Behind the Cork™ - Terra Alpina Pinot Bianco

2018 Terra Alpina Pinot Bianco ($15)

This 100% Pinot Bianco is from the Dolomiti region of Italy. Located in the far northern reaches of alpine Italy, it experiences warm Mediterranean influences as well as cool Alpine breezes.

The Lageder family firmly believes that organic and biodynamic cultivation benefits the wine, but also the whole surrounding area and have fully converted all of their estate vineyards in Alto Adige.

This Terra Alpina Pinot Bianco is from vines that are 5 to 50 years old that are planted in mostly calcareous soils. Hence, it has fresh fruit flavors with a bit of minerality.

This Pinot Bianco spends up to four months on the lees and four to six months aging in Stainless-steel tanks.

On the nose there are tropical fruit aromas, including pineapple, a bit of citrus and pear.

On the palate, this wine is soft and easy with ripe pear flavor and just a hint of acidity.

If you aren’t already familiar with the Pinot Bianco grape, this is an excellent way to become acquainted. Cheers!

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

Sample Provided by Anika Crone, Jarvis Communications

Behind the Cork™ - Beronia Gran Reserva

2010 Beronia Gran Reserva ($29.99)

The Rioja region of Spain is famous for its wine that are based on Tempranillo. This Gran Reserva offering from Beronia is comprised of 97% Tempranillo with 3% Graciano.

Tempranillo means "little early one", a name given to it by Spanish growers who observed its habit of ripening early. Graciano's intense aroma makes the variety very popular with winemakers who know that its presence is felt even when used in small volumes.

The very finest of the Rioja wines are the Gran Reservas. They must undergo a total of five years aging, of which at least two years is spent in oak. This one from Beronia spent 28 months in French oak barrels and another 36 months of aging in the bottle.

The aroma of this Beronia Gran Reserva includes dark fruits, such as currant, plum and licorice. There is also a hint of wood. On the palate its got blackcurrants and black cherries, prunes, chocolate and hints of earthiness and tobacco.

While being a deep, dark maroon color, this wine is lighter than you might expect. It’s a medium-bodied wine with subtle tannin and an easy finish.

If you can find this 2010 Beronia Gran Reserva Rioja, pick up a couple of bottles. Open one now and stick the other one away for a while. It will get even better. Cheers!

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

Sample Provided by Rebekah Polster on behalf of González Byass

Ever Wonder? Is it Okay to Drink Rosé Wine in the Fall and Winter?

 Rosé is a wine that is enjoyed in warm weather, by the pool, at the beach and by the lake. It’s wonderfully refreshing and pairs well with most foods. But, like wearing white clothing, rosé is generally not ‘in style’ after Labor Day. And that’s a shame.

Rosé, as previously discussed, is produced from red wine grapes, but extended contact with the dark grape skin is not allowed. The juice from the pressed red grapes is immediately separated before fermentation begins. So, the juice has just a hint of pink color.

So, why do we shy away from rosé during the Fall and Winter seasons? They are delicious and pair so well with so many foods.

Rose’s bright fruit flavors and crisp acidity work with chicken, fish and turkey. Yes, turkey. But is rosé featured on the Thanksgiving table? It should be! And, with a Christmas ham? Absolutely! And on New Year’s Eve and New Year’s Day? Yes, especially sparkling rosé. While it might be frightfully cold outside, that’s not reason to set aside the rosé.

I say embrace rosé - Year-round. Along with those hearty reds. It’s always okay to rosé! Cheers!

Behind the Cork™ - González Byass NOE 30 year Sherry

González Byass NOE 30 year Sherry ($49.99)

This Sherry is from Jerez de la Frontera in south-western Spain. All true Sherry fortified wine comes from the vineyards around Jerez de la Frontera and the neighboring towns of Puerto de Santa Maria and Sanlúcar de Barrameda. Together they form the three points known as the 'Sherry Triangle.’

This NOE sherry, which has aged for over 30 years, follows a careful winemaking process that results in an impressive showing of the Pedro Ximénez grape.

Antonio Flores, winemaker and master blender at González Byass, is the maker of this sherry.

It has an intense dark brown color, with aromas of figs, coffee and spices. It is very sweet, fresh and has a silky palate.

This is dessert in a glass. Serve this one slightly chilled on its own or with acidic desserts

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

Sample Provided by Rebekah Polster on behalf of González Byass

Behind the Cork™ - Two Hands Sexy Beast Cabernet Sauvignon

2018 Two Hands Sexy Beast Cabernet Sauvignon ($33)

Sexy Beast, the 2000 British crime film, earned Ben Kingsley an Oscar nomination for his portrayal of a “Sexy Beast” for which this wine is named.

This wine, from the McLaren Vale of South Australia, was crushed into and fermented in open top vessels, with regular pump overs (three times per day during peak fermentation) to extract its color, flavor and tannins. It spent an average of 14 days ‘on skins.’ It was then drained and pressed to tanks and then racked to barrels for oak maturation in 10% new Taransaud French oak with the remainder being aged in one to seven-year-old French oak.

This Sexy Beast Cabernet Sauvignon is deep crimson red in color, has aromas of blue and red currant along with herbal notes of wild herbs. On the palette it’s actually medium in body and has a very jammy finish with some acidity.

This one’s good now and should certainly get better with age. Cheers!

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

Sample Provided by Will Rogers of Donna White Communications