behind the cork
Fiol Extra Dry Prosecco ($19)  As we bid farewell to summer and “Hello” to the Fall, there’s no shortage of excuses to raise a glass of bubbly in the months that lie ahead. “FIOL”* *means “son...
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* Photo by Michelle McEwen on Unsplash * France has its Champagne. Spain has Cava. In Italy, Prosecco and Asti are its two most popular sparkling wines. Prosecco is primarily from the Veneto region of Italy and made from the Glera grape. Li...
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behind the cork
2023 Pazo de Lusco Albariño ($24.99) The Pazos de Lusco winery, within the Rias Baixas DO, is located in the municipality of Salvaterra do Miño, in the province of Pontevedra. The Rias Baixas DO in Galicia in north-west Spain is a small wine-growi...
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* A wine barrel with a clear end-cap shows the settled Fine Lees * I was recently hosting a wine tasting that involved a white wine. On the back label, it stated that the wine had been “Aged on lees.” I was asked the obvious question “What are l...
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behind the cork
Tió Pepe Fino Sherry ($19.99) Tió Pepe’s Fino Sherry is from the city of Jarez in southern Spain’s Andalusia region. It’s made from the Palomino grape, fermented to the 11-12% ABV range, fortified to 15.5% and then enters the Tió Pepe Solera. Whi...
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Have you ever taken a sip of red wine and noticed that your mouth feels dry or dusty? Almost that ‘cotton-mouth’ feel? Well, that is a sensation that is generally associated with red wines. The dry sensation is due to the wine being astringent an...
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behind the cork
2023 Madelyn White Wine Cuvée ($24) Michael Trujillo, Winemaker at Trujillo Wines, says “In life, as in winemaking, a blend of great things often results in something fun and unique.” In tribute to his daughter, Sophia Madelyn Trujillo, he proudly...
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* Photo by Jørgen Håland on Unsplash * There was a time when ordering a glass of Chablis was generic for a glass of white wine. No specific type of wine, just a white wine. But there is so much more to Chablis than just a white wine. Chabli...
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behind the cork
Michael Trujillo arrived in Napa Valley in 1982 from his family’s farm in Colorado. He grew up helping his father year-round in the fields, and learned early on about how soil, climate, pests and critters affect living, growing plants. After three...
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I recently visited a “Winery” on a weekday in the downtown part of a city to check out their wines. When I entered, I was greeted by a hostess that grabbed a lunch menu and wanted to seat me in their large outdoor patio. I told her that I just want...
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