Andrea Bocelli and his viticulturist brother Alberto are behind the Bocelli Family Wines brand. Their homebase is a family farm near Volterra, near Pisa, and they make wines from several regions in Italy. This particular Pinot Grigio is sourced from the hills of Colli Euganei in the Veneto, where old vines thrive. Amazingly, they grow just enough grapes to make about one bottle of wine per plant, which results in a remarkably low yield that produces intense, well-integrated aromas and flavors. Pinot Grigio is often categorized as an accessible, almost provincial wine, but this rendition offers something different: due to extended maceration, it has pronounced color and concentrated characteristics. It was also aged on the lees for a few months, which ensures additional texture. Floral notes abound, specifically acacia and peach blossom, transforming to Meyer lemon, pear, mint, and sea salt on the palate. Paired with your favorite shellfish from Shuck Me, the ‘Operetta’ will make you want to become a Bocelli aficionado.
Yakima Valley is Washington’s oldest established wine region, and the Miller family, owners of Airfield Estates, have been planting a myriad of grapes there since 1968. Their fascinating story blends history and ingenuity. More than two decades before the Millers turned to farming, part of their property operated as a training base during WWII for hundreds of Army Air Corps pilots. Even to this day, Airfield uses several of the original airplane hangars as farm storage facilities. They also strive to pay tribute to WWII heroes and veterans through their range of 100% estate grown wines. Lees aging and time in both stainless steel and French oak, both old and new, have transformed this Viognier into an unctuous, mouth-coating wine. Floral on the nose, the palate brings spiced applesauce, pear, ripe banana, butterscotch, brioche, and cashew. The salmon burger from GreenHouse will hold up nicely paired alongside the Airfield.
Cantine Birgi is a captivating brand because it was founded in 1960 by ten viticulturalists who are deeply inspired by Sicily. In their words, “The cooperative has been able to enhance and renew the winemaking heritage of the Sicans, Phoenicians, Elimi, Arabs and Normans, peoples who have enriched these lands over the centuries.” A nod to that history, ‘Liburna’ refers to a bireme, which is a type of intimidating-looking warship used by the ancient Romans with two banks of oars, known for its speed, maneuverability, and the ability to carry up to 10 tons of cargo. For Cantine Birgi, the ‘Liburna’ line spotlights monovarietals that thrive in Sicily, like the most planted red, Nero d’Avola. A fresh, fruity rendition, this wine has no oak influence and was aged on the lees for six months, adding to its body. This wine would do well with a slight chill, bringing out dark cherry, black raspberry, subtle spice, herbs, and a hint of white pepper. A fun culinary experience would be to enjoy the ‘Liburna’ with seared tuna tataki from Blue Ginger.
The vineyards for Benton Hills are located in southeastern Washington state, the name coming from several arid southwest sloping hills that are home to some of the Columbia Valley’s best sites, including Goose Gap and Red Mountain AVAs. Ancient basalt flows formed the Benton Hills, which have become ideal for grape-growing, having previously been used for cattle-ranching as well as for orchards. Crafted through sustainable winemaking, this ‘proprietary’ blend is made up of 66% Syrah, 28% Merlot, and 6% Cabernet Sauvignon in a medium-bodied style perfect for warmer weather. The three varieties were blended together after being fermented separately in oak, and then the blend was matured an additional 12 months before bottling. A crowd-pleasing wine, the Benton Hills Red Blend conveys dark fruits like black cherry, blackberry, plum, with the addition of savory traits like black pepper and subtle gamey notes. It would be even more gorgeous with a side of white truffle pomme frites from Hannah’s.
Montalcino is considered Tuscany’s most famous wine region, mostly because of how reputable and powerful Brunello di Montalcino is, which is an expensive and long-aged Sangiovese (it must undergo a minimum of 5 years in oak and bottle). While the Sasso di Sole you are drinking is not a Brunello, it is a delectable wine also made from 100% Sangiovese with an interesting aging regimen. It experienced four months in stainless steel tanks to preserve some fruity flavors plus nine months in large oak barrels from Slavonia, a region of Croatia. Sasso di Sole is a family-run winery with vineyards within the UNESCO site Val d'Orcia, a preserved landscape that was once painted by Renaissance artists. The Terzuoli family’s mantra is “Respect for the land is the only way to obtain good wine.” They have been making wine since the 17th century, and their passion shows in the glass. Rose aromas invite you in, and cherry, strawberry, plum, dried herbs, earth, and tobacco entice your palate. A slew of dishes would pair well with this Sangiovese, but if a picnic is in your future, a charcuterie assortment of meats and cheeses would be lovely.
After Shiraz, Cabernet Sauvignon is Australia’s most planted grape, indicating its true global domination. It covers over 5% of the world's vineyards, accounting for about 850,000 acres. Used for both Old and New World wines, in both the northern and southern hemispheres, Cab is truly a powerhouse. This version is from Strathbogie Ranges (so fun to say!), a wine region in southern Victoria, not too far from Melbourne. The Fowles family (yep, their logo shows a flock of birds!) has created the Farm to Table line, highlighting the fact that they are not only grape growers but sheep farmers as well. They note, “These wines embody our connection to the land and our enjoyment of it through quality food and wine” and that this Cab is meant to “complement the softer texture of farm raised meat.” With notes of blackberry, blackcurrant, plum, milk chocolate, hints of vanilla, and oak spice from time spent in old and new French oak, this Cab is both easy-drinking and perfect with or without food. But if you do grab a bite when imbibing a glass, obviously beef is its soul mate!
Steve and Karen visited Korta on their recent travels and had nothing but amazing things to say about the wines and the hospitality. Founded in 1997 by the Korta-Bucarey family, Bodegas y Viñedos Korta is one of the most important wineries in the Maule region of Chile. The main area they grow grapes is in Sagrada Familia Valley, a very old region in Chile, renowned for its agricultural development, farming traditions, and exceptional soil quality. Sagrada Familia Valley, surrounded by hills, has a very warm microclimate. In addition, its proximity to the sea means that coastal winds descend into the valley, ensuring a large diurnal range in temperature which preserves the acidity in the grapes. The Reserve de Familia blend is considered their most premium offering, their ‘Opus One,’ but at a much more affordable price. With 40% Petit Verdot, 20% Syrah, 20% Carménère, and 20% Cabernet Franc, it packs a punch due to time spent in old and new French and American oak. A post-fermentation maceration guarantees a dark inky color plus robust flavors and firm tannins. Plum, blackberry, dried basil, black pepper, dark chocolate, spice, tobacco, and oak spice will dance on your palate. Enjoy a glass with a couple of chorizo tacos from La Fondita.
Goosecross has an incredible origin story. In their words: “Family legend goes that one fall, as a flock of geese was migrating south for the winter, a male injured his wing over the Goosecross property and had to drop out of formation. Since geese mate for life, his female partner dropped out of the flock, too, and the pair settled on State Lane to heal. Once they realized California winters weren’t as bad as they had imagined, they stayed put.” Founders and mates for life Dave Ficeli and Christi Coors Ficeli created Goosecross with the idea of merging innovative wines and contemporary style with old-fashioned hospitality (Steve and Karen used to be club members!). This exultant red from Napa Valley is a very precise blend of 33.5% Cabernet Sauvignon, 18.7% Petite Sirah, 15% Merlot, 12.5% Syrah (12.5%), Sangiovese, 6.3% Zinfandel, and 1.5% Petit Verdot. What makes this wine unique is that each of the seven grape varieties was picked, fermented, and aged separately for 12 months in French oak; then the individual varieties were united and aged for an additional 13 months. Robust but velvety, the Goosecross is imbued with traits of blackcurrant, black plum, boysenberry, cinnamon stick, cedar, mocha, and vanilla bean. Korean BBQ meatballs from the Blind Fox food truck, close to Denton County Brewing, would be fabulous alongside the Goosecross.
*Baby Big Dog: Platinum customers can take home one bottle of this wine plus a different selection as part of their club (of course, additional bottles may be purchased at the platinum discount).
May 1, 2025 at 3:44 AM
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