From the left: Treveri Riesling ‘Demi Sec’ Sparkling Wine, Columbia Valley, Washington - Mio Sparkling Sake, Nada, Japan - Gruet ‘Sauvage’ Blanc de Blancs, New Mexico, USA.
Sparkling #1: I was happy to begin sparkling week with an outstanding rendition of riesling from Yakima Valley AVA in Columbia Valley, Washington. It is made by Treveri Cellars, one of the only sparkling wine houses in the state. Jürgen Grieb, head winemaker and owner, studied riesling winemaking and traditional method sparkling wine in Trier, Germany before moving to Washington in 1982. He has been working in the USA ever since and founded Treveri in 2010. They make a wide array of sparkling wines, but the riesling is my absolute fave. Pretty aromas of apples, flowers and citrus fill the nose, then the palate pleases with stone fruit (peach) and continues on with orchard notes (pear, apple etc). There is fresh acidity and lots of sweetness, but all the elements of this bubbly are perfectly balanced. This sparkling wine is only $17 a bottle and can be ordered directly from the winery. Pairings ideas include classic German dishes like schnitzel with braised cabbage or sausage and sauerkraut. For an American option, I’d do homemade mac and cheese! Speaking of cheese, a pungent Gorgonzola Dolce or a soft buttery La Tur would pair beautifully. For dessert, I’d match it with panna cotta, flaky apple tart or just drink it by itself! Try a bottle and see what you think!
Sparkling #2: MIO Sparkling Sake Sho Chiku Bai Shirakabegura from Nada, Japan was our second bubbly of the week. This is a very easy sake to find in stores across the USA, which is why I chose to make a video with it. Takara Shuzo in Fushimi, Kyoto is the mother company, but this sake is brewed in their facility in Nadagogo; a famous sake production region known for its mineral rich Miyamizu water. MIO is definitely a sake for beginners. It has an ample amount of sweetness, with aromas of fresh dough, rice and vanilla. The sweetness is balanced by a sour-like acid. There is a touch of fruitiness too, but it is hard to pinpoint specifically. The MIO brand like to market itself as a sake you can drink anytime, with friends on Zoom (pandemic friendly!), during sporting events and on glamping vacations. Mio is fresh and fun, with an alcohol content of only 5%. Its purpose is to grab consumers from other beverage categories and get them into sake. Taste the gateway drug known as MIO!
Sparkling #3: First off, today is Friday, January 29th and it is my 35th birthday! It is the last birthday I can openly admit to (it’s all downhill from here! …kidding). To honor the occasion, I picked a racy blanc de blancs from New Mexico called Sauvage. This wild, bone-dry sparkler exceeded my expectations! It is chock full of bright citrus aromas, with some very delicate white flower notes and a touch of toasted bread. The mousse is aggressive, but refreshing. It is classified as a zero dosage style meaning it has no added sugar before release. Therefore, its searingly high acidity was showcased splendidly. It really does taste like a bone dry blanc de blancs from Champagne proper! That could be because the Gruet family is originally from Bethon, France, just west of the Côte de Sezanne. This is such a great example of New Mexico’s potential. It gave me inspiration to go visit this small wine producing state and see what else its 50+ wineries have to offer! New Mexico is one of the first states to grow Vitis Vinifera, the vine species most commonly associated with wine production. In 1629, Spanish missionaries smuggled in Pais, aka the ‘Mission’ grape from their home country for sacramental wine. There is rich history here. One of the other cool aspects is that most of the vineyards are grown at very high elevation. The vineyards Gruet works with are planted between 4,245 - 5,110 feet. This kind of elevation provides hot days and cool nights which ripens grapes, yet maintains acidity. Their sandy loam soils promote drainage and sweeping winds that flow through the vineyards naturally keep pests at bay. Grab this sparkling in your local wine shop! It is available in every state in the nation and is super affordable for such incredible quality. Try it with oysters on the half shell!