Behind the Cork™ - Familia Traversa Sauvignon Blanc

2024 Traversa Sauvignon Blanc ($16)

Uruguayan wines have unique qualities given the country’s geographical location, climate, and soil diversity. Located between parallels 30° and 35° (south latitude), the clear, positive influence of the sea moderates the temperatures during the hottest months of the year, granting Uruguayan wines with a particularly fresh touch.

It was 1904 when Carlos Domingo Traversa and his parents arrived in Uruguay. The son of Italian immigrants, he spent his youth as a vineyard worker and in 1937, together with his wife, María Josefa Salort, he was able to purchase 5 hectares (12 acres) of land in Montevideo, in a region providing optimum conditions for growing vines. In 1956, he founded the winery aided by his children Dante, Luis, and Armando. They, along with his grandchildren, proudly keep his dream alive today.

The vineyards for these Sauvignon Blanc grapes are located in Montevideo, South of Uruguay, just 15 km away from sea. This wine comes from 20 year-old vines.

This Familia Traversa Sauvignon Blanc is produced from 100% Sauvignon Blanc grapes that are pressed, and the resulting must is transported into stainless-steel tanks for the entire fermentation process that uses two types of selected yeasts. (ABV: 13.5%)

This Sauvignon Blanc is light gold in color with aromas of pineapple, green apple, lime and herbal notes. On the palate, it has bright citrus flavors, moderate acidity, some minerality and finishes light and refreshing.

This Familia Traversa Sauvignon Blanc from Uruguay is very enjoyable and affordable thus making it a great fit as this week’s 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.

Media Sample Provided by Familia Traversa Winery

It's Time for Beaujolais Nouveau Again!

Georges Deboeuf Beaujolais Nouveau

Thursday November 21st is Beaujolais Nouveau Day!

Beaujolais Nouveau. Its name literally means 'new Beaujolais.' This wine is named for the village of Beaujeu in France, which is a small region just south of Burgundy.

On the third Thursday of each November, France releases Beaujolais Nouveau wine to the world. That means that it will be available on Thursday November 21th this year.

The 'new' part of this wine is due to the fact that the grapes used to make this wine are picked from the vineyards just a couple of months prior to its release! That's compared to most wines that spend a year or more going through the fermentation and aging process before being bottled and shipped to market.  But Beaujolais Nouveau gets from the vineyard to you in about two months!

Word has it that this wine was originally produced for the harvest workers in France to immediately thank them for all their hard work just after harvest was complete. But now its production is somewhere between 30-60 million bottles so that the entire world can enjoy.

Although there are more than 100 Beaujolais Nouveau festivals held each year in the Beaujolais region, the 'Les Sarmentelles' multi-day festival is said to be the biggest and most famous for celebrating the release of Beaujolais Nouveau. The festival includes music, dancing, fireworks and plenty of wine.

This wine is produced entirely from handpicked Gamay grapes and because it is so new, it is very fresh and fruity. Many describe Beaujolais Nouveau as having flavors of candied cherries, strawberries, red plum, bananas and even bubble gum.

Beaujolais Nouveau is meant to be enjoyed young, not critiqued. So, pick up a bottle or two next week and give it a slight chill. Then raise a glass of Beaujolais Nouveau to the French harvest workers. It's Beaujolais Nouveau time! Cheers!

Behind the Cork™ - Tempranillo Wines of Gonzalez Byass

November 14th is International Tempranillo Day! Here are three really nice Tempranillo wines from Gonzalez Byass:

2016 Beronia Gran Reserva ($29.00)

A Gran Reserva from Rioja, like this one, spends a minimum of two years aging in oak and three years in the bottle before being sold.

This wine is deep purple in color with aromas of sweet, jammy dark fruit. On the palate, this full-bodied wine has flavors of black cherry and tart cherry, with medium tannin and medium acidity. The oak is well integrated to make it well-balanced. You’ll never go wrong with this wine.


2016 Dominio Fournier Reserva ($49.99)

This is a fine example of “Tinta del País” or Tempranillo. The “Reserva” designation indicates that it is required to be aged for one year in oak and then spend two years in the bottle before being sold.

This wine, from Ribera del Duero, is produced from 100% Tempranillo. It it deep purple in color with delicate aromas of black cherry and hints of its 15 months of aging in new French oak. On the palate, this full-bodied wine has the distinctive Tempranillo flavor of cherry with firm tannin, medium acidity and finishes with just a bit of tartness.

2020 Beronia Vereia Single Vineyard ($79.99)

This wine comes from the single vineyard plot that was first planted in 1950at Beronia of Rioja.

This wine is made from 100% Tempranillo that was aged for 12 months in new French oak before spending 10 months in the bottle before its release.

It is deep purple in color with delicate dark-fruit aromas. On the palate it has good flavors of red and black cherry. The new oak aging yields a rich vanilla flavor on the finish.

Gonzalez Byass USA is a leading national importer and marketer of wines and spirits from the Gonzalez Byass family’s estates in Spain, Chile and Mexico. These three Tempranillo wines from Gonzalez Byass are excellent wines and this week’s Behind the Cork™ Wines of the Week. Cheers!

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

Media Sample Provided by Gonzalez Byass

Getting to Know the Various Styles of Rioja

Photo by Brett Jordan on Unsplash

November 14th is International Tempranillo Day. Let’s get to know this Spanish wine a bit better.

Rioja is maybe the best known Spanish wine, but did you know there are various styles of Rioja?

First, let’s review a bit about Rioja. It is a region in North-Central Spain that’s known for its wine. And, like most Old-World wines, the wine label identifies the wine region, not the grape varietal.

Rioja wine is made from Tempranillo grapes but is often a blend of Tempranillo, Garnacha and Mazuelo (a.k.a. Carignan).

But, have you’ve ever noticed that a Rioja wine is made in various styles?

The most basic Rioja wine is usually labeled simply as “Rioja.” Makes sense, right? It is aged for a matter of months, bottled and sold. It’s bright and fruity with big cherry flavors.

Then there is “Crianza.” You may not have noticed this word on the label since it doesn’t immediately mean anything to an English speaker. But, one of its translations means ‘aging.’ And, indeed, this style of Rioja is required to be aged for one year in oak and spend one year in the bottle before being sold. The controlling board in Rioja, the Consejo Regulador DOCa Rioja, ensures that these quality requirements are met.

Next is “Reserva.” Now this is a term that appears on a lot of wines, but in Rioja it actually means something. A Rioja Reserva is required to be aged for one year in oak and then spend two years in the bottle before being sold.

Finally, there is “Gran Reserva.” This wine must spend a minimum of two years in oak and three years in the bottle before being sold. But, often these wines are closer to ten years old when sold. This wine is produced from the best grapes and ends up with the best tannin structure.

So, when buying a Rioja, pay attention to the label and turn the bottle around to the backside to look for one of the identifying stickers. Then, you’ll know exactly what you are getting.

Cheers!

Behind the Cork™ - It's International Sherry Week!

Four Sherry Offerings from Gonzalez Byass Paired with Spanish Turrón

This week, November 4th - November 10th, is International Sherry Week. And González Byass is leading the way.

González Byass was created in 1835 by Manuel Maria González and remains in family hands today, now in the fifth and sixth generation.  Founded in Jerez de la Frontera, Andalusia, in the heart of Sherry country, it is dedicated to the production of high quality sherries.

Here are four excellent Sherries from González Byass:

  • Nectar Pedro Ximénez (375ml) $16.99 - Produced from 100% Pedro Ximénez grapes. This sherry is dessert in a glass! It is dark brown in color with aromas of molasses and brown sugar. On the palate it has rich flavors of raisins, figs and dates with syrupy sweetness. Paired best with the Egg Yolk Turrón.

  • Harveys Bristol Cream (375ml) $8.99 - Originally founded in Bristol England in 1796, it is now produced in Jerez, the home of sherry. Harveys is a light golden color with it distinctive nose from its blend of Oloroso, PX, Fino and Amonitillado that is aged for 7 years. It is mahogany in color with nice aromatics and flavors of raisins and caramel. Paired best with the Almond Nougat Turrón.

  • Viña AB Amontillado (375ml) $16.99 - Made from Palomino grapes that are fermented, then fortified before entering the Solera. Light amber in color, this Sherry is delicate with subtle note of oak from its 12 years in cask. Paired best with the Hard Almond Turrón.

  • Leonor Palo Cortado (375ml) $16.99 - Produced only from the “mosto yema” or the ‘free run’ juice, it is fermented and fortified prior to entering the Solera where it undergoes complete oxidation. It spends 12 years in American Oak casks. It is medium amber in color with a delicate nose. On the palate is has intense toasted notes and is sliky smooth. Paired best with the Soft Almond Turrón.

For those unfamiliar with Turrón, pastry chefs in the south of Spain have been making it for at least a thousand years. This famous confection is typically made of honey, nuts and usually egg whites. Many families keep a box of Turróns on hand for holiday parties or impromptu holiday gatherings - which is a great time to indulge with that perfect bottle of Sherry.

These four Sherries from Gonzalez Byass are a great fit as International Sherry Week’s Behind the Cork™ Wines of the Week. Cheers!

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

Media Sample Provided by Gonzalez Byass