For those of us at Fineman PR, Wine Wednesday isn’t just about uncorking bottles. It’s a special part of the week where we take the time to gather and adorn our palates with unique wines from all over the world. Each week set with a specific theme, this Wine Wednesday was dedicated to exploring some rather rare wines from obscure grape varieties grown right here in the U.S.A
Gruet Sauvage Blanc de Blancs
This bubbly bottle of suds comes from the sandy loam hillsides of southern New Mexico where it is produced via Méthode Champenoise by the famed Gruet family of Champagne Gruet et Fils. Made from 100% Chardonnay, Sauvage is aged en tirage for a minimum of two years with zero-dosage, resulting in a bone-dry sparkler with complex flavors.
Giornata Fiano 2015
An indigenous grape variety from the Campania region of Italy, this domestic Fiano is grown in the calcareous soils of Paso Robles. With only 90 cases produced – this white wine is fermented using only native yeast and expresses the land’s minerality with aromas of stone fruit and wildflowers.
Rootdown 2017 Rosé of Trousseau
This pink gem comes from winemaker Mike Lucia, formerly of Copain Wines, using organically grown grapes from the 1.8-acre St. Amant Vineyard in Lodi. A red grape variety native to the Jura region of France, this Trousseau was hand harvested, tread by foot, and left to soak with its skins for 24 hours before being pressed into a gorgeous rosé.
Trail Marker Wine Co. 2016 Mokelumne Glen Vineyard Zweigelt
Known for their natural style of winemaking, the husband and wife duo produced this wine using fruit from the beloved Mokelumne Vineyard in Lodi. Austria’s most widespread red grape variety, Zweigelt is a crossing of Blaufränkisch and St. Laurent. This domestic version of Zweigelt beautifully exposes the forest berries and floral characters typical to this variety.
Share your favorite wine in the comments below.