Wine Quickie: Clos Saint Sebastien Collioure Empreintes 2017

I was unable to get to this bottle during the Garnacha Day chat on Twitter with #WiningHourChat, but I'm finally getting to it now! Collioure is an AOC within the Banyuls region of southern France, and for red wines they focus on GSM blends (Grenache, Syrah, Mourvèdre). This one is medium bodied with  a lush mouthfeel, balanced acidity, and soft tannin. It's very nice with notes of strawberries,  raspberries, dark chocolate, graphite, and a lovely savory finish. I'm glad that this was the odd-man out that night, because I am really enjoying it all on its own.

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Wine Review: Giusti Rosalia Prosecco Extra Dry

If you see this bottle and instantly don't get Better Than Ezra's Rosealia stuck in your head, are you even old enough to drink? *checks the year it was released* GODAMNIT! 1995! That song came out 24 years ago? Almost a quarter of a century? Holy crap, I'm old.

This is 100% estate grown Glera over stony, alluvial soil on the bed of the Piave river in Nervesa della Battaglia. The yield is limited to 18 tons per hectare, bunches are stored for one night at a low temperature, and then pressed. Then it's fermented in stainless steel over 25 days before it's moved to the autoclaves for secondary fermentation. After that, it remains in contact with the lees for 6 weeks. When all is said and done, the final ABV is 11%.

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Saké Quickie: Yokmi "The Afterlife" Junmai Ginjo

Yomi is Japanese for "World of Darkness", which is an afterlife in Japanese mythology. So Yomi "The Afterlife" is all about death and rebirth, and I'm totally down with that.. and the label art. Also, Junmai Ginjo in a can is another thing that I'm totally down for. You're getting peak freshness here, but please still pour it into a glass. This is probably the lightest bodied Junmai Ginjo that I've ever had, but it's packed full aromas and flavors of melon, wild red berries, and whipped cream. Still, there's not much unique character. It's worth the price of $6, but spending the extra $4 on a bottled Junmai Ginjo is the smart move.

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Wine Review: Masottina Prosecco Treviso Brut

Do you know how popular Prosecco is right now? It's insanely popular. You can even get kegged Prosecco. PROSECCO IN A KEG. They're even having problems keeping up with demand. I swear I saw an article recently saying that the region was putting a halt on any new vineyards being planted for awhile so they can try and maintain some sort of quality instead of getting completely out of control, but I can't find that article now.

Prosecco apparently is also a very difficult word for the unsavvy consumer. It's been called everything from Proseccio to Proshacco to Prozacci, which are all understandable. I once had a guy come in asking for prosciutto. I had to break the news to him that we don't sell deli meats (OMG I wish we did) and he had to explain to me that it was a sparkling wine. Another gentleman came in asking for Progresso, which is a brand of canned soups, but by then I had adapted and realized that he was talking about Prosecco. I'm not making fun of these nice people, but it certainly is funny what they come up with when it comes to Prosecco in particular.

Today I'm reviewing a Brut Prosecco from the Prosecco di Treviso DOC made by Masottina. It's made of 100% Glera from clay soil, and it has an 11% ABV. I'm also eating a chocolate chip cookie with it. Don't give me no "it'll mess up your palate" crap! I was on the Keto diet for like six months and on loose-Keto for the last three. I can have a friggin chocolate chip cookie with some Prosecco if I want. LET'S DRINK SOME BUBBLY!

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Wine Quickie: Château Minuty "M" Côtes de Provence Rosé 2018

This is a limited edition bottle designed by English artist and designer Ruby Taylor! I once was told that Minuty is the top selling Rosé in France, but it was also a sales rep who told me that so he could have been blowing smoke. It's a good one, though, and I would divert people away from those other top selling popular Rosé's to Minuty any day.  Made from 50% Grenache, 40% Cinsault and 10% Syrah. It's light but juicy and very floral with a nice minerality, grapefruit, raspberry, and strawberries. Minuty is fun and refreshing and absolutely crushable.

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Best of Summer 2019!

It's the first day of Autumn so here are the Top 5 wines that I reviewed and rated this summer! Funnily, the top spot actually goes to the review that came out just two days into the season!

#5. Hazelfern Cellars Pinot Noir 2017

Region: Willamette Valley, Oregon
Review Release: June 30th, 2019

The color of the wine is ruby red with some pretty good clarity to it. And the nose is sooooo goooood with raspberries, cherries, mocha, toffee, wet dirt, and copper. Uuuuuungh. I don't even care about drinking this, I just wanna smell it all night. On the palate it's light bodied but has a rich mouthfeel with a bright acidity and grainy tannin. There's flavors of raspberries, strawberries, vanilla, cola, wet wood, and even some apple. It finishes with strawberries and cola, and with a silky smooth mouthfeel but with some heat to spice it up.

Wow. This is everything I expect out of an almost-$50 Pinot and then some. It's both elegant and rustic, while being both fruity and earthy, and both light bodied and rich in mouthfeel. This is a very well done Pinot and quite the enjoyable experience.

READ THE FULL REVIEW / WATCH THE YOUTUBE VIDEO

QUALITY VS PRICE RATING

Price: $48

Rating: 4.5/5 = Recommended / Highly Recommended (what does that mean?)

#4. VINI Pinot Grigio 2017

Region: Thracian Valley, Bulgaria
Review Release: August 18th, 2019

The wine has a 12% ABV and it's a light straw yellow in color. It still smells like those little prepackaged cups of sliced peaches in peach juice, with almonds and vanilla, but I'm detecting the addition of some pineapple and hay this time around. It's light to medium bodied with a rich mouthfeel and a nice acidity that's, yet again, rather mellow for a Pinot Grigio. The peaches come back on the flavor, but there's also melon, a tiny squeeze of grapefruit, and a little bit of spearmint.

Pour me this Pinot Grigio any day of the week, man, because it is excellent. For $10 you're getting a Pinot Grigio with character and life, and one that is well above the vast majority of its competition in the same price range. Kris? Ecco Domani? Put them down right now and pick this up.

READ THE FULL REVIEW / WATCH THE YOUTUBE VIDEO

QUALITY VS PRICE RATING

Price: $10

Rating: 5/5 = Highly Recommended (what does that mean?)

#3. Dane Cellars Valeria 2016

Region: Sonoma Valley, California
Review Release: July 4th, 2019

The color of the wine is ruby red with violet highlights. Speaking of violet, you get plenty of violet on the nose! But there's also strawberry sauce, orange rind, dark chocolate, beach sand, and of course that high ethanol presence that you expect out of Grenache. On the palate it's on the lighter side of medium bodied with a fluent mouthfeel, grainy but soft tannin, and an acidity that hides behind the effects of that high ethanol. There's flavors of cold brewed coffee, black cherries, strawberry sauce, graphite, and a little dirt. It finishes super silky smooth with just a little bit of grainy tannin standing up in protest.

Oh my goodness. Bart has truly made something special here. Valeria is elegant and smooth but it still has grit and heartiness.

READ THE FULL REVIEW / WATCH THE YOUTUBE VIDEO

QUALITY VS PRICE RATING

Price: $40

Rating: 5/5 = Highly Recommended (what does that mean?)

#2. Domaine Bessa Valley Enira 2009

Region: Thracian Valley, Bulgaria
Review Release: August 25th, 2019

The color of the wine is brick red but holy Moses just forget about color for right now! Chocolate liqueur. Raspberry liqueur. Cinnamon sugar. Cherries, mint, and graphite. God fucking damnit this wine has a sexy nose. On the midpalate it's medium to full bodied with a velvety and lush mouthfeel, with smooth tannin, tamed acidity, and just the right amount of umami. There's flavors of cherries, blackberries, chocolate, cinnamon, and sinful lust.

For the regular price of $26 I'd give this wine a 4.5/5 in price vs quality. It's outstanding. But you can get it right now for $18 (at the publication of this review) and that totally brings it up to a 5/5 and a no brainer. This is absolutely killer for the cost. Buy it up: https://bulgarianwine.com/wines/enira-2009-by-bessa-valley-winery/

READ THE FULL REVIEW / WATCH THE YOUTUBE VIDEO

QUALITY VS PRICE RATING

Price: $18

Rating: 5/5 = Highly Recommended (what does that mean?)

#1. Ashkar Shafaya 2014

Region: Galilee, Israel
Review Release: June 23rd, 2019

Now let's get to this friggin' kickass wine because OH MY GOOOOODNEEEEESSSS THE JUICINESS!

The color of the wine is a ruby red. It's so black peppery on the nose that it almost makes you want to sneeze! There's also aromas of cassis, plum, cigarette tobacco, and licorice. Oh lordy lordy this nose is STELLAR! I think I'm in love! On the palate it's full bodied with bright acidity, a fine dusty tannin, and a rich mouthfeel. The cassis and plum from the nose return on the palate super-juicy and explosive, and they're joined by blackberry, chocolate, and graphite. Then it finishes with big juicy plum, caramel, and graphite, and a little grip from the tannin. Oh man.

This wine is big, juicy, expressive, alive, and gorgeous! I simply can't rave enough about Shafaya!

READ THE FULL REVIEW / WATCH THE YOUTUBE VIDEO

QUALITY VS PRICE RATING

Price: $24

Rating: 5/5 = Highly Recommended (what does that mean?)

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Wine Review: Château Bellevue Monbazillac 2011

Oh, dessert wine! Yesssssss! Alright, here's the thing, I have never been into sweets. Candy has never appealed to me and I absolutely despise cake (except for carrot cake). My junkfood has always been the salty stuff. Chips and cheese, man. Those giant jugs of UTZ Cheeseballs? I could devour that whole thing in one sitting. Anyways, my point is, I don't like sweets but I love sweet wine! And dessert wine is like friggin' heaven, I'm telling ya right now! All you dessert wine producers out there should be sending me some of your dessert wine because it's guaranteed to get a good review. Just saying.

Monbazillac is an AOC in southern France that makes sweet dessert wine around the village of Monbazillac, and even though the Monbazillac AOC wasn't established until 1936, they've been doing their thing with dessert wine for a very long time. Monbazillac's wines are said to be similar to Sauternes but tend to have more Muscadelle in the blend.

This guy right here is from Château Bellevue, which was built in the 17th century, and is a blend of Sauvignon Blanc, Semillon, and Muscadelle, using the traditional methods of producing Monbazillac. One interesting thing I found while searching for information: Ponton d'Amecourt is the name of the family that has owned the Château since 1972, and their ancestor Gustave invented the helicopter in 1861. Neat!

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Saké Quickie: Kikusui Shuzo Funaguchi Jukusei Nama Genshu

"Jukusei" means it was aged, so this Sake was purposefully released after it sat there for awhile. "Nama" means that is was not pasteurized. "Genshu" means alcohol was added but it wasn't watered back down like your average Honjozo, so it's got a rather high ABV of 19%. And HOOOO BOOOOY. It's full bodied with a mellow mouthfeel and perfectly balanced acidity. There's cooked apple, stewed plums, cinnamon, vanilla extract, pie crust, and on the finish there's a little splash of raspberry sauce. This Saké is some kind of apple/plum pie crossover and it's just so very good. It's one of the more expressive, different, and intriguing Sake's I've had since I started my interest in the category. I wouldn't recommend it to a beginner, but I absolutely would recommend it to an explorer like myself. It's fucking fantastic.

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It's #GarnachaDay 2019! (Part 2)

My first group of wines today were from The Wining Hour chat held this week to celebrate Garnacha Day, but the purpose of this smaller group is not only to promote Garnacha Day but to promote a specific region in Spain as well.

IMG SOURCE: garnachagrenache.com

Cariñena is a Denominación de Origen (DO) within Aragón in northwestern Spain. It's mostly noted for the wine it produces from the Carignan variety, but that's not all that they grow there. They're big into Garnacha as well, and they have the largest planting of old vine Garnacha than anywhere else in Spain. Let's have a taste!

Sierra de Viento Garnacha 2018 is medium bodied with a lush mouthfeel and a wonderful spicy pepperiness to its character. There's some tart cherry but the lush blackberry helps to smooth it out, and those guys are joined by vanilla, caramel, and pepper. This is a $7 Garnacha that could be asking for $12.

Beso de Vino Old Vine Garnacha 2016 was actually also in my first set of wines today. I found that it's your typical entry-level Garnacha meant for quaffing with pizza or whatever. You're not going to sit there and analyze it because it's pretty basic, but I really liked it! It's fruity with plums and cherries, and there's some chocolate and caramel there too.

Look at how cool the bottle is for Bodegas Paniza Fábula de Paniza Garnacha 2018. I love it, and I love the wine, although I highly suggest you give it a slight chill before you drink it. That little chill livens it right up, as it does for most Garnachas in my experience. It's medium bodied with a lush mouthfeel, perfectly balanced acidity, dusty tannin, and a nice savoriness. There's strawberries, cherries, chocolate, and vanilla. And that finish? Strawberries, raisins, and licorice. Mwwwah. Awesome.

So much is put in to Garnacha Day every single year and it's always a lot of fun for people like myself, but the real purpose is to get the word out to YOU. Yeah, YOU! Go out and try some Garnacha, guys! Those who don't know about it don't know they like it yet!

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It's #GarnachaDay 2019! (Part 1)

That's right! A whole day dedicated to Garnacha! The other day I was lucky enough to be invited to taste five Garnacha's in celebration of the grape along with a whole bunch of cool people on the #WiningHourChat hashtag on Twitter (thanks to @WinesofGarnacha and @TheWiningHour). It was very fast paced but a lot of fun! Here's a little bit about the wines that we tried. Happy Garnacha Day, my fellow wineos!

Let's start with Spanish Garnacha:

The Clos Dalian Garnacha Blanca 2018 really took me by surprise. Light and crisp and refreshing but with lively fruit of apples and pears. It was my second favorite of the evening. Beso de Vino Old Vine Garnacha 2016 is your typical entry-level Garnacha meant for quaffing with pizza or whatever. You're not going to sit there and analyze it because it's pretty basic, but I really liked it! It's fruity with plums and cherries, and there's some chocolate and caramel there too. Evodia  Old Vine Garnacha 2017 was better than I thought it would be. The last time I had Evodia, it was on a decline as production increased. It's still not as good as it used to be, but it's improved. I noted blackberries, strawberries, and tea.

Now for French Grenache:

Unfortunately I was not able to get around to opening the Clos Saint Sebastien Collioure Empreintes Rouge 2017 but I plan on it soon, and I'll make a quickie about it too. That Terrassous Rivesaltes 6 Year, though! Oh my goodness! This is a white dessert wine and it was the best out of the bunch. Everybody kept saying that it was like Tawny Port from France and they are not wrong. Sweet and absolutely beautiful with caramel, raisins and almonds. Spectacular.

Thank you Li for including me! I'm looking forward to doing it again! Happy Garnacha Day, everybody, and I'll be back with a Part 2 later today!

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Wine Review: Domaine Laurens Pierres Rouges Marcillac 2016

Domaine Laurens was founded in 1975 right in the heart of the Marcillac wine region. They have 21 hectares of land and produce red, white, and rosé wines. Wait, Marcillac? What the heck is that? Marcillac is in the Aveyron department of southern France, near the city of Rodez. I don't think I've ever had a wine from Marcillac before. Maybe I have and just don't know it or recall.

And the same can be said for the grape that this wine is made from: Fer Servadou, AKA Fer, Pinenc,  and Mansois. It's mostly grown in the southern France regions of Marcillac, Gaillac, and Béarn. According to Wikipedia, "Fer is French for iron (Latin Ferrum), a reference to the very hard and 'iron-like' wood of the vine's above ground canopy".

Have you even heard of Fer Servadou? I'm sure I have at some point in my studies but had forgotten about it, and I've certainly never have had a wine made from it.  So without ferther servadou (see what I did there?) let's pop this bottle open!

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Saké Quickie: Kikusui Shuzo Funaguchi Ichiban Shibori

So you can see that this Saké comes in a can. You can also see on the can that it says "Nama Genshu Honjozo". Nama (short for Namaganza) means that it is unpasteurized, Honjozo means that alcohol was added, and Genshu means that water wasn't added to dilute that alcohol and bring it back down like a normal Honjozo. With a 19% ABV this is rice booze, motherfuckers, and it's awesome. It's big bodied with a lush mouthfeel and a booziness all around. For flavors and aromas there's a lot of coconut (and I'm normally not a big fan of coconut) with yellow pears, melon, and vanilla. I really enjoyed it. Like... a lot. But it's not a Sake that you want for a pleasant evening with dinner. This is Sake meant for getting a bit drunky. Delicious yet dangerous.

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Wine Quickie: Mas de Cadenet l'Echappée Belle Côtes de Provence Rosé 2018

I really liked this Rosé and my wife liked it even more! It's got a zippy and refreshing personality that just makes me smile. On the nose there's rose petals, grapefruit skin, and Fruity Pebbles; while on the palate there's strawberries, citrus, and peach. The bright acidity gives this fruit-forward rosé a big uplift into happiness, and the long-lasting finish is wonderful. Thumbs up from this guy (and his lady)!

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Saké Quickie: Kikusui Shuzo Junmai

Canned Sake! As I explained in my article yesterday, canned Sake is becoming a big thing for the same reason that it is in the wine and craft beer industry: protection from light and air, 100% recyclability, and less weight for lower carbon emissions during transport. And I really like this one! It's got a rich mouthfeel with aromas and flavors of cantaloupe and yellow pear. But where it really gets me is on the long-lasting savory finish where the fruit brightens up and makes you smack your lips. Awesome.

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Just Brew It, Part Three: Understanding and Buying Sake

If you haven't read Part One: A brief history of Sake then go ahead and check it out. Or not. It's not required reading for this article, although Sake's history is a fascinating one. But I do suggest that you head on over to Part Two: Making Sake if you haven't read it already, because that's where I tell you all about what the heck Sake is and how it's produced. 

At the end of Part Two: Making Sake we had one question before we could finish making our Sake: Will this Sake be a Futsu-Shu (lower quality Sake) or a premium Sake? And if it's premium then will it be a Honjozo or a Junmai? This determines whether it will be bottled as is or if alcohol and water are added, and talking about that made more sense here than there.

So let's take this Sake series one part further and first take a look at the different categories of Sake to help make your life as a Sake consumer a lot easier, and then we'll move on and talk about buying and drinking Sake. Don't worry because I'm purposefully trying to avoid overloading you with information. I want you to learn about this outstanding beverage and take interest in it and not run away scared, because it is absolutely worth it.

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Saké Quickie: Kiku-Masamune Taru Saké Cup

Saké in the jarro! This is a Jumai in a 180ml jar with a 15% ABV. "Taru" is Saké that's spent time in a cask, a nod to the Edo Period when Saké was transported in casks, and this one was aged in Yoshino Cedar until it has obtained that color and the desired flavor. It's pretty damn peppery if you ask me. I do like peppery stuff, as you know, but I'm not too sure if I like it on Saké to this level. It has a nice creamy mouthfeel and a little melon and pear, but I think with that cedar and pepper this one really depends on what you pair it with. Smoked foods seem to be suggested for Taru, and I can absolutely see that.

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Wine Expert Gabriel Geller shares exciting new wines for Rosh Hashana

Guest Post by Vicki Garfinkel, VICKIGJ PR.

Bayonne, NJ, SEPT. 13, 2019 – Rosh Hashana, the holiday that marks the New Year on the Jewish calendar, is around the corner, bringing with it a new wave of world-class kosher wines.

Blogger and wine expert Gabriel Geller, Director of PR and Wine Education Manager for Royal Wine, recently shared insights and observations from inside the wine industry. He reports that the new releases, produced by innovative newcomers and venerated estates alike, are really something to get excited about.

“Whether we’re talking about Herzog wines from California, Terra di Seta wines from Tuscany, Elvi wines from Spain, or Netofa from Israel, it’s clear that today’s kosher wines can compete with any other top-rated label. Quality is everything. Drinking kosher wine is no longer a compromise in quality.”

For example, the Herzog winery, a state-of-the-art facility in Oxnard, California, has produced award-winning wines from some of the most prestigious American vineyards for decades. And since the 1980s, the company has been cultivating and acquiring vineyards of its own. “These producers have introduced some of California’s finest and most well-regarded wines,” says Herzog’s Executive Vice President of Marketing, Jay Buchsbaum. “Kosher is just something we ‘happen to be.’”

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Wine Review: Georges Vigouroux Pigmentum Malbec Rosé 2018

The Vigouroux family has been owned by Chateau Haute-Serre since 1887 and have been champions of the Malbec variety in Cahors and beyond the entire time. It's currently headed by Bertrand-Gabriel Vigouroux and shows know signs of leaving the family any time soon.

I love me some Cahors. Old World, rustic, Malbec from southern France. I once saw a video where a dude took a huge ass jug half filled with Cahors Malbec, filled the rest with water, and it didn't thin out even a little. That's how deeply pigmented Cahors Malbec can be, and that's why it's called the "Black Wine of Cahors".

Buuuuuuut this one is a Rosé, which I was pretty excited about, only to have that excitement unfortunately be short lived. I didn't like it.

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Wine Quickie: Roseline Prestige Côtes de Provence Rosé 2018

This is 40% Cinsault, 40 % Grenache, and 20% Syrah, with a coppery pink color. It's an uncomplicated but nice and enjoyable rosé with lime, strawberries, pepper, and a little mint. I really, really like it and it's actually pretty hard not to drink it too fast. It's also pairing well with this herb & garlic cheddar that I'm stuffing my face with. Good stuff, man.

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Wine Review: Château Peyros Madiran 2014

Madiran is a village in the Haut Béarn region of Gascony, France, that mainly produces wines from the Tannat grape. So we're talking about highly tannic stuff coming out of this village. Wines that chew your steak for you.

Where Château Peyros now sits used to be a convent and the steeple still stands at the top of their slopes. Their wine is a bit different than it's colleagues thanks to it's unique soil for the area and own little microclimate. Not only is it the only vineyard in Madiran that benefits from full southern exposure, but the land is rocky with lots of pebbles and clay. That last part sounds PERFECT for a little bit of Cabernet Franc action, and Château Peyros takes full advantage of that. They have 49 acres of vineyards with 70% of it planted with Tannat and 30% planted with Cabernet Franc.

Their 2014 Madiran is 80% Tannat and 20% Cabernet Franc, with the average age of the vines between 40 and 50 years, and it spends a whole year aging in oak barrels (40% new).

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Wine Quickie: Domaine Chantepierre Lirac 2017

Lirac is a subregion of Côtes du Rhône, France, and this wine is a blend of 45% Grenache, 40% Syrah, and 15% Mourvedre. It's got a full body and rich mouthfeel with tamed acidity, soft tannin, and fantastic umami. There's aromas and flavors of black cherries, blackberries, leather, licorice, and mint. This is just a wonderfully easily approachable CDR GSM for $18. And, as I've found with most Grenache based wines, it does benefit from seeing a slight chill.

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Wine Review: Albert Bichot Domaine Long-Depaquit Chablis 2016

Ooooh Chablis! Isn't white Burgundy just one of the greatest things ever? I friggin' love it! Another thing that makes this bottle so special is that my favorite regular customer gave it to me when she bought a case. Thank you, Deborah!

So, in case you don't know, Chablis is unoaked Chardonnay from the region of Chablis in Burgundy, France. The Bichot family can trace their lineage back to the 1350's but they've been in the wine business since 1831. They have four estates in Burgundy; one in Chablis (Château Long-Depaquit), one in Côte de Nuits (Domaine du Clos-Frantin), one in Côte de Beaune (Domaine du Pavillon), and one in Côte Chalonnaise (Domaine Adélie). All of their vineyards are sustainably grown. Not only do they have those estates of their own, but they're also a negociante who also buys grapes and juice from others to produce more wine.

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Sail to Trail WineWorks of New England Launches Boutique Urban Winery Online

WORCESTER, MA, (September 4, 2019) PRESS RELEASE — Sail to Trail WineWorks, the premier urban winery headquartered in New England, has announced today the launch of its new online platform, backed by a mission to redefine the stereotypical wine drinker and create a more inclusive industry experience for consumers nationwide. 

Sail to Trail’s Founder, Chris Simpson of Worcester, MA, is an engineer-turned-entrepreneur who recognized the need to transform the longstanding market narrative, which to date has largely catered to a demographic that gravitates to sommelier education and elegant tasting events. Simpson aims to simplify both the industry conversation and selection process and in turn, create a dedicated community of diverse customers who feel invited to the table, thanks to Sail to Trail’s refreshing approach and industrial roots.

Simpson is collaborating with a recognized team of wine experts to develop his growing collection of Sail to Trail varietals comprised of hand-selected, limited batch, red and white blends that are curated, bottled and available for purchase and by subscription online. Each bottle is marked with its own unique cuvee number, reflecting the exclusive small batch that is produced one time only under the Sail to Trail brand.

“My mission in launching Sail to Trail online is to create a more approachable, simplified alternative to the market’s status quo with a focus on the casual wine drinker,” stated Chris Simpson, Founder and CEO of Sail to Trail WineWorks. “By pairing our urban New England roots with select, top notch blends produced by our partners across the globe, our goal is to promote inclusion by eliminating industry intimidation—doing the hard work for our consumers by curating and bottling a limited collection of what we believe are the very best varietals out there.” 

The Sail to Trail collection includes designated varietals with favorited grapes aggregated from across the world, currently in partnership with vineyards in Walla Walla and Yakima Valley, Washington, Sonoma, and Central Coast, California with a growing global footprint on the horizon.

Loyal customers are invited to join the Ladder 7 Club—named in honor of Simpson’s grandfather, a hometown firefighter and World War II veteran—which offers subscribers access to discounted rates, prime shipping fees, birthday rewards, and other exclusive benefits, now available to residents in 40 states. Sail to Trail is currently working through local regulations, with plans to build out a Tasting Room space in Massachusetts to bring the wines home. 

Learn more at www.sailtotrail.com and visit upcoming tasting booths in Connecticut at the Greenwich Wine & Food Festival and Harvest Festival.

About Sail to Trail WineWorks 

Sail to Trail WineWorks is a premier urban winery headquartered in Worcester, Massachusetts, on a mission to redefine the stereotypical wine drinker. Sail to Trail is simplifying the industry conversation and selection process for consumers by curating and bottling the very best varietals from across the globe. Sail to Trail varietals are comprised of hand-selected, limited batch, red and white blends that are curated, bottled and available for purchase and subscription online in 40 states. Each bottle is marked with its own unique cuvee number, reflecting the exclusive small batch that is produced one time only under the Sail to Trail brand. Club members benefit from access to exclusive wine deliveries every 3 months, and other measurable rewards.

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Wine Quickie: Hecht & Bannier Côtes de Provence Rosè 2018

This rosè is 45% Cinsault, 45% Grenache, and 10% Vermentino (WTF???). Although it's got a nice nose of raspberry seltzer, lemon, and roses, it kind of falls apart for me on the palate. It's rich with an unbalanced acidity and an unflattering and awkward flavor profile of tart grapefruit, bitter orange, and sweet pear juice. It's well received from other reviewers all across the board, so maybe you'll like it. But it ain't my thing, man.

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September Wine Pick: Chateau de L'Aumerade Côtes de Provence Cuvée Marie Christine Cru Classe Rosé 2017

Oh my goodness, September is going to be a fun month! There will be wines from France, a few Proseccos from Italy, and two American Vermouths. Alright, wines from France may be an understatement because there's a TON of those, and every Tuesday in September will feature a Rosé from Provence, France. Let's call it "Rosé Tuesday".

I'm finishing up my three-part Sake series for this month's long-read article, and I'll even be reviewing a canned sake. CANNED SAKE? WTF? Garnacha Day is on the 20th so there's that. And, as always, additions will be made as the month moves along. I might even review your face, so stop looking at me like that.

Anyways... we're living on borrowed time here for summer weather, so my wine pick of the month is this refreshing Syrah / Grenache Rosé while the sunny days last!

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