From 4PM - 7PM our owner Scott Hayward, and Charles Oliver of Ideal Wines will lead your pallet on a journey of European wines. Pizza will be available for purchase.
Great wines don’t have to be expensive!
The wines for this tasting were selected to tell a story. Each wine comes from the European tradition of family grape cultivation and wine making. In the US we often think of the qualities that make a good farmer as being very different from the qualities needed to be a great winemaker: different social status, different education levels, different sensibilities, etc. Not in Europe-one family will be in charge of the entire process. The family identifies with its wine and the wine is identified with the family.
This has led the Europeans to a holistic approach to winemaking that seeks to express the uniqueness of their particular varietal, the land upon which it is grown, the local yeasts that are indigenous to the area and a compatibility with the traditional foods of the region. This happens over generations.
Much of the retail wine production in the world today is engineered to the tastes of the market, mostly the American market. In contrast, European wine makers are making the best wine they can from their local varietals, the fortunes of their sun and soil, and their own traditions. The market has to discover them.
SPARKLING
Adami Prosecco, “Garbel”
Third Generation Winemakers: Brothers Armando and Franco Adami
Varietal: 100% Glera
Grown on the plains of Treviso beneath the foothills of the Dolomites, north of Venice.
If you think all Proseccos have a bit of sweetness, think again, this wine is bone dry, light and fresh. Perfect all by itself, with cheese, crackers and charcuterie or with light dishes such as fish, chicken or vegetables.
WHITES
Gueguen Chablis, ORGANIC
Celine Brocard Gueguen and Frederic Gueguen. The Brocard family have been making wine in Burgundy since the 16th Century.
Varietal: 100% Chardonnay
Gueguen family vineyards are in the heart of the Chablis wine region, in northern Burgundy.
The Gueguen are passionate about making wine. Their goal is to produce a wine that fully expresses the uniqueness of the grape and the land upon which it is grown. This is one of my favorite aperitifs. I always have a bottle open while cooking dinner.
Château Tour de Mirambeau, Bordeaux White
The Despagne family have been making wine in Bordeaux for 200 years.
Varietal: Blend of Sauvignon Blanc, Semillon, and Muscadelle.
Grown in limestone and clay soils between the rivers Dordogne and Garonne, just east of Bordeaux.
“I didn’t know Bordeaux made whites.” I get this a lot. If you like Sauvignon Blanc you should love this wine. The blending of grapes adds richness and complexity. The wine is great by itself, but also stand up to a variety of cheeses, grilled meats, Swordfish, and chicken with butter or cream sauces.
REDS
Mas de Gourgonnier, Provence Rouge, ORGANIC
The Cartier family began farming these lands in 1922, producing olives, olive oil, fruits and vegetables. Today a multi-generational team of Cartier’s runs the wine operation.
Varietals: Blend of Grenache, Syrah, and Cabernet Sauvignon
Grown in the rugged country of Provence, east of the Rhone, about midway between Avignon and Marseille.
The wine exhibits a peppery quality with hints of red and black fruits. Pair with steaks, lamb and your favorite cheeses.
Lirac, Clos du Mont-Olivet, SUSTAINABLE
Thierry Sabon and his family have been making wines on their estate in the southern Rhone Valley since 1933.
Varietals: Blend of Grenache, Syrah and Censault.
The Lirac vineyards are due west of the ruins of the old papal chateau across the Rhone River.
Wines of this region go by many familiar names, Cotes du Rhone, Châteauneuf du Pape and of course village appellations like Lirac. They are traditionally and legally restricted to be made from specified varietals. These are wines meant to be drunk with sharp cheeses, charcuterie, red meats, especially lamb, or sipped in front of a fire.
Le Vassal De Mercuès, Malbec de Cahors
Now headed by Bertrand-Gabriel, the Vigouroux family have been making wine in Cahors for four generations.
Varietal: 100% Malbec
Their Haute-Serre vineyard was the first in Cahors replanted with Malbec after the phylloxera epidemic of the late 19th c.
Often called “black wine” because of its inky color, French Malbec exhibits aromas and flavors of the forest floor and bramble fruits like blackberries..
Oddero, Barolo, ORGANIC
The Oddero estate in Italy’s Piedmont has been making wine since the 18th c. Now the two daughters of Giacomo the patriarch, Mariavittoria and Mariacristina,have taken over the business.
Varietal: 100% Nebbiolo
The two women remain faithful to the traditions of the estate but have an eye on the future as they transition to organic practices.
Known as the king of Italian wines, it pairs well with anything Italian from mushroom pizza to wild boar.