Diletta Tonello Veneto Marachelle Frizzante Bianco 2024
Origin: Italy
Retail:$23.95| Sale: $21.55
Cantina Tonello is located between the provinces of Vicenza and Verona, in an area called Monti Lessini DOC. The territory originated about 50 million years ago, when rising magma bubbles gave rise to the Lessini Mountains, raising them from the bottom of the primordial sea. It is precisely for this reason that surprisingly rich fossil deposits are found next to the volcanoes. The Durella grape is the indigenous vine of Monti Lessini, an ancient and rustic vine that gives golden grapes whose fundamental characteristics are a typical sour taste and a thick skin rich in tannins. Marachelle is an Italian word for “prank”: a trick that is intended to be funny, but not to cause harm or damage. This name represents the trick of blending the Durella with Chardonnay, which gives the wine much more body and softness. This wine is created by a second fermentation in the bottle. The wine stays in the bottle with the lees as required for methode traditionnelle and is unfiltered, allowing for a hazier style of wine if mixed.
Oliver Viticultors Cava Brut Nature NV
Origin: Spain
Retail: $20.95| Sale: $18.85
The Oliver Sivill family tends two estates located in different municipalities in the Penedès region, about 30 minutes from Barcelona. The vineyards are cultivated following the principles of organic and biodynamic agriculture. This particular Cava is made with 40% Xarel·lo, 35% Macabeu, and 25% Parellada. The three varieties are fermented separately in stainless steel tanks for 25 days at a controlled temperature. Following the traditional method, a second fermentation occurs inside the bottle and a subsequent aging on the lees from 12-15 months in the cellar. This is an excellent example of a Cava de Guarda, the “youngest” style of Cava, only requiring a minimum of nine months of aging.
Simmonet-Febvre Crémant de Bourgogne Brut NV
Origin: France
Retail: $32.95| Sale: $29.66
Simonnet-Febvre has been producing its sparkling wines with traditional methods since 1840. Today, it is the only Maison in Chablis that produces Crémant de Bourgogne. This wine is a blend of 60% Chardonnay and 40% Pinot Noir. In Burgundy, the Traditional Method is subject to stricter rules than those governing the production of the most famous sparkling wine in the world (read: Champagne). Made from the most “noble” grape varieties, Chardonnay and Pinot Noir, the grapes must be hand-harvested in perforated crates. The yield is very low; no more than one liter of juice can be extracted from one and a half kilograms of grapes.
Champagne Moutard Brut Réserve NV
Origin: France
Retail: $58.95| Sale: $53.06
The families of Champagne Moutard Diligent have been living in the village of Buxeuil since the mid 17th century, and have a long tradition of both grape growing and wine production. Located in the Cote des Bar, the vineyard soils are made up of clays and limestones, lending to rich, fruity aromas and good minerality. A true “Grower Champagne,” this 100% Chardonnay is produced by the estate that owns the vineyards where the grapes are grown. The management team are all family members, assigned their jobs based on competence, as has been done for four generations. In addition to Chardonnay, the family is one of the few to still nurture the permitted Arbane, Petit Meslier and Pinot Blanc grapes, instilling these almost forgotten varieties with a new lease of life.