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1.5Ltr
Bottle:
$54.93
6 bottles:
$53.83
750ml
Bottle:
$21.94
12 bottles:
$21.50
750ml
Bottle:
$28.94
12 bottles:
$28.36
From a high desert site in the Gabilan Mountains, neighboring Pinnacles State Park. Harvested from a south facing...
750ml - Case of 12
Bottle:
$16.94
Vivid ruby red color verging on violet. Sparkling fine bubbles forming a lively and evanescent foam that lines the...
750ml - Case of 12
Bottle:
$18.13
Vivid ruby red color verging on violet. Sparkling fine bubbles forming a lively and evanescent foam that lines the...
750ml
Bottle:
$14.64
$15.41
12 bottles:
$11.52
Deep in color - nearly opaque - with brooding shades of dark purple. It exhibits rich plum and blackberry flavors and...
750ml - Case of 12
Bottle:
$14.25
Attractive pale-yellow hue with green tints, a sign of the wine’s youth. The seductively fresh and fruity nose...
750ml - Case of 12
Bottle:
$14.25
Attractive pale-yellow hue with green tints, a sign of the wine’s youth. The seductively fresh and fruity nose...
750ml
Bottle:
$20.94
12 bottles:
$20.52
From Bien Nacido in Santa Maria, this is a crisp, mineral driven wine with captivating brininess. Made for shucking...
750ml
Bottle:
$15.88
12 bottles:
$14.30
Enticing aromas of Bosc pear, chamomile, singed orange rind and lemon oil waft from the glass. It's vibrant and crisp...
750ml
Bottle:
$14.93
$15.88
12 bottles:
$14.30
Pale garnet in hue, with a dry, mouthwatering frame for the violet and spice accents, and flavors of macerated...
750ml
Bottle:
$12.99
The NV Rosso Labrusca lifts up with a decadent blend of ripe cherries, blueberries, sweet herbs and spice. This takes...
750ml
Bottle:
$18.49
12 bottles:
$17.52
Extremely fresh on the nose, with notes of wild berries and red fruits. On the palate, this full-bodied Lambrusco...
750ml
Bottle:
$16.94
12 bottles:
$16.60
From the westernmost edge of the Loire Valley, where the Loire River meets the Atlantic Ocean, comes our savory and...
Dornfelder Lambrusco Melon de Bourgogne Mencia
Some grape species are distinct and unique varietals, clearly separate from each of their cousins. Others, like Lambrusco and Muscat, are more like umbrella terms, featuring several subspecies which show slight differences from each other from region to region. Indeed, there are astonishingly more than 60 identified varieties of Lambrusco vines, and they are almost all used in the production of characterful Italian sparkling wines. They are distinguishable by their deep ruby blush, caused by strong pigments present in their skins, and their intensely perfumed character.
Lambrusco vines are grown in several Italian regions, although we most closely associate this varietal with Piedmont and Basilicata. It has also been grown successfully in Argentina and Australia. The varietal suffered from a fairly lowly reputation in the late 20th century, due to bulk, low cost production of Lambrusco sparkling wines, aimed at markets across northern Europe and America. However, things are rapidly changing, and the older, more traditional methods of bottle fermentation are returning, along with a higher level of quality and expression, as consumers become more discerning and demanding. Many of the Lambrusco sub-varieties have their own established DOC, such as Lambrusco Salamino di Santa Croce, Lambrusco di Sorbara and Modena, where new regulations are keeping standards high and methods traditional.
One of the more unusual French grape varietals, Melon de Bourgogne has been grown in and around the Loire Valley for several hundred years. In fact, this grape was first planted in the Loire region of Pays Nantais back in the mid 17th century, after a devastating frost decimated most of the red grapes which were typical in the area. The winemakers of Pays Nantais were keen to cultivate vines which were hardy, high yielding, and capable of surviving another such frost, and so turned their attention to Melon de Bourgogne for this very reason. The native home of the varietal is actually in Burgundy, where it is still grown to a lesser extent.
Because Melon de Bourgogne produces naturally heavy yields, the vintners of Pays Nantais go to great lengths to reduce the amount of fruit the vines bear. This allows the finest characteristics of the grape to come forward, and also opens up the opportunity for it to express the wonderful granite and schist soils in which the vines are grown. Melon de Bourgogne is a minerally white wine grape varietal, with a very subtle set of fruit flavors. It is prized for its freshness and brightness, and is seeing a revival in the twenty first century as an excellent wine for pairing with a wide range of foods.