It’s been almost a month since I’ve embarked upon a great adventure in the study of wines. It began with a complimentary wine class for The Chopping Block staff called “What’s In A Sip?”, and now I’m investigating all more fun stuff to share with you!
I’ve always had a pulling curiosity for wine culture. I get intrigued by the complexities of various taste, notes and colors when creatively infused with different grapes, spices, floral and fruit essences. But the overwhelming reality is that many folks find wine to be complicated, with too many descriptions, categories and types of vintages. Some Sommeliers (suhm-uh-leeyeh: a French word for wine steward: an expert trained and knowledgeable in all aspects of wine service) who try to impart expert advice and suggestions unfortunately come across as “wine snobs,” which makes the average consumer decide that it’s easier to drink the same kind of wine every time, no matter how boring it gets! For others whose wine palates have yet to mature, every sip seems to taste the same anyway. Once again, boring! But there are actually many other selections that you can find interesting and enjoyable, with the same rich cultural history, choices and qualities of many traditional wines yet different in the most unique way… there are bubbles!
If you’re finding yourself in a “wine rut”, consider that the weather is warming up. That means it will soon be time for cool bubbly on those hot summer nights!
Four of the most familiar in the family of sparkling wines are Brut, Prosecco, Spumante and Moscato. They can come from all various regions but bruts are traditionally French grown, whereas the others are produced in Italy. The unique fermentation process produces the higher levels of sweetness and carbonation with an excitingly creamier bubbly taste; moscato and spumante being the sweetest variations of the aforementioned. Each of them can be served alone as a dessert beverage aperitif.
Champagne is most famous of the brut, and produced only from a special appellation of grapes in the specific region of Champagne, France. This sparkling wine has a rich history associated with nobility and royalty which was passed down through the ages, making it by far the most expensive.
So what’s a practical, every occasion and every meal choice for anyone looking to escape the wine rut?
La Vida al Camp Cava Brut is a white bubbly that has been added to The Chopping Block's food-friendly wine list. This particular vintage brings its own celebration of taste and flavors. This sparkling wine is a bubbly with a lessor price point than the more popularly known Champagne from France. La Vida al Camp is from Pendes, Spain and is light and crisp with some smoky mineral flavors and acidity with hints of apricot, tangerine and lemon zest, and toasted almonds notes on the nose.
The light essence and citrus flavors allows you to plan any meal with this great sparkling wine. This particular bubbly also has a great pairing with the following foods:
- Fried mushrooms or zucchini with your a homemade smoky sauce as a dip.
- Parmesan cheese & Spanish olives, sautéed chicken with a brown butter sauce and chopped parsley to finish.
- Butternut squash ravioli with sautéed mushrooms drizzled with olive oil.
- Lemon tarts for a wonderful dessert rounding out your meal.
Citrus balances citrus so the flavors of the sparkling wine will really come to the fore. Summer is finally arriving, so let’s think light. In The Chopping Block’s wine classes, our Sommelier Viktorija Todorovska always says, “What grows together is what pairs together!”
If you’re planning to go out to any Greek, Mediterranean or Spanish restaurant that is BYOB, then stop by our stores to pick up this wine. A few good dining combinations and food pairings are paella, cured meats such as chorizo, gazpacho and if you are not worried about being gluten free, Croquettes are a perfect appetizer choice.
This month is a perfect time to stock up on La Vida al Camp Cava Brut. That's because if you buy two bottles of wine in May, you get 20% off your third bottle. Please be aware the discount will be applied to the lowest priced bottle.
Did you know we also offer wine tastings for our private parties, as well as wine classes? It's the perfect way to kick off a corporate event!
