We are tasting the Gruet Winery Non-vintage Brut Sparkling Wine. This sparkling wine is made in the Methode Champenoise using 100% New Mexico grapes. The Gruet family started making champagne in Bethon, France since the 1960s and expanded to New Mexico in 1989. The vineyard expansion by the Gruet family continues a winemaking history in New Mexico that started in the late 1600s. This sparkling wine is made in the Champagne method, so we discuss the details of how that is done and compare against Prosecco, Cava, and Cap Classique from South Africa. We also discuss different styles and sweetness levels of sparkling wine.

Gruet winery history: https://www.gruetwinery.com/heritage

How champagne is made: https://champagneschool.com/how-is-champagne-made/

2 articles about styles of champagne: https://www.decanter.com/learn/blanc-de-noirs-champagne-vs-blanc-de-blancs-44916/ and https://winefolly.com/deep-dive/how-to-choose-champagne/

Method Cap Classique: https://glassofbubbly.com/cheers-to-south-african-sparkling-wine-a-guide-to-the-method-cap-classique/

Prosecco: https://www.winemag.com/2018/12/04/everything-about-prosecco/

2 articles about New Mexico wine country: https://nmwine.com/ and https://winerycrasher.com/index.php/2020/07/19/new-mexico-wine/

The Champagne Cartel’s blog on food pairing: https://champagnecartel.com/10-perfect-snacks-serve-champagne/

Send feedback to timetotastetx@gmail.com

Check out the Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/timetotastetx/

Visit our website: https://www.timetotastetx.com

Intro-Outro music by GabrielDouglas from Pixabay

We are the Bodega Colome 2020 Estate Malbec. This is a blend of grapes from their different vineyards at very high altitudes, including the highest commercial vineyard, Altura maxima, at 3111 meters (10,000 ft). Pre-phylloxera vines were brought over from France in the 1850s by the daughter of the Spanish governor of the region. Napa Valley wine pioneer, Donald Hess of Hess Select wines, bought the property in 2001 in his search to make great high-altitude wine. Bodega Colome is in the Calchaqui Valley located high in the Andes Mountains and is Argentina’s most prolific wine growing region.

Winery website: https://www.bodegacolome.com/en/homepage/

Article on Malbec wine: https://winefolly.com/deep-dive/what-is-malbec-wine/

Vinepair article discussing impact of altitude on winegrapes: https://vinepair.com/wine-blog/why-wines-made-at-high-elevations-can-taste-so-good/

Send feedback to timetotastetx@gmail.com

Check out the Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/timetotastetx/

Visit our website: https://www.timetotastetx.com

Intro-Outro music by GabrielDouglas from Pixabay

We are tasting the Michael David 2019 Inkblot Petit Verdot wine. This wine is as dark as a stormy night with spring-like scents of lilac. Typically, a blending grape with other Bordeaux varietals, this time it is showcased on its own where you can taste the dark black fruit flavors and contemplate the Rorschach-style image on the label. I’ll also give a primer on the Lodi wine AVA and talk the characteristic Lodi flavor. Researching the producer, Michael David Winery, we’ll learn about the “Lodi code” which is one of the most comprehensive wine sustainability certifications.

Producer’s website: https://michaeldavidwinery.com/about/

Lodi wine website: https://www.lodiwine.com/About/Place/Viticultural-Area

Send feedback to timetotastetx@gmail.com

Check out the Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/timetotastetx/

Visit our website: https://www.timetotastetx.com

Intro-Outro music by GabrielDouglas from Pixabay