Behind the Cork™ - Cline Hat Strap Chardonnay

2021 Cline Hat Strap Chardonnay ($25)

Cline Family Cellars, a certified sustainable family-owned and operated winery and vineyard holder based in the Carneros wine appellation of Sonoma County, California, has recently announced the introduction of Cline Family Cellars Sonoma AVA Series, a collection of four varietal wines sourced from the best growing regions in Sonoma County.

In 1991, Fred and Nancy Cline moved Cline Family Cellars from Oakley to a 350-acre horse ranch in Sonoma-Carneros. They began planting Chardonnay, Pinot Noir and other noble Rhône-style varietals that best suited the growing conditions of the area. Now, as the next generation assumes leadership positions within the winery, they are fulfilling their heartfelt commitment to promote Sonoma County with the introduction of this new tier of wines to showcase local Viticultural areas that produce the best expression of a signature varietal.

Hat Strap Chardonnay is sourced from the Cline family’s J. Poppe vineyard, the oldest Sonoma vineyard on the winery’s estate. “Afternoon winds are felt throughout the Carneros region and especially on the Eastern facing slopes of Wildcat Mountain where we farm our stellar Hat Strap Chardonnay,” said Fred Cline. “Winds come up from the San Pablo Bay directly pulling in cooler coastal air. The wind is so strong that I need to hang on to my hat when inspecting the vineyard,” remarked Fred. Hence, the name ‘Hat Strap’ for this wine.

This 2021 Cline Hat Strap Chardonnay is produced from 100% Chardonnay that is hand harvested. The grapes are immediately pressed and settled for 24 hours to remove some solid, while retaining enough to create a full textured wine. After inoculation, a cool fermentation begins in a mixture of stainless steel tanks and French oak barrels. It then undergoes 100% malolactic fermentation. It then spends extended time on lees with periodic stirring. The wine is aged for 10 months in 35% new French Oak barrels, 35% in neutral barrels and the balance in stainless steel tanks.

This Cline Chardonnay is medium-gold in color with aromas of baked apple and pear. On the palate it is creamy smooth with hints of apple, pear and citrus. It finishes really nice. 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 Cline Cellars via Donna White Communications

Behind the Cork™ - Josh Cellars Prosecco

Josh Prosecco

Many years ago, Josh Cellars founder Joseph Carr worked at a winery in Italy, falling in love with the country and with Italian wines. These sparkling wines are the first from Josh Cellars. They were created in 2019 in partnership with the Pozzi Family - a small family wine producer in Italy - as a ode to this their beautiful country.

Josh Prosecco ($14.99)

The grapes for this sparkling wine are from vineyards between Conegliano Veneto and Valdobbiadene in the Prosecco DOC appellation. The grapes were pressed immediately following harvest to extract maximum flavor. The juice was then fermented twice in stainless steel tanks to preserve freshness and produce the carbonation. On the nose, this Prosecco has hints of green apples, pear and citrus. On the palate it is lightly effervescent with refreshing acidity and a very light touch of sweetness.

Josh Prosecco Rosé ($14.99)

The grapes for this sparkling rosé are also from vineyards between Conegliano Veneto and Valdobbiadene in the Prosecco DOC appellation. The grapes include Glera and Pinot Noir. After pressing, the juice is kept in contact with the Pinot Noir skins for a short time to give it the beautiful rosé color. Again, this Prosecco Rosé is fermented twice. On the nose it has delicate aromas while on the palate it has nice notes of cherry and berry, refreshing acidity and a wonderful light touch of sweetness on the finish.

Both of these Josh Prosecco sparkling wines are available on-line from Josh Cellars as well as nationwide on Drizly, Total Wine and more. Cheers!

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

Samples Provided by Josh Cellars

Behind the Cork™ - Vilarnau Organic Cavas

Vilarnau Cava

These two wonderful Cavas are from Vilarnau in Spain. And, they are made with organic grapes!

The winery is a small, artisanal, hand crafted Cava house located outside of Barcelona that dates back to 1949. Made in the traditional méthode champenoise, the Vilarnau bottles honor their Catalan roots with wrapping that reflects the beautiful avant-­garde imagery of Antoni Gaudí.

  • Vilarnau Brut Reserva NV ($14.99) This Brut Cava is made from three varietals: 50% Macabeo, 35% Parellada, 15% Xarel.lo. They are each made separately. The first fermentation for each varietal takes place over 30 days before being blended. The second fermentation occurs the traditional way, in the bottle, where the yeast turns the wines in to Cava with its characteristic bubbles. It is classified as a "Reserva" because it was aged for more than 15 months in the bottle.

  • Vilarnau Brut Reserva Rosé NV ($15.99) This rosé Cava is produced from 85% Garnacha and 15% Pinot Noir. They are fermented separately in stainless steel tanks for 30 days. They are then blended and bottled to start the second fermentation which takes about six weeks. It then stays in contact with the yeast for at least 15 months in the bottle during the aging process which qualifies this Cava as a “Reserva.” It has delicate flavors of ripe strawberries, raspberries and blueberries. It’s smooth, creamy and refreshing. This bottle is always a strong favorite when served!

Vilarnau cavas are imported by González Byass USA and are distributed nationally. Cheers!

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

Samples Provided by González Byass

Behind the Cork™ - Levendi Sweetwater Napa Cabernet Sauvignon

2018 Levendi Sweetwater Napa Cabernet Sauvignon ($60)

According to Lavendi Winery, “The Mediterranean cultures know how to celebrate. A good meal and a good wine seem reason enough to call together the people that matter most. And that's how the Levendi legacy began—around the family table with laughter and a wish to produce something special and unique. We think that spirit is reflected throughout the vineyards, winery and within each bottle—a testament to our family and founders.”

This Sweetwater Cabernet Sauvignon is deep ruby in color with very delicate dark fruit aromas. This wine is full-bodied with rich dark fruit flavors, medium oak flavors, firm tannin and a rich finish that is long-lasting.

Levendi states “We live in the vineyards. We know our vines. We hand-harvest our grapes. And we're committed to producing intriguing wines from using primarily French oak barrels.”

This Levendi Sweetwater Napa Cabernet Sauvignon is a great find. It’s available directly from Levendi Winery and can also be found at Total Wine. At this price for a Napa Cab, it’s a super fit as the Behind the Cork™ Wine of the Week. 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 Levendi Winery

Sparkling Wines are Perfect for the Holidays

Everybody loves Champagne.  It's a treat that is generally poured in small fluted glasses and raised during toasts at special occasions. But what a lot of people don't realize is that they are not drinking Champagne. Read more

Champagne

Champagne is a sparkling wine that is produced in the relatively small region of Champagne in France. Only those sparkling wines produced in this region are allowed to be labeled as 'Champagne.'  And an entry level bottle of Champagne is going to start in the $50 range. So, typically you are toasting with some other sparkling wine. Read more

  • Champagne is typically produced from three grapes — Pinot Noir (Yes! A red wine grape!), Chardonnay and Pinot Meunier

  • To be called Champagne, it must be produced in the Champagne region of France. Otherwise, it’s called Sparkling Wine

  • The first step in making Champagne is to make the wine, like any other wine, in a barrel or tank and bottle it

  • The wine becomes carbonated by a second fermentation inside the bottle that is initiated by adding a solution of sugar and yeast. As the yeast consumes the sugar, it gives off carbon dioxide which stays trapped in the wine since the bottle is capped

  • Champagne bottles are stored with their neck down during the second fermentation so that the yeast will settle in the neck

  • The upside down bottles are regularly turned to ensure all the yeast ends up in the neck of the bottle in a process called riddling

  • The Champagne bottle is then opened and the spent yeast is removed or disgorged

  • Finally, some additional wine and sugar is added (the dosage) to balance the Champagne’s acidity

  • This process of making Champagne is called the méthode champenoise

And, just as a reminder, Champagne grapes are not used in the production of Champagne.

U.S. Sparkling Wine

In the U.S., there are a tremendous number of makers of sparkling wine. Most will produce a wine that can taste very much like the French Champagne. And, you can also find these sparkling wines infused with fruit flavors such as peach and nut flavors such as almond.  An entry level bottle of sparkling wine in the U.S. can be as little as $5. Read more

California can produce sparkling wines with “Champagne” on the label and it is perfectly legal to be called Champagne. The loophole that makes this legal stems from a ruling in 2005, after two decades of court battles, when the U.S. and the EU reached an agreement. In exchange for easing trade restrictions on wine, the American government agreed that Champagne would no longer appear on domestic wine labels – that is, unless a producer was already using the name

Prosecco and Asti

In Italy, Prosecco is their signature sparkling wine. Produced in the Veneto region just north of Venice, this sparkling wine usually produces bigger bubbles. Bottles of Prosecco can be purchased in the $10- $15 range. Read more

Cava

The sparkling wine of Spain is Cava that is produced in the Catalonia region of Spain where Barcelona is located.  Nice bottles of Cava can be purchased for around $15. Read more

Styles of Champagne and Sparkling Wine

Brut Nature - This style is bone dry. It has little or no sugar content (0–3 g/L sugar).

Extra Brut - This style is also bone dry but, it can have up to twice the sugar level of Brut Nature (0–6 g/L sugar). But, this little bit of sweetness creates a wonderful balance with Champagne’s naturally high acidity.

Brut - This is the most common style. While considered “Dry” this style can have twice the sugar of Extra Brut (0–12 g/L sugar).

Extra Dry - This is the one that always confuses people. This style is sweeter which actually makes it also taste a bit Fruity (12–17 g/L sugar).

Dry - The confusing continues. This style is getting up there in sweetness (17–32 g/L sugar).

Demi-Sec - Now you’re talking Sweet (32–50 g/L sugar). This style works well with desserts or cheeses.

Doux - This one, while very rare to find, is SWEET (50+ g/L sugar).