In 1990, winemaker Jean Bousquet went on vacation to Argentina. A third-generation winemaker from Carcassonne, in southern France, Bousquet immediately fell in love with the Gualtallary Valley, in Mendoza. Though no vineyards existed there at the time, he recognized the winemaking potential in the region. The Gualtallary Valley is in the high mountains, with elevations…
Mention Argentina and most wine lovers immediately think of robust, Malbec wines. And why wouldn’t we? These luxurious red wines taste great with steak, roasted chicken and other hearty foods. That’s one of the reasons why I went to Argentina for two weeks 16 years ago – to learn more about its wine and this…
In many ways, the worldwide movement to sustainable agriculture has been led by winegrowers and winemakers. A pioneer in California’s sustainability movement since 1985, the Benziger family has farmed its vineyards and purchased fruit to certified sustainable, organic and biodynamic farming standards. Its full-flavored 2018 Cabernet Sauvignon ($20) shows organic wines can be good and…
CORVEZZO PROSECCO The nose is dominated by apple and pear aromas, but also offers some floral and lime scents. The palate delivers the flavors of ripe Asian pear and yellow delicious apples without the sweetness of those fruits, because this Prosecco is perfectly dry. There’s also a touch of lemon and salty minerals on the…
Mother’s Day: My mother has been gone for a long time now. I remember the day well. I had gone back to Maine, making that really difficult decision: Do I see her once more in life, or do I see her after she’s gone? It was really that fragile. When I arrived, her exit party…
A few years ago, I went on a Prosecco-focused trip that took me from the Venetian lagoon all the way up into the foothills of the Dolomites. So I knew that the growing area for the wine’s main grape, Glera, was enormous —basically all of northeastern Italy. Not only that, but Glera is a prolific…
A well-known fact is that all mothers love two things: Prosecco and Rosé. A chilled, fruity Prosecco sets the stage for laughter and celebration and a glass of rose harkens the breezy warmth of a new season and sunshine. Happiness is guaranteed when these two wines are poured. So, what if you find a combination…
Domaine Bousquet 2020 Pinot Noir Rosé Gaia Gualtallary 13.1% $20 Dark salmon in color, this rosé is visually appealing in its attractive, clear bottle. Though this was whole cluster-pressed to pop aromas, the wine maintains its subdued nose even after it warms in the glass for 30 minutes. The palate is mild in flavor with…
With World Malbec Day falling on April 17 (to commemorate the date the first agricultural school in Argentina was founded) there’s now no excuse not to know at least a little about the grape that put Argentina to the wine-exporting map. And as we said in our recently published Argentina report More than Malbec: Argentina’s…