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Autumn may be around the corner, but many of us are still in the throws of summer heat waves and humidity. Hopefully, you have some rosés chilling in the refrigerator to satisfy the palate and ease the agony of the heat. Consider adding these mouth-watering rosés from the Southern Rhône to your collection.  Photo credit: Penny Weiss The Southern Rhône Valley is located in southern France and is famous for its juicy red blends. It is larger than the Northern Rhône Valley and produces about 95% of all wine in the Rhône Valley under AOP (Appellation d'origine contrôlée designations.)  Map courtesy of William Lembeck The climate in the Southern Rhône is Mediterranean with mild winters, and the summers are warm and dry. The terrain is much flatter than in Northern Rhône and consists of three diverse soil types: clay-limestone, sandy, and stony. The climate and terroir are conducive to grape growing here, especially the late-ripening Grenache, which is Southern Rhône’s signature grape. Here are four lovely rosés to enjoy, which are under $20. Château Mourgues du Grès, Galets Rosés, AOC Costières de Nimes, Rosé, 2021  Photo credit: Penny Weiss This rosé is a blend of 50% Grenache Noir, 40% Syrah,and 10% Mourvèdre. The grapes are sourced from the Costières de Nimes appellation. And as you can see by the map above, it is the most southern appellation. Nose: Juicy red berries, cherry, and earthy. Palate: Cherry, strawberry, spice, and minerality, with a touch of herbs. Alcohol: 13.5% SRP: $13 Château Manissy, Cuvée des Lys, AOC Tavel, Rosé, 2021  Photo credit: Penny Weiss Sourced from the Tavel appellation, this rosé is a blend of 50% Grenache gris, 30% Clairette, 10% Cinsault, and 10% Syrah. Nose: Red berries, cherry, herbs, minerality, and a hint of floral. Palate: Aromas segue onto the palate with notes of oregano, red plum, a touch of citrus, and lots of fresh minerality on the finish. Alcohol: 13.5% SRP: $16 Château Beaubois Expression, AOC Costières de Nimes, Rosé, 2021  Photo credit: Penny Weiss This dry, crisp, refreshing rosé is a blend of 60% Syrah, 30% Grenache, and 10% Cinsault. Nose: White stone fruit, red berries, and tropical notes. Palate: Peach, raspberry, citrus, a hint of mango, and a nice balance of acidity and minerality. Alcohol: 13% SRP: $16 Château la Canorgue, AOC Luberon, Rosé 2021  Photo credit: Penny Weiss Luberon appellation is located between Avignon and Aix en Provence but is technically in the Rhône. The blend for this wine is 70% Syrah and 30% Grenache.
Nose: Red berries, citrus, floral, and minerality. Palate: It is dry and zesty with white stone fruit, strawberry, citrus, floral, and finishing with lingering notes of minerality and berries. Alcohol: 12.5% SRP: $18 Food Pairing Suggestions Sip these wines as an aperitif or serve with seafood, shellfish, grilled white meat, salads, vegetable risotto, crab cakes, and omelets. Enjoy the rest of the summer! I’ll be back soon with a few wines to usher in the fall season. Until next time… Cheers! Penina To leave a comment or if you have an inquiry, please contact me at wineknittercomments@gmail.com Over the last few years I have had the pleasure of meeting many dynamic women in the wine industry from around the world. These women hold positions that range from winemakers and winery owners to operations management, business development, marketing and financial planning. They are a rarity in an industry that has been notoriously dominated by men. Happily, the landscape is changing and more women globally are rising to the occasion and making their presence known in the wine world. I was recently invited by Bethany Burke of Taub Family Selections to join a panel discussion and virtual tasting on Zoom, focusing on “The Next Generation of Women In Wine”. Dr. Laura Catena of Bodegas Catena Zapata & Bodegas CARO in Mendoza, Argentina moderated this lively discussion. She was joined by panelists Anne Trimbach, of Trimbach in Alsace, France, Laure Colombo, of Vins Jean-Luc Colombo in Cornas, Rhone Valley, France and Alessia Collauto Travaglini of Travaglini in Gattinara, Piemonte, Italy. These accomplished and talented women were all born into multi-generation family-owned wineries, but their backgrounds and the paths they took before joining the family business are diverse. However, they all share the experience “as women” of assuming an important position and role in their family wineries. Here is an introduction to these amazing women. Also, each panelist selected a wine representative of her family’s estate for us to taste.  Photo credit: Penny Weiss Dr. Laura Catena Proprietor, Bodegas CARO Mendoza, Argentina  Photo courtesy of Bodegas CARO Laura is a fourth-generation Argentine vintner, born in Mendoza, Argentina. Her great-grandfather founded the Catena Winery in 1902 after emigrating from Italy. In addition to being the proprietor of Bodegas CARO, Laura is currently managing director of Bodega Catena Zapata. Her path to becoming a vintner in her family’s winery was quite circuitous. Laura graduated magna cum laude from Harvard in 1988 and then earned a medical degree from Stanford University. It wasn’t until 1995 that she joined her father, Nicolas Catena Zapata, in the winery as a winemaker. In addition to authoring two books, Laura splits her time between Mendoza and San Francisco where she practices Emergency Medicine. One of Laura’s many passions is to learn more about high altitude viticulture, the vineyard soil microbiome and wine ageability. In the struggle for female equality in the wine business, Laura said, “There is no male equality either.” As she has witnessed in her winery, “If a man says he needs to go home because his child is ill or he has to make dinner, the boss will respond with ‘Where’s your wife?’ If a woman asks the same thing, it is accepted. There is such a long road still ahead for both women and men. But we are coming from a place of progress and I’m very excited about the future.” Bodegas CARO, CARO 2017 To learn about the collaboration between the Catena family and Domaines Barons de Rothschild that birthed CARO, please read my previous story. Two Cultures + Two Estates = Elegant Wines http://thewineknitter.com/1/post/2020/01/two-cultures-two-estates-elegant-wines.html This wine is a blend of 74% Malbec and 26% Cabernet Sauvignon. The Malbec softens the Cabernet Sauvignon, which is a little bitter. Grapes are selected and hand-harvested from the best blocks of the high altitude vineyards of Mendoza. The wine is aged for 18 months in French oak barrels from Lafite’s cooperage.  Photo credit: Penny Weiss Aromas of rich red fruit, berries, baking spice and violet segue onto the palate with dark cherry, black raspberry and a hint of dark chocolate on a long finish. Smooth tannins and refreshing acidity are beautifully balanced. Alcohol: 14% SRP: $70.99 Anne Trimbach, Export Manager for Trimbach Alsace, France  Photo courtesy of Trimbach Anne is the 13th generation and the first woman to “be on the scene” in her family’s winery situated in Alsace, France. Anne grew up in the winery and knew from an early age that she would work there. Her great uncle expressed doubts about her getting into the business. He said, “Oh really, you want to work with us? But you are a woman and how will you manage this? One day you’ll want to have babies.” Anne expressed in relating this story, “I had to prove I was able to.” Her journey involved studying economics in Strasbourg, then spending three years in Dijon. She completed her master’s degree in Burgundy and then interned with a beverage distributor. Anne moved back to Alsace in 2008 and began to formally work as a export manager and Trimbach ambassador. Anne also introduced and developed a presence on social media for the winery. She said, “ The world of wine is about sharing and catching the eye of people. We share our passion for wine and people through videos.” Trimbach “Réserve” Riesling 2017 This is 100% Riesling. Grapes for the Réserve are sourced from old vineyards in Ribeauvillé and surrounding villages with vines 45 to 50 years old. Due to the complexity of the terroir here, some of the finest wines are produced. Anne noted that because of climate change “we are seeing early harvests due to temperatures rising.”  Photo credit: Penny Weiss Beautiful aromas of floral, peach, grapefruit and a hint of diesel set the stage for this classic. dry Riesling. The palate offers nectarine, green apple, lemon and minerality. This is a vibrant and fresh wine with good aging potential. Alcohol: 13% SRP: 34.99 Laure Colombo, Winemaker at Jean-Luc Colombo Rhône Valley, France  Photo courtesy of Jean-Luc Colombo Laure is second-generation and grew up in the small village of Cornas where the vineyards were her playground. Laure said, “I escaped the village and didn’t plan to work in wine, I just wanted to live in big cities. I was anxious to leave and travel.” And so she did. After studying commerce at the University of Lille, she traveled to Florida and worked at Disney World Epcot Food & Wine Festival. Laure also worked as a sommeliers assistant at Alain Ducasse’s restaurant in NYC and traveled to New Delhi, India to work with the Grover vineyard. And the list goes on! When she returned to France, Laure interned at Château Haut-Brion while studying for a bachelor’s degree in Viticulture and Oenology in Bordeaux. She then went on to receive her master’s degree in Oenology from the University of Montpellier. Laure said, “By traveling around the world, I learned my roots and I wanted to come back. I finally joined my family in 2010 and little by little I learned to work with the family.” She has been working alongside her parents ever since. For a glimpse and background of Laure’s parents and where she grew up, please click on the link below to read my story. A Hidden Treasure - The WineKnitter http://thewineknitter.com/1/post/2019/03/day-713-a-hidden-treasure.html Jean-Luc Colombo Saint-Peray AOC “La BelleDe Mai” 2018 This wine is a blend of 60% Roussanne and 40% Marsanne. Grapes are hand-harvested from a single vineyard of the oldest part of this small 10-hectare appellation. Laure said, “The grapes are co-planted, harvested and vinified together. The ratio changes from year to year, but normally one half to two-thirds of the Roussane is used in the blend.” Grapes are fermented in oak barrels and the wine is aged on the lees for six months.  Photo credit: Penny Weiss This is a rich and complex wine with enticing aromas of floral, pear and grapefruit. The palate offers honeysuckle, apricot, peach, a hint of vanilla and citrus zest on the finish. Creamy texture and fresh acidity sate the palate. Alcohol: 14.5% SRP: $29.99 Alessia Collauto, Travaglini Gattinara, Italy  From left to right: Massimo, Carolina, Alessia and Cinzia. Photo courtesy of Travaglini Alessia is the fifth-generation of the Travaglini wine family. “Fourth-generation, Cinzia Travaglini, now runs the estate, along with her husband Massimo Collauto, chief winemaker. Their efforts, like the generations before them, have made Travaglini one of Italy’s most recognizable wines and the #1 selling Gattinara in the world. Their children, Alessia and Carolina, are currently involved in the winery, and will be the next generation to run the estate.” Alessia has a degree in Economics and Business Management. She also received her Certificate of Sommelier in 2017. She spends time tending the vines at Travaglini, working in the cellar with her family and also participates in the administration, marketing, sales and promotion of their wines. Alessia stated, “My parents introduced me to the secrets of the vines and situations of everyday business and little by little transferred to my sister and me the passion for wine.” Alessia said that the experience of being a sommelier made her curious not only to open her mind and try the wines but she also said, “Most importantly it made me curious about the vinification of the wine and the stories behind the wine.” Travaglini Gattinara DOCG 2016 This wine is 100% Nebbiolo and is Travaglini’s flagship wine. The small appellation of Gattinara DOCG is known for its rare soil that produces grapes with a unique flavor profile, high acidity and tannins. Alessia said, “The complexity of this wine comes basically from the rocks. Although the wine is complex, it tastes very delicate on the palate.” The wine is aged for three years, two of which age in used Slavonian oak casks. The wine rests for three months in bottle  Photo credit: Penny Weiss Lovely aromas of rose petals, berries, fennel, baking spice and pepper prep the palate for a rich and inviting wine. Notes of rose, cherries, raspberry, cinnamon, earth and minerality tease the palate. I love the complexity of this wine in addition to its freshness and tannins that talk.
Alcohol: 13.5% SRP: $33.99 It was a pleasure and honor to be a part of this discussion and tasting. I loved their stories, anecdotes and, above all, the inspiration and path that they are creating for more women to enter the wine industry! Until next time… Cheers! Penina To leave a comment or if you have an inquiry, please contact me at wineknittercomments@gmail.com After enduring many sultry days, I enjoyed waking up this morning to 53-degree temperatures and no humidity! And yes, it put me in the mood for red wine, even though I have some lovely white and rosés chilling. I selected Domaine Bila-Haut, which is produced by Michel Chapoutier.  Photo credit: Penny Weiss Michel is a fourth-generation oenologist and head of Maison M. Chapoutier, founded in 1808. It is located in the Rhône wine region in southeastern France. Michel is one of Rhône’s most famous wine producers and is known worldwide for such wines as Hermitage, Chateauneuf du Pape and Côte Rôtie.  Photo is courtesy of Maison Chapoutier In 1999, Michel purchased the 190-acre estate Domaine Bila-Haut located in the region of Côtes de Roussillon, Languedoc in Southwest France. It was a neglected property but showed promise due to the Mediterranean climate and a mix of schist, gneiss and clay soils. With Michel’s knowledge, expertise and passion he turned the land into a perfect growing environment for Syrah, Grenache and Carignan. Sustainable farming and low yields along with Michel’s belief of “emphasis should be on quality, not quantity” have led to producing the highest quality fruit and concentrated flavors in these expressive wines. Les Vignes de Bila-Haut Rouge Côtes Du Roussillon Villages 2017 This Syrah-dominated wine is blended with Grenache and Carignan. Grapes are hand-harvested from plots located on the slopes of the high Agly Valley.  Photo credit: Penny Weiss Vibrant aromas of plum, dark berries, spice and cocoa set the stage for this succulent wine. Michel Chapoutier adds that it has “the smell of summer rain on stone.” The palate offers layers of plum, dark cherry, spice and pepper that tease and linger on a long finish. This is a beautifully blended and well-balanced wine with silky tannins. Enjoy with grilled fish, meat and dessert! Alcohol: 14% SRP: $15 Domaine de Bila-Haut L’esquerda Côtes Du Roussillon Villages 2017 This is a single vineyard wine made from old vines. Syrah dominates the blend with small amounts of Grenache and Carignan added. The percentages of the blend vary from vintage to vintage. The grapes are hand-harvested from the 67-acre L’esquerda vineyard comprised of 40 to 60-year-old vines that grow in granite and schist soils.  Photo credit: Penny Weiss Earthy aromas mix with dark fruit, spice, floral notes and mocha. The palate offers juicy notes of black cherry, blackberries, plum, spice and a hint of wet stone. The finish is long with a touch of chocolate and herbs lingering. Delicious! Serve with grilled meat, tuna, poultry and hearty stews.
Alcohol: 14.5% SRP: $28 These Rhône wines are elegant and expressive and Michel Chapoutier never disappoints! Until next time… Cheers! Penina To leave a comment or if you have an inquiry, please contact me at wineknittercomments@gmail.com Today is the summer solstice. It is the first day of summer and the longest day of the year. It is also the shortest night!  In celebration of the summer solstice and the promise of many warm days ahead, I opened a bottle of rosé.  Photo credit: Penny Weiss In the past, I reviewed the 2016 and 2017 vintages of this Ferraton Père & Fils rosé. So, I knew that I was in for a treat. And, I was not disappointed. The Côtes-du-Rhône vineyards, located in Southern France, extend from Vienne to Avignon and include 171 vineyards. The region enjoys a Mediterranean climate conducive to grape growing that also reflects in the characteristics of the wine. The grapes for this particular wine were grown on the right bank of the Rhône in limestone, sand, pebbles and clay soil.  Ferraton Père & Fils is a producer and négociant of wine throughout the Rhone Valley. To learn more about this producer, please click ‘Ferraton Père & Fils’ on the menu at right. Ferraton Père & Fils Samorëns Rosé 2018 is a blend of 50% Grenache, 30% Syrah and 20% Cinsault. The color is bright salmon bordering on coral. Lovely aromas of strawberry, peach and a trace of minerality segue onto the palate with white floral notes, cherry, berries and a hint of red ruby grapefruit and citrus zest on the finish This is a lively, dry rosé that exhibits fresh acidity and roundness. Drink as an aperitif or serve with seafood, salads, grilled vegetables and light pasta. Alcohol: 13.5% SRP: $14  Photo credit: Penny Weiss Enjoy “the longest day” and have a great weekend!  Photo credit: Penny Weiss Until next time…
Cheers! Penina To leave a comment or if you have an inquiry, please contact me at wineknittercomments@gmail.com As it got closer to game time on Super Bowl Sunday, the streets emptied and the traffic was just about non-existent. The bars were packed with sports fans and Super Bowl parties were underway in many homes. Friends engaged in good-natured banter as to who had the largest flat screen TV to watch the game on while others boasted they had the best “game day” food to serve.  For many years my youngest son and I had a Super Bowl tradition. If I didn’t feel like cooking, we would order a huge feast from our favorite Chinese restaurant and watch the game together. After he went off to college, I started watching the game with friends. But I must admit that I really miss my son on Super Bowl Sunday! Since my son couldn’t join me again this year I decided to invite the “Northern Rhône” to participate in the Super Bowl festivities, via a bottle of wine. (I know, this is a long and crazy segue to review a bottle of wine.) The Rhône Valley is a grape-growing region located in Southern France.  The Northern Rhône has seven major appellations consisting mostly of steep hillsides and stone filled soils including limestone, minerals, clay and gravel.  The climate in the Northern Rhône is moderate continental and is influenced by the cold north mistral wind, with the winters tending to be tough and the summer months warm. The more concentrated and better quality wines come from the steep hillsides that have greater exposure to sunlight. The signature grape in the Northern Rhône is Syrah and it is the only red grape permitted here. Viognier, Marsanne and Roussane make up the white varieties. Syrah grapes are small with thick darkly colored skins and tend to produce wines of deep color that are concentrated and rich.  Saint-Joseph appellation is located on the right bank of the Rhône and produces some of the best quality red wines from the steeply terraced vineyards here. The appellation is approximately 2,400 acres with a diverse range of soils, heights and sun exposures. Ferraton Père & Fils is a producer and négociant of wine throughout the Rhone Valley. Twenty percent of Ferraton production is estate wines with grapes coming from the domaine’s 37 acres in the Northern Rhône’s Hermitage, Crozes-Hermitage and St. Joseph appellations. The rest is sourced from sustainably farmed fruit in both Northern and Southern Rhône appellations all of which are biodynamic and certified organic.  Ferraton Père & Fils Saint-Joseph La Source 2015 is bottled under their négociant line (Red Label) called “Tradition”, which refers to the traditional method in the Rhone of blending from various vineyards. The wine is 100% Syrah of which a portion was partly aged in oak barrels for about 12 months. The color is deep ruby with heady aromas of red and dark berries, cherry, spice and violet. Every sip is pleasing to the palate, offering black raspberries, blackberry, dark plum, licorice, sweet spice and vanilla. The finish is loaded with pepper, minerality and hints of chocolate. It is full-bodied with soft tannins and a richness that just “wows”! Serve with roasted or grilled meats, all types of cheese, fish or meat stews. This is a lot of wine at a modest price! And, I expect it to get even better over time. Alcohol: 13.5% SRP: $32  For more information about Ferraton Père & Fils, please click on the menu at right. The Super Bowl was a disappointment this year and held no excitement or nail- biting moments. However, my glass of wine more than compensated for the outcome of the game.  Until next time…
Cheers! Penina To leave a comment or if you have an inquiry, please contact me at wineknittercomments@gmail.com |
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