Tag Archives: Brut

Thirsty Thursday: Nino Franco, Faìve, Spumante Brut Rosé, Valdobbiadene, Italy 2011

Posted on February 20, 2014 by waywardwine

This Thirsty Thursday takes us to Italy. Just above Venice is Valdobbiadene: cradle of Prosecco.

But today’s wine is weird. It looks neither pale green, sweet, nor made from Glera (Prosecco’s only grape). It is pink:

But not just any pink. This glinting, copper flame lives up to its name: Faìve (FieEEve): poetically Italian for those sparks and tongues whipping about at the top of a fire.

So what goes in it?

Around 2000, Primo Franco got bored with perfecting fantastic, dry, single-vineyard Prosecco that was changing the world. So he went to buddy Brandino Brandolini, who grows red grapes. But they broke with Champagne’s (and the world’s) Pinot-hegemony. Heck, they also left red Italian varietals behind. Instead, they used Merlot and Cabernet: grapes that rarely see the light of bubbly. But this ain’t a red Bordeaux. Continue reading →

Posted in Sparkling | Tagged Brut, Brut Rosé, Faìve, italy, Nino Franco, Primo Franco, Prosecco, Rosé, Spumante, Valdobbiadene | 2 Comments

Blow Minds Valentine’s Day with Bollinger, La Grande Année, 2004, Brut, Champagne, France

Posted on February 13, 2014 by waywardwine

Valentine’s Day is Friday. You’re screwed. Posh restaurants filled up months ago. Not a single gift works. All that survives are roses from Columbia and chocolate that tastes worse than the heart box it spawned from.

You want to wow that significant other? Well procrastinator, Wayward Wine will help you blow their mind.

Buy Champagne. Not Prosecco. Not Moscatto. Not beer. Not “Sparkling Wine” in a box. Just buy Champagne, from France.

But to truly stop their heart, splurge on vintage Champagne. You can tell them that most Champagne is a (cheaper) non-vintage blend upwards of thirty harvests. Vintage Champagne is only made in those rare years, when conditions (meteorological and economical) are ideal. Each release tastes different because each year was different. Continue reading →

Posted in Uncategorized | Tagged 2004, Bollinger, Brut, Champagne, France, La Grande Année, Valentine, Valentine's Day | 6 Comments

Counting Down: How to Crack Champagne for New Year’s Eve

Posted on December 26, 2013 by waywardwine

The countdown begins. Eyes watch the ball drop. 3. 2. 1.

Corks crack open, impale an uncle, and flutes fill with Champagne. It disappears just as quickly. But between the hugs, huzzahs, resolutions, and regrets, you wonder: was that $40 plus bottle of Frenchness worth it?

It tasted fine. Maybe a bit tart, or a bit fruity, or a bit toasty. But memorable? Maybe it was too cold. Maybe the excitement distracted you. But we here at Wayward Wine blame New Year’s Eve. Continue reading →

Posted in Uncategorized | Tagged 2014, Blue Top, Bordeaux, Brut, Champagne, France, Heidsieck & Co Monopole, New year, Non Vintage, Paris, Prosecco, Sparkling wine | 4 Comments

‘MERICA: Domaine Saint-Vincent Brut, Albuquerque, New Mexico USA, NV

Posted on July 4, 2013 by waywardwine

With the sun setting and the staccato of fireworks and screams building in the neighborhood, it’s time for my palate to get patriotic. Tonight we pop fizz with Domaine Saint-Vincent’s Brut from the highland, cool nights near Albuquerque, New Mexico: … Continue reading →

Posted in Chardonnay, EMPTIED BOTTLES, Sparkling | Tagged Albuquerque, Albuquerque New Mexico, Bombshell, Brut, Champagne, Fourth of July, Independance Day, Jingoism, New Mexico, Patriotism, Pin-up, Saint-Vincent, Sandia Mountains, Sandia Peak Tramway, Sparkling wine, United States | 3 Comments

Torre Oria, TORREORIA, Brut, 100% Macabeo, Cava (Requena), Spain NV

Posted on June 21, 2013 by waywardwine

100% Macabeo, aka Macabeu, aka Viura (a player in the classic Cava triumvirate, alongside xarel-lo, perellada). Never tried it as a single varietal Brut. Rare for Spain. Tasted non-blind without food. Let’s see: It looks clear, with a medium minus … Continue reading →