Behind the Cork™ - CVNE Rioja Monopole

2019 CVNE Rioja Monopole

Monopole is the oldest white wine brand in Spain and CVNE (Compañía Vinícola del Norte de España) has been producing it since 1915.

Monopole is produced from 100% Viura grapes (as known as Macabeo grapes). The grapes are gently pressed which encourages the release of free run juice. It was then fermented in stainless steel vats at controlled temperature to preserve the primary fruit and floral aromas typical of the variety.

The color of this Monopole wine is pale yellow with hints of green at the rim. On the nose there are floral aromas along with those of white fruits such as pear, apple and white currant. On the palate it is silky and pleasing with a nice balance between structure and acidity. The finish is long and mouthwatering.

This CVNE Monopole is a delicious and refreshing wine that’s perfect for warm evenings and light summer foods. Cheers!

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

Sample Provided by Donna White, Donna White Communications

Wine Facts: Can You Say Viognier?

Viognier (Vee-own-Yay) is a wine that has taken an extreme backseat in the past to Chardonnay, yet shares a lot of similarities.

This grape is originally from the Northern Rhône region of France. And, while France still grows approximately one-third of the world’s Viognier grapes, it is also grown in the U.S., Italy, Argentina South Africa, Argentina, Chile and New Zealand.

Viognier is golden yellow in color, medium to full-bodied. It’s typically described as having floral notes along with flavors of stone fruits and tropical fruits (e.g., aromas of rose and honeysuckle with peach, tangerine, and mango flavors). And, it can finish with subtle bitter notes.

It’s also known for having a bit of an oily texture on the palette has well as having a creamy soft texture when aged in oak.

So, if you like Chardonnay, you may want to say “Viognier” next time you are looking for a terrific white wine. Cheers!

Behind the Cork™ - Pagos de Galir Godello

2017 Pagos de Galier Godello ($17)

This Pagos de Galier Godello is a product of the Valdeorras region of Spain which is located on the eastern-most fringes of Galicia, in North-Western Spain.

This 100% Godello is cold pressed and kept below 65 degrees F during fermentation. It then spends five months aging on lees.

On the nose it has nice tropical fruit, pear, melon and some floral hints. On the pallet it has nice apple and pear flavors and just a bit of honey with a smooth, creamy texture and a long finish that displays its wonderful, fresh, acidity (3.6 pH).

Godello is not a varietal that is seen as much in the U.S., but this is one to keep your eyes out for. It’s definitely one that you should experience. Serve it chilled and enjoy!

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 Donna White Communications

Ever Wonder? - What's that Stuff at the Bottom of Your Wine Glass?

Have you ever taken that last sip of wine only to find a nasty surprise either at the bottom of your glass or in your mouth? Sediment! It can be a very unpleasant discovery. But, luckily, it’s nothing to be worried about.

Sediment is a natural bi-product of the wine making process.

Wines are made from the juice of grapes. And, the skins of the grapes. And the seeds. And sometimes the stems. So, there are actually a lot of solids that are involved in wine making. That’s why, in some cases, you get some ugly particles in your wine glass.

It doesn’t just happen with red wines. White wines are susceptible too.

There’s a lot of chemistry involved in for formation of various types of sediment in wine. But, keeping it simple, these solids in your glass are mostly filtered out at the winery and are just microscopic when they leave the winery in the bottle.

But, age and temperature then act upon these microscopic particles to form the stuff you see in your wine glass.

Next time, I’ll get into a bit more detail on this topic. But, for now, don’t worry. This sediment is not harmful to consume. Cheers!

Ever Wonder? Why Do Red Wines Make Your Mouth Dry But White Wines Don't?

Have you ever taken a sip of red wine and noticed that your mouth feels dry or dusty? Almost that ‘cotton-mouth’ feel? Well, that is a sensation that is associated with red wine. Some red wines.

The dry sensation is due to the wine being astringent and its effect on the tissue in your mouth. Some people have also described the sensation as making their mouth pucker.

The culprits that causes this drying sensation in your mouth are actually chemical compounds (phenolics) that naturally occur in tannin. And in wine, these tannins come from the grape’s skin, the seeds and the stems.

Now, this is where we get to why red wines dry out your mouth but white wines don’t. White wines actually do contain low levels of tannin, but red wines contain a whole lot more tannin. That’s because the process used in making red wines involves leaving the grape skins, seeds and stems in the juice of the grape while in white wines, they are immediately removed.

But, not all red wines have the same levels of tannin. Pinot Noir is a varietal that has low to medium tannin. A Malbec is going to have medium tannin, while Merlot is going to have medium-high tannin. Then we get to the high tannin wines — Sangiovese, Tempranillo, Zinfandel, Petite Sirah and Tannat. What about Cabernet Sauvignon? Well, although you think of a Cab as having high astringency, it’s typically in the medium-high category.

So, tannin just naturally gets introduced during the wine making process. But, there are ways to deal with highly tannic wines. And, we’ll get to those next time. Until then, “Cheers!”