August Bubbly Club: Iowa

Bubbly Wine ClubDSC_0588-EditPOE Wines
NV Ultraviolet Sparkling Rosé

Napa, California

BUBBLY WINE STYLE

NV Ultraviolet Sparkling Rosé is a base of 85% Coombsville Cabernet Franc Rosé, made from the grapes that go into POE’s Ultraviolet Cabernet Sauvignon. The remaining 15% is French Colombard from Mendocino.  This sparkling rosé has aromatics of lemon blossoms and strawberry, the palate shows lovely minerality and fine bubbles, with underripe strawberry, peach, and orange peel, with a lingering bright grapefruit on the finish.

WINEMAKING:
POE had been making Champagne method sparkling wines for six years, when they decided to make a playful, fruit driven California sparkling wine, by utilizing the Charmant method.  As opposed to fermenting in the bottle, POE takes their sparkling base and instigates a second fermentation in stainless steel, utilizing yeast and sugar.  This is the same process as the Champagne method, but in a different vessel.  The fermentation is kept cold, and lasts seven weeks.  After a few months of rest, they bottle under cork.


ABOUT POE WINES:
Samantha Sheehan founded POE in 2009 after being inspired by the wines she tasted in Burgundy and Champagne.  The goal was not to replicate Burgundy, but rather create alluring, vineyard specific, age-worthy wines revealing the beautiful terroir of California.  There is minimal intervention, judicious use of sulfur, and never any additives. POE produces traditional Champagne method sparkling wines, Rosé, Chardonnay, Pinot Noir, and a nouveau from Pinot Noir.  Each wine is made in very limited quantities, and sold directly from the winery and to high-end restaurants around the country. 

Owner/Winemaker Sam Poe Sheehan

POE Vineyards© POE Wines

Bubbly Wine ClubBodkin Sparkling Sauv BlancBodkin Wines
Sparkling Sauvignon Blanc

Healdsburg, California

BUBBLY WINE STYLE

Bodkin Wines is proud to release the fourth cuvée of California’s first Sparkling Sauvignon Blanc. This unique and stylish twist on Sauvignon Blanc has a core of racy crispness driven by lively acidity, accented with lemon-lime aromas (no cat grass — no worries) and citrus-passion fruit flavors. The pronounced citrus tones team with a note of toasted hazelnuts to accent the enchantingly plush mouth feel of the wine. The wine is called Cuvée Agincourt in reference to the Battle of Agincourt during the Hundred Years War. In 1415 where the English army comprised largely of archers armed with Bodkin pointed arrows beat back a French army much more numerous and comprised of the nation’s high nobility.

VARIETY: 100% Sauvignon Blanc
ALCOHOL: 11.5%

DOSAGE: Brut

ABOUT BODKIN WINES:
Bodkin Wines was founded by Chris Christensen, an Iowa native, in 2011. His passion for aromatic wines and winemaking led him to create America’s first Sauvignon Blanc with bubbles. In 2013, Andrew Chambers, an Oregon native, joined the brand and they purchased 24 tons and made 1,100 cases of their award-winning Sparkling Sauvignon Blanc. Since that time, Bodkin Wines has produced over 15 varietals of wine, eleven of which were scored at 90 points or higher by Wine Enthusiast. They are consistently growing, year after year, but are determined to keep their presence small and unique. Bodkin Wines is still 100% owned by both Chris and Andrew, two guys living and working hard in Sonoma County.

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Screen Shot 2020-07-20 at 6.38.33 PM© Bodkin Wines

A Toast to Rosé!

RoseToast

Rosé wines can often be overlooked. After all, when asked what type of wine drinker you are the question is usually “Do you prefer whites or reds?” without regard for the in-between style of rosé.   

Perhaps even the term “rosé” is unfamiliar to you. That’s because unlike simple “red” and “white” wines, rosé is also known by many nicknames, such as “blush”, “pink”, “brosé” (for its rising popularity among men) and in the Northeast, “Hampton’s Gatorade” according to USA Trade Tasting.

Over the last ten years, the wine industry has seen a rise in the popularity of rosés. These pink wines are pushing their way to the foreground, and we’re not talking about your grandmother’s white zin!rose-wine

What may have begun as just an affordable sweet pink wine here in the US, has morphed into a category all its own. Wineries from coast to coast are now producing different varieties of these beloved rosé wines to please the public’s palate.

So here’s the run-down on rosé:

How is it made?

When making a rosé, the wine maker only allows the grape skins to soak in the wine for a short amount of time. This is what gives rosés their pink, rather than deep red, color. As we know, the longer the grape skins are left to soak in the wine, the deeper the color will get, creating instead a “red” wine.

What colors can I expect?

Depending on the grape varietal used and the length of time the grape skins are left in the wine, the color of a rosé may vary from a very light rose petal pink to a deep and bold strawberry hue.

How does it taste? 

If you think the lack of a rich red color takes away from the aroma or taste of a rosé, we beg you – think again! “Paler wines may explode with just as many notes of strawberry, raspberry, watermelon, cranberry, ripe peach and deep citrus as their bolder-colored cousins” so says the Temecula Valley Winegrowers Association.

rose wines

Visit your local WineStyles store to find the perfect rosé wines to enjoy all year long!

#roséallday:

Lovers of rosé have been showing their support on social media, namely photo-friendly Instagram, with the hashtag #roséallday. Entrepreneurs and rosé lovers Erica Blumenthal and Nikki Huganir began the movement with a tote bag printed with “Yes Way Rosé” which you can peruse here.

The two gained popularity for their business and rosé wines everywhere by posting delightful pics of rosé-filled glasses on lovely table-top arrangements surrounded by all sorts of delicate pink items like flowers and fashion. They basically created a pink wine club that anyone can be a part of.

#brosé

Men, too, are increasingly on board with enjoying a glass of the pink stuff. They’ve been busily posting on Instagram with the hashtag #brosé to show their support and refined tastes.

Rosé wines are sophisticated and versatile, perfect for enjoying all year round!

What’s the fuss all about, it’s just a wine of a different color, right?

Well, we’ll let your taste buds be the judge of that. 🙂

June Wine & Beer Boot Camp Class – All About Rosé! 

AllAboutRose

Want to learn more about this rosé? Sign up to attend our June Wine and Beer Boot Camp Class “All About Rosé”! Enjoy a delightful tasting experience as you learn about all the different styles of rosé. It will be a tasting and educational experience you won’t want to miss!

Please RSVP at your local WineStyles location. Seating space is limited, so make your reservation as soon as possible!

*Please note: Classes and Boot Camp rewards may vary at different WineStyles locations. Offer void where prohibited by state or local alcohol laws. See your local WineStyles Tasting Station for details. Find your local WineStyles store here.

Thanks for reading,

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