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Common Wealth Crush Party Kiwi 2022
Origin: Shenandoah Valley, VA
Retail: $24.95 | Sale: $22.46
Common Wealth Crush Co. is the first winery operation of its kind in Virginia’s Shenandoah Valley. Built with small producers in mind, they are custom crush meets incubator meets thinktank cooperative. Started by brothers Ben and Tim Jordan, and Patt Eagan, CWC helps grow the next generation of fellow Virginia winemakers, bringing these minds together under one roof where collaboration and creativity can flow. From the winemaking team: “In the before times, when we were daydreaming about the wines we would make for Common Wealth Crush, no one raised their hand and said “I must make a Sauvignon Blanc!” That’s not because we don’t like the grape, it makes delicious wine, but it just wasn’t on the radar. However, when you get a shot at some Shenandoah Valley Sauvignon Blanc, grown at 1,400 feet of elevation on limestone, you jump on it.” Sauvignon Blanc grapes were direct pressed, and the wine fermented spontaneously in a combination of stainless tank and neutral barrels. The other grapes were blended in and the wine was filtered prior to bottling. This wine is not simply fresh and fruity; it is rich and textured, with depth and salty minerality to complement the stone, and dare we say, kiwi, fruits. 90% Sauvignon Blanc, 4% Gruner Veltliner, 2% Petit Manseng, 2% Pinot Blanc, 2% Pinot Gris
Common Wealth Crush Teacher's Pet-it Manseng 2022
Origin: Shenandoah Valley, VA
Retail: $29.95 | Sale: $26.96
The Petit Manseng grapes for this wine were sourced from a vineyard in Batesville in central Virginia with Hayesville clay loam soils, while the Chardonel grapes were sourced from a vineyard located near Harrisonburg in the Shenandoah Valley. The Petit Manseng was direct-pressed and fermented spontaneously with full malo lactic fermentation occurring in older Burgundian 228L barrels. The Chardonel was also direct-pressed (except for 20% whole-berry inclusion), then blended with the Petit Manseng. 16 months aging in barrel and 3 months in stainless steel. Round and full with a bounty of lush yellow/green tropical fruit - unripe pineapple, mango, green papaya, Meyer lemon, pear - it stands up to most dishes, yet is lip-smacking all on its own too. 95% Petit Manseng, 5% Chardonel
Common Wealth Crush Mise 2023
Origin: Shenandoah Valley, VA
Retail: $29.95 | Sale: $26.96
The name, Mise, is a term that has followed CWC partner Lee Campbell around for her entire food-and-wine-dominated professional life, and, as a natural-born Francophile, even prior. “Mise en place,” “mise en bouteille,” “mise the table”... mise, mise, mise. The word is derived from the French for “putting something in its place.” But don’t limit Mise to any particular occasion or pairing… like Baby, she doesn’t like to be put in a corner. The Petit Manseng was destemmed, but left in whole berries, not crushed. Three weeks of maceration. Punched down once a day. Direct press on the Albariño and the Pinots Blanc and Gris, then co-fermented with the Petit Manseng. Full malo and four months aging in glass and four months in neutral Burgundian 228L barrels. Medium-bodied, with medium tannins and orchard fruit aromas. 87% Petit Manseng, 8% Albariño, 3% Pinot Blanc, 2% Pinot Gris
Star Party Cabernet Franc 2022
Origin: Shenandoah Valley, VA
Retail: $29.95 | Sale: $26.96
Located in the beautiful Shenandoah Valley, Star Party is a family owned winery that prides itself in producing low-intervention, natural wines. Star Party celebrates bringing people together, whether at simple gatherings in the backyard under the stars or those special life events we photograph and look back on for years to come. With an inaugural vintage in 2021, Star Party sources grapes primarily from the Shenandoah Valley AVA to feature the best flavors of Virginia. They are committed to reducing environmental impacts throughout the winemaking process so that generations to come can enjoy quality wine under starry skies. 50% whole cluster 12 days on skins/ 50% whole berry Cab Franc 14 days on skins, ambient inoculation. Aged in large format neutral oak puncheon for 11 months. Frutti di bosco and cranberry aromas mingle with earthy herbal honey aromas . Medium bodied with a long juicy and fresh finish! Enjoy with a slight chill. 100% Cabernet Franc