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Posted: 2025-08-15 06:00
The Effervescence Unleashed Cocktail of the Month for August 2025: The Sparkling Wine Whiskey Cocktail. Simply add the rye whiskey, honey, and lemon juice to a shaker. Shake for 10-20 seconds and top with sparkling wine. Ingredients - 2 ounces Gin: Catoctin Creek Hot Honey Rye Whiskey
- 2 tablespoons lemon juice
- 2 tablespoons honey if not using the Hot Honey Rye
- Top with sparkling wine: Russian River Cuvée 2021
The Catoctin Creek Hot Honey Rye Whiskey is comprised of potstilled 100% rye whisky, three types of local Virginia honey (wildflower, clover, and buckwheat), and an infusion of chile peppers. Catoctin Creek is located in Loudoun County Virginia. SRP is $52. The Iron Horse Vineyards Russian River Cuvée has multiple layers of meaning. Originally named for the historic Reagan-Gorbachev Summit Meetings in 1985, it also refers to the vineyard’s unique location in the Russian River area, and it is a reference to the 19th century taste of the Tsars for richer bubbly that made Cristal famous. The Russian River is the “richest” in the Iron Horse line up, though still technically brut-level dry.. SRP is $58.
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Posted: 2025-08-12 16:35
It's been a number of years since I visited Bristol Tennessee-Virginia and loved spending time on State Street during the MLB's Speedway Classic. After a mandatory lunch at the historic Burger Bar we walked across the border to visit Lost State Distilling - a small, but prolific producer of Tennessee whiskey, bourbon, vodka, gin, rum, and canned cocktails. The distillery resides in a century old building sitting just below the famed State Street sign and across from the historic Bristol Train Station. It has been operating for about five years - and somehow I had missed them during my last trip to the Bristol Rhythm & Roots Reunion music festival. Along with a mixture of Braves and Reds fans we participated in a short tour of their facility given by co-owner Joe Bianchi (who's son Nick is the other co-owner and head distiller) which concluded with the ability to sample their entire portfolio. The operation is named after the "lost" State of Franklin where in 1784 the area of now Northeast Tennessee was offered to the Union from North Carolina as payment for debts from the American War for Independence. The cession was not accepted, and the residents of the territory seceded from North Carolina to become the State of Franklin. Unfortunately after 4 years North Carolina rescinded its offer of cession and fought to reclaim the now seceded lands. This event set the stage for Tennessee becoming an independent state in 1796 and according to the distillery, "Lost State Distilling’s products are made 'with uniqueness in mind' and 'represent the heritage of Appalachia'." Lost State operates two different stills depending on the intended spirit. The whiskies run through a larger column still whereas the rum, gin, and vodka run through a smaller pot-column hybrid. Their barrel room is larger than expected with a heavy investment in new American oak barrels used for both the bourbon and charcoal filtered Tennessee whiskey. There are also rows of secondary use barrels for their gold rum and other offerings. We decided to focus on the rum and vodka during our tasting and eventually purchased bottles of the Nolichucky Jack Silver Rum and Andiron Vodka. The vodka is a pleasant 100% corn expression with a slight sweetness and creamy texture. The Nolichucky Jack Silver Rum is distilled from 100% panela mash, which is evaporated sugar cane juice sourced from Columbia. This gives it a distinct flavor profile characterized vanilla and butterscotch and at 80 proof - very little burn. The rum is named after John Sevier, the only governor of the State of Franklin, and given the nickname "Nolichucky Jack" for his expeditions along the Nolichucky River. A variant of the silver rum is the Nolichucky Jack Gold Rum, made by aging the silver rum in used Franklin Four Straight Bourbon Whiskey barrels for just over a year. At 90 proof, this expression is hotter and more inducive to cocktails as opposed to a sipping rum. However, we preferred the silver. Next visit we will focus on their whiskey which include a Bottled In Bond Tennessee Whiskey as well as cask strength, straight, and white whiskies.
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Posted: 2025-07-31 06:00
While traveling through Italy last month, Prosecco was everywhere - by the glass or as a spritz - and usually the sparkling wine of choice for our family. Yet I had to make sure we had a decent amount of Franciacorta available to sip and this was normally through grocery store purchases. I would easily label Franciacorta the best of Italian sparkling wine and readily compare favorably to any other international effervescent wine. This Duca Diseo Brut Franciacorta is made in Lombardy by Cantina Chiara Ziliani. It is composed of 75% Chardonnay and 25% Pinot Noir grapes harvested in the vineyards of Provaglio d’Iseo, village in the heart of the Franciacorta DOCG region. It ages 18 months on its own yeasts providing a pleasant bready backbone layered with white peaches and pears. Continual bubbles...
What Is Franciacorta?
Franciacorta is a high-quality, traditional-method sparkling wine made in the province of Brescia, near Lake Iseo. Unlike Italy’s more widely known sparkling wine, Prosecco (which is made using the tank method), Franciacorta is produced using the metodo classico — the same labor-intensive process used in Champagne. This involves a secondary fermentation in the bottle, creating the elegant bubbles and rich, yeasty notes that define the world’s best sparkling wines.
A Protected Name
Franciacorta holds DOCG status (Denominazione di Origine Controllata e Garantita), Italy’s highest wine classification. This guarantees strict regulations on grape growing, winemaking, and aging, all with the aim of ensuring premium quality. Only sparkling wines produced within the defined Franciacorta region and made according to these rules can bear the name.
The Grapes Behind the Bubbles
The primary grapes used in Franciacorta are:
- Chardonnay – lends elegance, freshness, and structure.
- Pinot Nero (Pinot Noir) – adds body and depth.
- Pinot Bianco (Pinot Blanc) – used in smaller amounts for softness and floral notes.
- Some producers are experimenting with Erbamat, an ancient local variety that brings acidity and character.
Styles of Franciacorta
Franciacorta offers several styles to explore:
- Brut – the most common style, crisp and dry with fine bubbles and citrusy elegance.
- Satèn – unique to Franciacorta, made only from white grapes (mostly Chardonnay), with lower pressure and a creamy, silky texture.
- Rosé – includes at least 35% Pinot Nero, bringing structure and red fruit notes.
- Millesimato (Vintage) – made from grapes of a single year, aged at least 30 months on the lees.
- Riserva – aged over 60 months, delivering depth, complexity, and toasty richness.
Aging Matters
Franciacorta must be aged a minimum of 18 months on the lees for non-vintage wines, which is longer than the minimum required for Champagne. This extended aging imparts complexity, with aromas of brioche, toasted nuts, and citrus peel.
Food Pairing & Serving
Franciacorta’s versatility makes it a brilliant companion to a wide range of dishes: -
Brut pairs beautifully with shellfish, sushi, and light pasta dishes.
- Satèn is excellent with creamy risottos or mild cheeses.
- Rosé complements roasted poultry or charcuterie.
Serve chilled (around 6–8°C / 43–46°F) in a tulip-shaped flute or white wine glass to appreciate the aroma and mousse.
Why Franciacorta Deserves a Spot in Your Cellar
Franciacorta remains underappreciated outside of Italy, which means you can often find excellent bottles at a fraction of the price of Champagne. It offers an unbeatable combination of craftsmanship, terroir, and flavor — a true gem for sparkling wine aficionados and curious newcomers alike.
Next time you’re celebrating (or just enjoying a quiet evening), reach beyond the familiar. Let Franciacorta surprise and delight you — Italy’s finest bubbles, ready to sparkle.
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Posted: 2025-07-28 06:00
Bonagiunta da Lucca; e quella faccia | Bonagiunta from Lucca; and that face di là da lui più che l'altre trapunta | beyond him more embossed than the others ebbe la Santa Chiesa in le sue braccia: | had the Holy Church in its arms: dal Torso fu, e purga per digiuno | from Torso, and by fasting purges l'anguille di Bolsena e la vernaccia". | the eels of Bolsena and the Vernaccia." --Dante Alighieri's Purgatorio Canto XXIV
 Vernaccia di San Gimignano, perhaps Tuscany's greatest white wine. It has long been esteemed by Italians from Dante's time through the modern era when in 1966 it became the first Italian wine to be awarded DOC status and 1993 upgraded to a DOCG status (the only Tuscany white wine having this designation). The Italian hill town of San Gimignano is surrounded by land that used to be the ancient Ligurian sea. Thus fossils and shells permeate the pliocene soil and clay providing mineral composition to the Vernaccia wines. These wines are also known for a string floral bouquet and abundant acidity.  Fattoria Poggio Alloro specializes in not only Vernaccia di San Gimignano, but also a Grappa made from the must of the processed grapes. The name Poggio Alloro means Bay Leaf Hill, and it refers to the bay laurel bushes that grow everywhere on their property. This is a destination providing spectacular views of San Gimignano and the surrounding rolling hills as well as organically growing a multitude of agricultural commodities from grapes; olives; fruits; vegetables; and grains: barley, oats, corn, sunflowers, durum, wheat, and farro to produce the delicious durum, semolina and farro pasta. With these, they offer cooking classes as well as a round of wine tasting.  These wines include, of course, Vernaccia di San Gimignano; but also Sangiovese to produce Chianti wine; and Canaiolo, Volorino, Malvasia and Trebbiano to produce the traditional Vinsanto sweet wine. The Vernaccia di San Gimignano DOCG is 100% Vernaccia and on the nose expect honeysuckle and perhaps tropical fruit. On the palate notice the minerality - the saline jumps forth - then alternating with pear, citrus and slight bitter almonds. The Grappa di Vinacce di Vernaccia is a distillate obtained from the pomace (the solid part of the grape composed of skins and seeds) of Vernaccia grapes. This grappa is noticeably fragrant with both citrus and stone fruit mixed with a soft petrol.
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Posted: 2025-07-24 06:00
Sonoma County includes multiple AVAs which in turn, include even more sub-AVAs. One of the coolest and foggiest of these is the Green Valley of the Russian River Valley -- situated in the southwestern part of the Russian River Valley, squeezed into the Petaluma Gap between the Coastal Ranges to the west and the urban spread of Sebastopol and Santa Rosa to the east. The Green Valley AVA was registered in 1983 with the name changed to the Green Valley of the Russian River Valley in 2007, tying the AVA with the region it is a part of. This move helped to distinguish Green Valley from the similarly named Solano County Green Valley AVA on the other side of Napa Valley. -- wine-searcher.comThe Green Valley of the Russian River Valley is cool because it lies on the edge of the Petaluma Gap meaning "that Green Valley is one of the last to have the fog burn off in the mornings, and one of the first to see it develop again in the afternoon. As such, the area's vineyards have a limited amount of exposure to bright sunlight every day, instead being subject to the cool, moist fog." The predominant soil-type is called “Gold Ridge”, a sandy loam that has excellent drainage and is perfectly, inherently balanced, making it one of the most coveted soil types, especially for growing Pinot Noir. Iron Horse Vineyards takes advantage of this coolness and soil type and have planted approximately 160 acres of Chardonnay and Pinot Noir in the Green Valley. Their estate is divided into 39 blocks, farmed individually, harvested separately and then each vinified as a "single vineyard". They practice “precision viticulture”: Each block has been planted with site-specific rootstock and clone selections. All pruning, canopy management, irrigation, and cover crop decisions are determined on a block-by-block (and sometimes even vine-by-vine) basis, considering both the vintage and the long-term needs of the land. They use sustainable practices such as seeing hills with erosion control cover crop; mulching with grape prunings; and recycle water to frost-protect the vines as well as irrigate the gardens. The Iron Horse Vineyards Winery Block Pinot Noir 2020 is made from a single clone, Pommard 5, grown on the four acre Winery Block at the crest of the knoll below the winery and tasting room. The grapes are hand harvested, then cold-soaked in stainless steel tanks for four to seven days. Before fermentation is complete, the new wine is gently pressed from the skins and transferred to French oak barrels. Fermentation then goes to completion in the barrels, allowing us to stir the lees as the wine goes through malolactic fermentation. This process crafts a magnificent Pinot Noir where the juicy and silky black cherry fruit flows with integrity to fill the palate. Hints of spice and minerality compliment the juicy fruit.
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