Sure, you could walk into any wine shop and walk out with a bottle of big-name Champagne. But to show that you really put some thought into the bubbly you are gifting to that special someone, why not choose something unique — and made in the United States? From California to Vermont (and everywhere in-between), wine makers are crafting surprising sparkling wines that are perfect for Valentine’s Day, or honestly every day. Here are a few of my favorites right now.
This wine is not playing. It demands attention with an intense zippy palate that gives green apple, with just a very subtle toast on the nose. Harvested from a small vineyard block of Chardonnay, three weeks prior to their famed Carneros Estate Chard, it was aged on the lees for an extended period to develop complex secondary flavors, then hit with a nearly nonexistent dosage— just three grams of sugar. Donum means gift in Latin, making this vibrant wine an apt present for educated wine lovers while pleasing novices.
I’ve been hearing rumblings about the good things growing in Virginia for a while now — and this 100 percent traditional method Chardonnay bubbly speaks volumes. Sourced from grapes in a cooler part of their vineyard and from younger vines, this wine retains a citrusy bright palate due to aging in a combination of stainless steel and neutral oak. The edges are rounded — and layers of flavor arrive — thanks to 32 months on lees before disgorgement. If Virginia is for lovers, as the tourism slogan goes — this wine is a great way to express your affection.
Winemaker Ethan Joseph is in love with the geography and territory of Vermont, and expresses it succinctly with this pétillant naturel, or pét-nat — a method where the wine is bottled while still fermenting, capturing subtle bubbles as the wine finishes in the bottle. Made from La Crescent grapes specifically developed to perform well in cold climates, this wine is surprisingly luscious considering the weather it endures along the way. Figure 2 pops with apricot, grapefruit, and white pepper, funky and unique- perfect for a love affair that is outside the box.
The third vintage of sparkling wine from this storied winery, the 2018 Ovation is somehow creamy and vibrant all at once. It offers pure sipping pleasure, but if you take the time to savor it, you’ll get an orchard full of peaches and green apples — and maybe even some lemony florals. This wine spends 44 months on lees and was just disgorged a few months back, giving some lovely brioche toastiness. A blend of 80 percent Chardonnay and 20 percent Pinot Noir, it is sure to cause your beloved to clap with delight.
Sometimes, you want some simple charm —and a really great conversation piece, and that’s where this sparkler comes
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For basic information about how, when and where to experience North America’s total solar eclipse and why you must try to get yourself to the path of totality on April 8, check my main feed .
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