Behind the Cork™ - Veramonte Cabernet Sauvignon

2019 Veramonte Cabernet Sauvignon ($11.99)

Here’s another returning favorite from Veramonte which is made with Organic grapes and a really good value.

The Veramonte wines are from organically farmed vineyards in Chile. Veramonte follows organic practices throughout their estate, ensuring optimum conditions for vine growth and that the vineyards are sustainable over time. Living, balanced soil produces quality grapes that express the fullest potential of the terroir.

The 2018 Veramonte Organic Cabernet Sauvignon is produced from 100% Cabernet Sauvignon grapes grown in the Colchagua Valley. It underwent cold maceration for five days in stainless steel tanks and was fermented with native yeasts. After the primary fermentation, the wine is macerated with its skins for another ten days to achieve greater smoothness and intensity of flavor. It was then aged in neutral oak barrels for eight months.

It’s medium-ruby in color with deep, dark fruit aromas. This Cabernet Sauvignon is fruity with flavors of red fruit and sour cherry. And, a great value for a Cabernet Sauvignon!

These Veramonte wines are imported by González Byass USA and distributed nationally. For more information on these wines visit www.GonzalezByassUSA.com Cheers!

Disclosure of Wine Sample Submission: I received this sample at no cost for review. The opinions expressed are entirely my own.

Sample Provided by Donna White Communications

Behind the Cork™ - Wines of TILIA (Part 1)

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Wines of TILIA from Argentina

Tilia’s rural origins in Mendoza Argentina connect them deeply to the land and to their community. As the first Argentine wine to carry the Bodegas de Argentina Certified Sustainable Seal, the TILIA label illustrates their journey toward sustainable viticulture in Argentina. The Tilia or Tilo tree, their wine label’s namesake, produces leaves that are made into a calming tea which is traditionally drunk after lunch or dinner, to facilitate an afternoon siesta or bedtime.

The TILIA wines come from three growing regions in Argentina:

  • The Uco Valley is considered to be one of the premiere grape-growing regions in Mendoza. Located 100 miles due south from Mendoza city, its elevation reaches between 3,000-5,000 feet.

  • The Eastern Region is one of the oldest and most traditional viticultural regions in Mendoza. Located 50 miles to the southeast of the city of Mendoza, its reaches 1,950-2,150 feet.

  • The Central Region of Mendoza is home to the oldest high-quality vineyards. It is also a desert irrigated by the Mendoza River. Located 12 miles due south from Mendoza city, its elevation reaches 2,600-3,700 feet.

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2020 Bonarda - The TILIA Bonarda (Also known as Charbono) is fermented for 10 days with maceration of 15 days in stainless steel tanks. It then spends six months in French Oak. It is intense violet in color. On the nose it has dark fruit and spice aromas. On the palate, it has a sweet entry followed by soft tannins and nice acidity. It finishes with basil and blueberry flavors that linger nicely.





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2020 Malbec-Syrah - This is a blend of 55% Malbec and 45% Syrah. It is fermented for 12 days with maceration of 15 days in stainless steel tanks. It is then aged six months in French oak. The color of this wine is intense violet. It has a complex nose of red and dark fruit with subtle spice and leather hints. On the palate it is well-structured with jam, leather and meaty flavors. It finishes long with soft tannins.

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2020 Torrontés - This TILIA Torrontés is fermented for 10 days with maceration of 15 days in stainless steel tanks before spending six months in French Oak. It is pale yellow in color with light greenish hues. On the nose it exhibits aromas of passion fruit, citrus and freshly cut grass. On the palate, this wine is bright and fresh with concentrated vegetal and tropical flavors. It has a long and persistent finish.

It is their hope that TILIA becomes synonymous with sustainable living and inspires a movement among wine drinkers and producers are over the world.

Next week Behind the Cork™ will feature TILIA’s Chardonnay, Malbec and Cabernet Sauvignon.

Disclosure of Wine Sample Submission: I received these samples at no cost for review. The opinions expressed are entirely my own.

Samples Provided by Nonni Strategic Marketing LLC

Behind the Cork™ - Wines of Chile Sustainability, Part 3

This is the third of three Behind the Cork™ features highlighting Chilean wines that collectively underline Chile’s historic commitment to sustainable wine growing. Their focus on sustainability includes environmental, social, and economic.

The first posting included a Cabernet Franc and a Cabernet Sauvignon. The second posting featured a red blend and a Carmenere.

Here are two more excellent examples of high-quality, affordable and sustainable wines coming from Chile.

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2019 Viña Tarapacá Gran Reserva ($20)

Farmed since 1874 in Isla de Maipo, Chile’s traditional vinous heart, this estate is known for its diversity of soils that enable it to successfully grow an array of grapes. This five-grape variety wine (31% Cabernet Franc, 26% Syrah, 22% Carmenere, 11% Merlot and 10% Cabernet Sauvignon) are organically grown. It spent 12 months aging in American and French oak. It has upfront notes of wild herbs, flowers, ripe black fruit along with subtle vegetal notes from the Cabernet Franc and lavender and violet notes from the Merlot.

Sustainability Pillar: Planting more than 11,000 native trees and shrubs to restore the natural environmental balance and reconnect the biological corridors between the Altos de Cantillana mountains and the River Maipo through the estate’s 5,000 acres of vineyards.

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2019 Viu Mament Secreto de Viu Manent Malbec ($15)

Family-owned since 1935, Colchagua Valley-based Viu Manent is one of the most respected wineries in Chile. The family has fun with the line of “Secreto” wines – a stated grape variety with a “secret blend” (15%) of other grapes. The Malbec grapes come from 19 year-old vines. Fresh and fruity, the final blend offers a mix of red berries and violets on the palate.

Sustainability Pillar: Installation of four solar plants that generate 460 kilowatts at peak, implementation of a biodiversity protection program as Central Chile is home to more than 50% of the various species of floral and vertebrates in the country, and recycling (such as using old barrels in promotions or by local artists).

Disclosure of Wine Sample Submission: I received these samples at no cost for review. The opinions expressed are entirely my own.

Samples Provided by Creative Palate Communications

Behind the Cork™ - Wines of Chile Sustainability, Part 2

This is the second of three Behind the Cork™ features highlighting Chilean wines that collectively underline Chile’s historic commitment to sustainable wine growing. Their focus on sustainability includes environmental, social, and economic.

Chile’s elevated sense of agricultural “health-consciousness” can largely be attributed to one man: Claude Gay. In 1830, this French-born botanist, after carrying out some of the first investigations into Chilean flora, fauna, geology and geography, successfully advocated for the creation of a government agency to improve agriculture and protect the country from the perils of imported plant diseases. Chile famously remains one of the few places on the planet where phylloxera has yet to make serious inroads and Vitis vinifera vines continue to thrive on their own un-grafted rootstock.

Here are two more excellent examples of high-quality, affordable wines coming from Chile.

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2018 Viñedos Emiliana Coyam ($35)

A pioneer in Chile, Emiliana is one of the world’s largest producers of organic and biodynamic wines in the world. Coyam comes from a vineyard on granite-based soils in Colchaga’s coastal mountain range. All the fruit is own-rooted and is a massal (field) selection of different varieties, except for the Syrah, which is a specific clone. Eight different varieties are included in this tasty blend (42% Syrah, 39% Carmenere, 6% Cabernet Sauvignon, 5% Garnacha, 3% Malbec, 3% Carignan, 1% Tempranillo and 1% Mouvedre). This medium-bodied wine has nice black and red fruit flavors, medium tannin and an easy finish. It’s made with organically grown grapes and is Vegan.

Sustainability Pillar: Installation and support for organic gardens in local schools in 50% of the communications Emiliana operates in (goal: 100%). Also has 91 organic vegetable gardens for is employees, with many participating in collective growing to provide healthy food for their families.

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2019 Viña Koyle Gran Reserva Carmenere ($17)

Viña Koyle’s (KOO-lay) biodynamic vineyards are planted on the rocky slopes of Los Lingues in Alto Colchagua and are currently tended by the sixth generation of a family that has been making wine since 1885. Thanks to the deep roots of the vines, this Carmenere-based wine (85%) also includes Tempranillo (10%) and Petit Verdot (5%).

This wine has nice red fruit flavors of raspberry and cherry, medium tannin and nice finish.

It’s biodynamic, Non-GMO, Organic Agriculture and Vegan.

Sustainability Pillar: Demeter-certified, biodynamic producer Koyle also has installed solar panels which harvest 40% of the energy used.

Disclosure of Wine Sample Submission: I received these samples at no cost for review. The opinions expressed are entirely my own.

Samples Provided by Creative Palate Communications

Ever Wonder About Natural, Bio-Dynamic, and Sustainably Produced Wines?

Last time we took a quick look at organic wines and wines produced from organically grown grapes. But, now let’s quickly summarize what it means for a wine to be called ‘Natural’, ‘Bio-Dynamic’ or ‘Sustainable.’

Natural Wines

Like so many other wine terms, there are no regulations for ‘natural’ wines. The grapes are grown in organic, biodynamic or sustainable vineyards. After the grapes are hand-picked, they are pressed and allowed to ferment with no added yeast just the native yeast that occurs in the vineyard. No further additives are included during the winemaking process. Finally, the wines are bottled with little or no sulfites.

Biodynamic Wines

Biodynamic wines are like organic wines, but they add biodynamic practices that focus on soil treatments and timed planting practices that coincide with lunar cycles. Like organic and natural wines, biodynamic wines shelf-life can be shorter if they choose to not add sulfites.

Sustainably Produced Wines

Here the primary difference is in the winemaker’s emphasis on the environment. A sustainable winemaker takes extra effort to minimize their impact on the environment. They focus on things such as water conservation, waste management, wildlife preservation and energy management.

This has been a very high-level summary of the various type of wines. There are lots of laws, regulations and practices that these winemakers follow that complicate the subject. But, suffice it to say they all end up producing wine. So, start looking for these terms on wine labels and give them a try. But, if the label states ‘No Sulfites’ (i.e., no preservatives) ensure that you try it sooner rather than later. Cheers!