Wine Road Podcast : Devin Ruddick, VP of Sales and Marketing at Hook & Ladder Winery

 

Style of the Month: Sparkling Wine

Sparkling wines are not just for holidays and celebrations, they make a fine choice for everyday meals and pair exceptionally well with a variety of foods. From fried chicken to lobster bisque, the range of food pairings are endless, but nothing beats oysters, potato chips or truffle fries for flavor match made in heaven. Sparkling wines come in a range of sweetness levels from bone dry Burt Nature to the very sweet styles of Demi-Sec and Doux. The most popular style is Brut with less than half a gram of sugar per glass. There’s a sparkling wine to please every palate. 

Here are capsule reviews of Sparkling Wines along the Wine Road

Amista Sparkling Syrah Morningstar Vineyard 

Fresh and bright the Amista Sparkling Syrah from Morningstar Vineyard is an effervescent delight. The light garnet color shines with specks of gold in the fine stream of bubbles. Juicy and bright with flavors of pomegranate, black cherry, a touch of orange zest and all spice. It’s balanced on the palate with a fresh acidity that carries all the way through on the long dry finish. Pair with spicy crab cakes.

ABV 12.5%

$58

Cast Sparkling Brut Nature, Estate Vineyard, 2019 Dry Creek Valley

The Cast 2019 Sparkling Burt Nature from Dry Creek Valley is made from estate grown Zinfandel grapes. Steely and lean with a steady stream of fine bubbles it has initial of notes of brioche, yellow apple, white peach, and lemon zest. A bright stony minerality is in balance with flavors of honeysuckle, peach and buttered toast. The sustained finish rings with zesty acidity. Supremely delicious. Don’t be surprised how fast the bottle empties! Pair with Oysters Rockefeller. 

ABV 12.5%

$62.00

Colagrossi Sparkling Wine Rosé de Sangiovese 

The Colagrossi Sparkling Rosé de Sangiovese is made in the Charmat Method also known as the Tank method, which results in bright juicy, fruity wines with an easy and ready to drink freshness. It’s zesty with flavors of dried strawberry, watermelon and cranberry. Check out episode 186 of the Wine Road Podcast episode to hear how much we enjoyed it in studio with the winemaker! Pair with spicy seasoned tater tots and your favorite podcast.

ABV  12.5%

$45

Emeritus 2020 Hallberg Brut, Blanc de Noir, Russian River Valley

The Emeritus 2020 Hallberg Brut, Blanc de Noir is composed of estate grown Pinot Noir fruit from the heart of the Russian River Valley. It gently glows with a golden hue as a persistent stream of fine tiny bubbles race to the top of the glass. It has a light aroma of brioche and apricot. On the palate, soft notes of ripe pear, crisp apple and zesty lemon blend with a bright top note of ginger. It’s lithe and elegant with great texture and a bracing minerality on the long finish. Pair with classic caviar & blinis.

ABV 12.5%

$80

West Wines 2018 Seafoam Blanc de Blancs

The West Wines 2018 Seafoam Blanc de Blanc is made with 100% estate Chardonnay grapes in the traditional Champagne style, Méthode Traditionelle. On the nose, notes of brioche, lemon curd, ginger and toasted hazelnut waft up from the glass. On the palate it’s fresh and vibrant with a soft creamy mousse. Balanced flavors of lemon curd, pear, peach and orange zest mingle and linger on the finish. Pair with pomme frites and aioli.  

ABV 11.5%

$42

Woodenhead 2013 Sparkling Wine Blanc de Blanc

At ten years of age, the Woodenhead 2013 Sparkling Blanc de Blanc is graceful with a fruity vitality that is both savory and bright. On the nose, notes of marzipan, lemon pith and butterscotch. On the palate, a soft texture with a balance of yellow apple, lemon zest, toasted almond and creamy ginger. In a word—delectable! Pair with buttermilk fried chicken.

ABV 11.2%

$54