreaking winemaker. Cedric Bouchard has some unusual views on the wine he is making in the Champagne region. We've enjoyed his wines before. In fact, he has made our New Year's choice twice. We opened 2013 with his Inflorescence Blanc de Noirs.

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    We're looking forward to this bottle and have the glasses and decanter ready to fill. Yes, we did say decanter. Cedric Bouchard suggests decanting his Champagne, so we're eager to give it a try. Polaner Selections in writing about this wine added, "One serving note: While you can enjoy Bouchard's Champagnes like other Champagnes, he recommends gently decanting them and serving them in regular wine glasses instead of flutes." We totally agree with the large wine glasses and we will try decanting a portion of our bottle.

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    Polaner Selections also noted the importance of terroir to this winemaker, "Bouchard’s wines are characterized by uniquely soil-driven personalities, with the underlying terroir of each parcel jumping from the glass with a purity of expression that is extremely rare in Champagne. These are brilliant wines made from a young, perfectionist vigneron who is likely to completely revolutionize the landscape of Champagne before he writes the last chapter on his career."

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    With this wine leading the way, in 2020 we will toast each new month with sparkling wines from different places. It will be our "Year of Terroir!" Trying wines 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! 

    IMG_6974

    We purchased our bottle at Federal Wine & Spirits.

    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: ©2020 Penny & Ed Cherubino 

  • Today We Celebrate December and 100 Years of Nino Franco with a Bottle of Nino Franco Rustico

    We are starting December 2019 with a longtime favorite sparkling wine, Nino Franco Rustico. We have been enjoying, recommending, and writing about this wine for more than a decade. Now wine experts around the world are catching on to a great thing. (More about that below.)

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    The last time we raised a glass to the wonderful people at Nino Franco, it was with the bottle Silvia Franco was signing in the photo below. Back then we joined them long distance as they celebrated the 30th vintage of their Primo Franco. As they raised their glasses in Valdobbiadene, we opened this bottle and toasted them here in Boston. 

    After a few years as Internet friends, we were happy to meet Silvia in person on a trip to Boston. It was good to learn that she is as nice, smart, and sharing in person as she is with her social media friends.

    IMG_6550

    Today we'll raise a glass to Silvia Franco and her family as they celebrate 100 years of Nino Franco vintages. Please take a relaxing moment with Silvia and her family as they tell you about the wines and the place they love, protect, and celebrate in the video below.

     

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    Not only will we congratulate this family on 100 years of winemaking, but also for their Rustico winning the number one spot on Wine Enthusiast's best-of-the-best list "THE ENTHUSIAST 100 WINES OF 2019" with a rating of 94 out of 100. That is along with many more honors for their other wines.

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    IMG_6570  IMG_6570

    We purchased our bottle at Gordon's for ~$25.00. (A special thank you to our friend Vinnie who supplied the ride to Waltham to renew our supply of this favorite wine.)

    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! Join us in our Sparkling Resolution.

    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 post is a category, it will 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 with a few additions from the Nino Franco site.

  • Today We Celebrate December and 100 Years of Nino Franco with a Bottle of Nino Franco Rustico

    We are starting December 2019 with a longtime favorite sparkling wine, Nino Franco Rustico. We have been enjoying, recommending, and writing about this wine for more than a decade. Now wine experts around the world are catching on to a great thing. (More about that below.)

    IMG_6563

    The last time we raised a glass to the wonderful people at Nino Franco, it was with the bottle Silvia Franco was signing in the photo below. Back then we joined them long distance as they celebrated the 30th vintage of their Primo Franco. As they raised their glasses in Valdobbiadene, we opened this bottle and toasted them here in Boston. 

    After a few years as Internet friends, we were happy to meet Silvia in person on a trip to Boston. It was good to learn that she is as nice, smart, and sharing in person as she is with her social media friends.

    IMG_6550

    Today we'll raise a glass to Silvia Franco and her family as they celebrate 100 years of Nino Franco vintages. Please take a relaxing moment with Silvia and her family as they tell you about the wines and the place they love, protect, and celebrate in the video below.

     

    IMG_6558

    Not only will we congratulate this family on 100 years of winemaking, but also for their Rustico winning the number one spot on Wine Enthusiast's best-of-the-best list "THE ENTHUSIAST 100 WINES OF 2019" with a rating of 94 out of 100. That is along with many more honors for their other wines.

    78100621_2543931032361232_8081260994996731904_o

    IMG_6570  IMG_6570

    We purchased our bottle at Gordon's for ~$25.00. (A special thank you to our friend Vinnie who supplied the ride to Waltham to renew our supply of this favorite wine.)

    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! Join us in our Sparkling Resolution.

    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 post is a category, it will 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 with a few additions from the Nino Franco site.

  • We’ll Raise a Glass of Ca’ di Rajo Lemoss Bianco Frizzante to October 2019

    We are expecting good things from our October sparkler, Ca' di Rajo Lemoss Bianco Frizzante. It was a recommendation from Howie Rubin at Bauer Wine & Spirits. He's introduced us to many happy wine times across the years. It was good to welcome him back from his recent medical leave.

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    Howie said, "This wine ticks a lot of boxes." He's right and he knows our taste.

    We love prosecco. Lemoss Bianco is made from 100% Glera grapes.

    We love low alcohol. Lemoss Bianco checks in at 10.5% ABV

    We enjoy a wine with a bit of personality. Lemoss Bianco is unfiltered and will be a bit cloudy in the glass. 

    We love a wine with a good story. This wine is made in an old method for Proseccos called Col Fondo. Here's a link to an article from Wine Spectator that explains the different methods of making sparkling wines. In brief they explain, "A col fondo Prosecco starts with a base wine, then there is a secondary fermentation, but the distinguishing feature is that the wine is not disgorged—that is, the lees are left inside the bottle."

    IMG_5987

    We like easy to open wines. Lemoss Bianco has the crown cap that was put on for its second fermentation. It was never disgorged and changed to a cork. 

    We trust specific importers. This one was imported by one of our favorites, Oz Wines!

    IMG_5981

    We purchased our bottle at Bauer Wine & Spirits.

    IMG_5991

    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!

    Join us and raise a glass to October 2019!

    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’ll Raise a Glass of Ca’ di Rajo Lemoss Bianco Frizzante to October 2019

    We are expecting good things from our October sparkler, Ca' di Rajo Lemoss Bianco Frizzante. It was a recommendation from Howie Rubin at Bauer Wine & Spirits. He's introduced us to many happy wine times across the years. It was good to welcome him back from his recent medical leave.

    IMG_5979

    Howie said, "This wine ticks a lot of boxes." He's right and he knows our taste.

    We love prosecco. Lemoss Bianco is made from 100% Glera grapes.

    We love low alcohol. Lemoss Bianco checks in at 10.5% ABV

    We enjoy a wine with a bit of personality. Lemoss Bianco is unfiltered and will be a bit cloudy in the glass. 

    We love a wine with a good story. This wine is made in an old method for Proseccos called Col Fondo. Here's a link to an article from Wine Spectator that explains the different methods of making sparkling wines. In brief they explain, "A col fondo Prosecco starts with a base wine, then there is a secondary fermentation, but the distinguishing feature is that the wine is not disgorged—that is, the lees are left inside the bottle."

    IMG_5987

    We like easy to open wines. Lemoss Bianco has the crown cap that was put on for its second fermentation. It was never disgorged and changed to a cork. 

    We trust specific importers. This one was imported by one of our favorites, Oz Wines!

    IMG_5981

    We purchased our bottle at Bauer Wine & Spirits.

    IMG_5991

    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!

    Join us and raise a glass to October 2019!

    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