Here is the Quick Rundown of Avaline's Current Wine Selection!

All of these wines are available online, but you can also find 

some of them at stores such as Whole Foods and Total Wine. 

The Reds

Lambrusco- A fun, fizzy Italian red that's perfect for sipping in every season. Ours is bubbly, with juicy notes of plum and zero grams of sugar per serving. [I have yet to try this... I'll keep you posted!]

Sangiovese- A crowd pleasing, bold Italian red with notes of stone fruit and roasted cherries. A limited time, online exclusive. [I absolutely loved this wine! It's perfectly tannic, full-bodied, and goes perfectly with a bowl of pasta with gravy- Yes, Italian red gravy!]

Pinot Noir- Our lightest red, with delicious notes of wild raspberry and cherry that pair well with everything. [I hate to say it but I have high standards when it comes to Pinot Noir. I thought this wine was a little too watered down. This varietal is incredibly temperamental due to it's thin skin, so the growing conditions need to be perfect. The grapes most likely took in a bit too much rainwater, making them swell, which in turn would dilute the flavors. I'm looking forward to the release of their next vintage. It could have just been an iffy growing season for this wine.]

Red- A blend of Grenache, Syrah, Carignan, and Cinsault. This is Cameron’s favorite Red: it has a light to medium body with hints of cherry and a touch of spice. [I really enjoyed this wine. Medium-bodied, a little spicy, aromatic, and dry. They did good with this one!]

 

Cabernet Sauvignon- Our bolder red for cozy nights ahead, with a medium to full body, notes of red berries and a touch of cocoa. [I did enjoy this wine as well. It's a bit overpriced to be an every-day drinking wine, but it does pair well with beef, pizza, and dark chocolate.]

The Whites

Chardonnay- A full-bodied Chardonnay featuring smooth notes of pear, oak, ripe apricot and almond with a refreshing-yet-soft finish. Only available online. [Here is another one I wasn't super excited about. It is full-bodied and overly fruity. It wasn't dry enough for my taste. I do know others who have enjoyed this wine. I will give it another try, maybe pair it with something spicy, such as an Asian cuisine. I will update these recommendations from time to time and vintage to vintage.]

Pinot Grigio- A crisp Italian white with soft floral notes and hints of hazelnut. A limited time, online exclusive.  [BUY THIS WINE IF YOU ENJOY A CRISP PERFECTLY BALANCED WHITE WINE!!! I absolutely loved this wine. It is limited, so buy it before you miss out on it. I don't typically lean towards Pinot Grigio because they are typically too "mineral-forward". Not this one. It is perfect, lightly floral, light crisp notes of apple and toast. In my opinion, it's way underpriced for how delicious it is!]

White- A blend of Parellada, White Grenache, Xarel-lo, and Macabeo grapes. This is an everyday, easy-drinking white. It’s dry with a touch of citrus and a crisp, fresh finish. [This is just as they describe... I also REALLY liked this wine. It's perfect in the summer, and also as a spritzer (as Cameron suggests). Pour over ice and top it off with some plain seltzer water.]

 

Sparkling- A blend of Macabeo, Xarel-lo, Parellada, and Malvasia grapes. A dry and refreshing Sparkling with delicate bubbles. No celebration necessary. [This sparkling wine is delicious! Another fantastic choice to drink on its own, or with fresh fruit and dark chocolate.]

 

Sauvignon Blanc- Our lightest sip yet, with crisp notes of ripe citrus and a hint of rose petals. [This is yet another varietal that I don't typically lead towards, but I really liked this wine too! It is light, not overly sweet like some of these varietals can be, and it's well balanced between the citrus and floral notes].

ROSÉ

Sparkling Rosé- A limited edition Sparkling Rosé aged for 15+ months featuring notes of raspberry and citrus, with a toasty brioche finish. A limited time, online exclusive.  [This is yet another fantastic choice. It's also in limited quantities, so get it while you still can!]

Rosé- Light, fresh (and French) with notes of melon and zest. The best Rosé Katherine has ever had. [I have had some amazing Rosé's. The best ones come from Provence, France. This is a really good representation. They have blended Grenache, Cinsault, Caladoc, and Syrah, to create this wine. It's another fantastic summer choice, light-bodied, mildly tart (cherry) that ends with light notes of pepper.

CLICK HERE to place your order today. Don't forget to use the promo code: AUGUST15  for 15% off your total order. 

We hope you are enjoying the rest of your summer! 

~Xoxo Lisa & Adrienne

As I was looking for a wine to blog about this week, I came across a grape I had never heard of: The Picpoul (also seen with the spelling Piquepoul). It is grown primarily in the Rhone Valley and Languedoc regions of France as well as Catalonia, Spain. It exists both in dark-skinned (Picpoul noir) and light-skinned (Picpoul blanc) versions, as well as a very little grown Picpoul gris. Picpoul blanc is the most common of the Picpoul varietals. The blanc varietal is one of the older white wines in the south of France. It is perhaps most popular in the Languedoc-Roussillon appellation. 

Languedoc-Roussillon stretches from the Rhône valley in the east to the Spanish border in the southwest. It is dominated by 300,000 hectares of vineyards, making it France’s largest wine producing region. This region includes the cities of Montpellier, Nimes, Toulouse, and Carcassonne. Both the blanc and noir versions of Picpoul are permitted blending grapes for the production of Châteauneuf-du-Pape. Due to the high acidity, the word Picpoul, loosely means lip-stinger. It's often used for blending, but there are some 100% varietal wines made with it. 

The blanc varietal is typically straw-colored with hints of green. The aromas can include lemon, pineapple, pear, mineral, floral notes like hawthorn blossom. The taste and texture would be full bodied, high acidity, and with a lingering finish. Drinkable right away. It is generally only processed in stainless steel and not designed for further aging. 

Red wines produced from Picpoul noir are high in alcohol, are richly scented, and have a very pale color, which has made the variety more popular as a blending ingredient than as a producer of varietal wines. Picpoul Noir produces a light colored wine that can produce discreet, pleasant, floral aromatics. For wine and food pairing with wines made from Picpoul, try spicy, light meat dishes like pork, veal, goat and bacon.

This is the only one I could find in my local wine store....

A Picpoul Vineyard of Jean-Luc Colombo, pictured above

Well, another new one for me.... I hope you enjoyed the journey....till next week.....

Saluti!

Xoxo -Lisa

Malbec is a red grape, originally from France in areas such as Cahors and Bordeaux, that has found fame across the seas in Argentina, flourishing particularly well in the foothills of the Andes in the region of Mendoza, in Argentina’s Cuyo region. These wines are classically described as full-bodied having notes of dark cherry, boysenberry, and minerals, with hints of spice, oak, and firm tannins with a smoky or fruity finish. It pairs well with red meats, poultry, blue cheese, mushroom based meals, and cumin.

Argentina leads production of the grape with over 75 percent of all the acres of Malbec in the world. 

I chose 3 Malbec's for this tasting. All three are from the Mendoza region of Argentina. I grabbed 3 bottles of varying price points. I must say all 3 were good (I have a personal preference for big and full-bodied reds, so this wasn't too much of a surprise).

Trumpeter Malbec (Rutini) 2015 (USD $13)

Hints of oak, vanilla, chocolate, blackberry, and red fruits.  To me it was on the lighter side with little tannin and a light oak flavor. 

Achaval-Ferrer Malbec- 2018 (USD $21)

This wine pairs well with beef, lamb, and poultry. This has bold, delicious flavors of dark fruit, chocolate, and spice. It's beautifully smooth and balanced. This was by far my favorite of the 3 I tried for this tasting. 

I hope this is a wonderful Wine Wednesday for everyone! 

Saluti!

Xoxo -Lisa.

Sauvignon blanc is a green-skinned grape varietal that originates from the Bordeaux region of France. It is the momma-grape to the Cabernet Sauvignon. The papa-grape is the well known Cabernet Franc.  The Sauvignon blanc most likely gets its name from the French words 'sauvage' (wild) and 'blanc' (white) due to its early origins as an indigenous grape in South Western France. In the late 19th century the phylloxera epidemic destroyed most of the vineyards for wine grapes in Europe, most notably in France. Phylloxera was introduced to Europe when avid botanists in Victorian England collected specimens of American vines in the 1850s. Luckily for Sauvignon blanc (among a few other varietals), European settlers to Chile planted some of these vines brought from France and created some of the best Sauvignon blanc in the world (in addition to the oldest vines that had not been affected by phylloxera. This deadly pathogen never reached Chile due to its mountainous protection. 

Classic characteristics of Sauvignon blanc include scents of elderflower, freshly cut grass, lime, and passionfruit. Depending on how ripe the fruit it when it is harvested, the flavor can range from zesty citrus to floral peaches. Pairs well with shellfish and goat cheese.

I picked two wines for this pairing: 1 from Chile and 1 from New Zealand, and both of these wines were delicious.

Polkura, Aylin,  Sauvignon Blanc 2019, from Leyda Valley, Chile. (approx. USD $15) 

It’s grassy, with limestone, good minerality, and nice oak flavors. This wine was good. 

WhiteHaven Sauvignon Blanc, 2020, from Marlborough New Zealand. (approx. USD $18)

Absolutely delicious. It’s unbelievable how this wine smells like passion fruit and ripe peaches. Flavors of crisp grapefruit. Lightly golden and perfectly balanced. I can't wait to sit on a sunny beach this summer with this one! It's the perfect example of a classic Sauvignon blanc in my opinion. 

 Happy Wine Wednesday!

Saluti!

Xoxo -Lisa

Quick & Tangy Bruschetta 

This is one of my favorite appetizers. It pairs well with wine. ;) Minimal but quality ingredients.

Ingredients

*A fresh loaf of Italian bread 

*5 or 6 vine-ripe tomatoes (or any favorite), chopped into small pieces and placed in a small bowl

*3 Tablespoons olive oil

*3 Tablespoons red wine vinegar

*1/2 Tablespoon Dijon mustard (I prefer Grey Poupon)- gives it that tangy flavor

*Kosher salt (1 or 2 pinches) 

*ground black pepper (a dash)

*Italian parsley or basil for topping if preferred

In a small ramekin or bowl, whisk together the oil, vinegar, salt, pepper, and Dijon mustard. Pour over top of the tomatoes and mix well. Spoon the mixture onto either the sliced fresh bread, or you can also toast the bread slices if you prefer a crunchier texture to your bread. I prefer the bread and tomatoes in their simplest form here, but you can also create variations of this and add diced onions and/or sliced black olives to the tomato mixture. Top the bread with the tomato mixture and bon appetite!

Mangia!

Xoxo -Lisa

In the foothills of Mount Vulture in Basilicata, southern Italy, some of the greatest wines are grown. The volcanic soil often imparts extra depth of flavors and minerals.  Last September I did a blog on this wine. (Aglianico, A Southern Italian Gem - The Working Mom). I wanted to highlight a specific bottle. One that I have rediscovered since visiting my family in 2015. 

Cantine del Notaio Winery (above)

Cantine del Notaio, Italian winery, wine Aglianico del Vulture, Basilicata (link to their website)

L'Atto is a DOCG red wine from Aglianico del Vulture grapes exclusively. (approx. USD $28)

Intense red ruby color with fresh red fruit and hints of spice. 

Ideal with sauces, roasted meats, and ripe cheeses.

For me, this wine just tastes like Accettura, my family's hometown. Here are just a few pictures from the trip. I miss Accettura. I'm much looking forward to the end of Covid-19 so we can once again reunite. If all goes smoothly, the next time I see my family there, Maggie and I will be dual-citizens. 💖

Home made pasta with Bolognese

wood-fired breads and meat! 

And our girl Maggs... at age 7, with her favorite Italian delicacy!

Happy Wine Wednesday!

Saluti!!

-Xoxo -Lisa

Duckhorn Vineyards in Napa Valley California has always been a favorite of mine. Having visited many years ago, the tasting room, cellars, and the vineyard itself is so impressive. Their Merlot is the most notable of their wines, but all of their wines are top rated and delicious. If you've ever seen the Decoy brand wines and thought they might be related to Duckhorn, then you were right. The first Decoy wine was a red blend made at the Duckhorn Vineyards in Napa in 1985. Through the progression, the Duckhorn family decided to buy land in Sonoma for further grape production and acquired the renowned Ridgeline Vineyard in the Alexander Valley appellation in 2012 and the Brownell Vineyard a year later—Sonoma County’s best region for growing Bordeaux varietals.  From here on out, the Decoy name having been made in the same fashion as the Napa grapes have been produced, bottled, and enjoyed by millions of wine enthusiasts around the world. One great thing about the Decoy wines is that they can be enjoyed for half the price of the Duckhorn wines. The Decoy wines are made to be enjoyed sooner on release, whereas the Duckhorn wines are made to age, creating more value. The Duckhorn wines are usually kept longer in the aging process prior to release which will often increase the price. 

Duckhorn Winery tasting room

Here are the tasting notes of the Cabernet versus Merlot for comparison:

2017 Decoy Sonoma County Cabernet Sauvignon ($25)

Layers of boysenberry, blackberry, plum and star anise, this wine showcases what we love about great Sonoma County Cabernet Sauvignon. On the palate, the lush fruit flavors are framed by rich tannins and hints of dark chocolate and barrel spice.

2017 Duckhorn Vineyards Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon ($78)

Aromas of blackberry, huckleberry and chocolate, as well as hints of mint, cardamom, clove and graham cracker. On the palate it displays lovely brightness, with firm, resolved tannins framing flavors of boysenberry and black currant. As it evolves in the glass, subtle sweet and savory notes are revealed, carrying the wine to a long, focused finish.

2018 Decoy Sonoma County Merlot ($25)

Layers of black cherry, blueberry and plum underscored by dark chocolate, cedar and mineral notes. On the palate, balanced acidity adds poise and elegance, while silky tannins carry the wine to a fruitful and concentrated finish.

2017 Duckhorn Vineyards Napa Valley Merlot ($56)

Aromas of lush cherry, raspberry, cocoa and freshly baked pie crust. The cherry and raspberry notes are echoed on the silky palate, where fine-grained tannins and flavors of ripe plum, blueberry, licorice and subtle baking spice draw the wine to a long, elegant finish.

Each of these varietals has several editions, including limited wines from various vineyards. I chose to focus on their basic estate bottles. Have a wonderful rest of the week and happy Wine Wednesday!

Saluti!

Xoxo -Lisa.

Our ancestors drank beer, wine, and mead. They have been for 9000+ years. No one is certain, but it's likely that barley got wet (and fermented), grape juice sat too long (and fermented), and water sweetened with honey, sat too long (and fermented). My guess is the folks who tried this stuff were kind of like us... smelling the expired milk container to see if it smells bad.... if it doesn't smell bad then some of us taste it if we are desperate enough to need it for our morning coffee, or our kids bowl of cereal before school...... then, when it tastes ok, we sigh in relief. In their case, they got tipsy and kept making the stuff. At any rate, humans aren't the only ones with a penchant for imbibing....

Swarms of Cedar Waxwings, which eat berries that are sometimes overripe and partially fermented, have been known to crash into home windows in droves. They swarm in groups and often dive together. It's like that saying my mom used, "If Becky jumped off of a bridge, would you too?" Well... maybe.... these guys did. In 2018, Minnesota Residents called the police on these rowdy birds. The police did not assist with these complaints, but they did say to call back if the birds decided to operate heavy machinery in an unsafe manner...... 

In the rain forests of Malaysia lives the Pen-Tailed Tree Shrew, a small rodent no bigger than your average mouse, which feasts every night on fermented palm nectar. They booze it up for 2 hours each night. 

Tropical bats from both Central and South America have been observed to regularly eat fermented fruits and nectar; however they are found to rarely feel the effects of the alcohol. Bats navigate during flight through the use of echolocation. It was found that when they had a blood alcohol content of 0.3% (bear in mind all states in America require a driver to have a blood alcohol content less than 0.08%) they were still able to navigate a tricky obstacle course using their echolocation. They also did not slur their words or holler angry words of angst at their friends or loved ones........

Bees are known to get drunk from fermented nectar, and when drunk are very dangerous flyers, often causing accidents. It has been observed that the ones that actually make it home can often be blocked from entering the hive until they sober up. The queen bee doesn't mess around.....

And finally, on the Caribbean island of St. Kitts there lives a population of wild Green Vervet Monkeys that are notorious alcoholics! They are known for stealing the tourist beverages..... A study conducted on these monkeys found that, much like us humans, the monkeys tend to split into four different categories of drinker: social drinker, steady drinker, binge drinker, and teetotaler. Most of the monkeys are social drinkers who tend to only have a moderate tipple with other monkeys, although never before lunch. 12% are steady drinkers who enjoy more than their social drinking friends, 5% are excessive boozy binge drinkers, and only a small fraction are teetotal. Those 5% that are classed as binge drinkers are notorious for stumbling about, vomiting, starting fights and binge eating until they pass out whilst under the influence! The same study also found that juvenile monkeys drink more than adults and all of the monkeys much prefer a fruity cocktail......this study just left me speechless......

So, whatever your drink of choice, do it in moderation. Studies have shown a glass of red wine per day has cardiac benefits. Beyond that, those benefits drop and your risk of heart disease and cancer rise......did they ever say how large that glass could be?? (wink)

Saluti!

Xoxo -Lisa

The three main grapes used in Champagne production are Pinot Noir, Pinot Meunier, both “black” grapes, and Chardonnay, a light-skinned grape. 

In Champagne, the term Blanc de Blancs designates Champagnes made only from Chardonnay grapes, whereas Blanc de Noir is created using only Pinot Noir or Pinot Meunier grapes. The vineyards located between Cramant and Mesnil-sur-Oger in Cote de Blancs yield the best examples of Blanc de Blanc. Blanc de Noirs Champagnes tend to come from the Champagne region's more southerly vineyards. Here the terroir is better suited to the black-skinned varieties than further north. Pinot Noir in particular suits soils with more clay components alongside the chalk.

Perhaps the most notable Blanc de Noirs wines are Krug's Clos d'Ambonnay and Bollinger's Vieilles Vignes Francaises. These are two of the most expensive Champagnes ever produced. The former (for approximately USD $2900/bottle), is made from Pinot Noir vines grown in a walled 1-acre vineyard in the village of Ambonnay (hence the name).