Rose of the Month: July

This month we have travelled to Italy to explore their rosé offerings. The most planted grape in Italy is Sangiovese, which comes from the latin term sanguis Jovis, which translates to "the blood of Jupiter”. Most people know it as the main grape in Chianti, Brunello di Montalcino, and Vino Nobile de Montepulciano, but it also can be made into tasty rosés that show notes of cherry and spices.

Lambrusco is actually a family of very old grape varieties native to Italy. Most Lambruscos are a blend of several distinct varieties, each with a unique taste profile. Lambrusco garnered a negative image back in the 1980s when it was first introduced as a cheap, sweet red wine, but we think it's really time to give Lambrusco another chance, as there are various levels of dryness / sweetness available, including secco (bone dry / dry), amabile (off-dry / sweet) and dolce (very sweet).

Think Pink!

Carrie Upson

General Manager

2018 Val di Toro Anna’s Secret Maremma Toscana Rosato

Region / Country of Origin: Tuscany, Italy

Winemaker: Anna Maria Cruciata and her husband Hugh Constable Maxwell

About the Winery: Val di Toro is a family-run company in the heart of the Tuscan Maremma. Theirs is a careful, meticulous and environmentally friendly viticulture. They put all their passion into their wines, and each of their wines tend to create an unforgettable experience. Anna Maria Cruciata and her husband Hugh Constable Maxwell moved to the Maremma in 2003 and, attracted by the beauty of the countryside and by the desire for a life in contact with nature, they turned former pastures into vineyards, planting varieties typical of the area. Anna Maria and Hugh are proud to have succeeded in producing and being able to offer you a range of wines, whether they are whites, rosés or reds of the highest quality and typicality.

About the Winemaking: The Sangiovese grapes are chosen and harvested by hand specifically for making an extremely high quality rosé wine. After destemming in cold conditions, the must is left for a very short period of time in contact with the skins, typically just over an hour, while the juice is left to flow naturally without the help of the press. Therefore only the "flower of the must" will be used to make this wine. The fermentation and vinification procedures occur in temperature controlled stainless steel vats. Following stabilization, bottling occurs about 5 months after harvest.

Tasting Notes: Beautiful light pink color with coral nuances and lively, brilliant reflexes. The intense and inviting aromas are of summer fruits. The taste is dry, fresh and fragrant, with a sapid, mineral central mouth and a pleasant equilibrium. It is an extremely versatile wine; superb as an aperitif, as well as pairing well with spicy, full-flavored dishes. Anna’s Secret is a beautiful, festive wine that goes hand in hand with good time.

Suggested Food Pairing: Thai food, Spicy chicken wings, Fish dishes

Price per bottle / Price per case: $18.00 per btl/ $194.40 per case

2018 Venturini Baldini Cadelvento Lambrusco Spumante DOP

Region / Country of Origin: Reggio Emilia, Italy

Winemaker: Carlos Ferrnini- Consultant

About the Winery: The agricultural estate Venturini Baldini was founded in 1976 on a historic estate in the hills between Parm and Reggio Emilia, in the province of Reggio Emilia. The hills reach an altitude of 1200 feet and provide an excellent microclimate to grow vines, with the sun breaking the winter fog and cool green fields tempering the summer heat. The 320 acre estate, comprised of 75 acres of vineyards as well as woods and pastures, was one of the first in Emilia Romagna to obtain an organic certification.

About the Winemaking: Venturini Lambrusco is composed of the grape varieties Sorbara and Grasparossa. The grapes are manually harvested, and the wine is made by the Long Charmat Method. In the Charmat process, the wine is mixed in a stainless steel pressure tank, together with sugar and yeast. When the sugar is converted into alcohol and carbon dioxide, the yeast is filtered and removed, and the wine is bottled. The duration of fermentation affects the quality; longer fermentation preserves the wine's aromas better and gives finer and more durable bubbles. It clocks in at only 8 grams of residual sugar/liter, so it is definitely a dry wine.

Tasting Notes: Cadelvento has intense effervescence, and has a fragrant and long lasting bouquet, recalling the fragrance of rosehips and ripe plum. With a dry body, it is mellow, fragrant, tasty and fresh.

Suggested Food Pairing: Mollusks, Crustaceans, Fish Soup, Proscuitto di Parma, Parmesano-Reggiano

Price per bottle / Price per case: $19.00 btl/ $205.20 per case