Vivacious (adj) •• lively in conduct; full of animation and spirit
We simply can’t think of a better tie between a personality and a type of wine than our vivacious wines. These are sparkling wines that bubble and shimmer in the glass. There is no wine that is more festive, yet it is much more than just a wine for celebrations. Sparkling wines are actually a great pairing for many Asian dishes as they help cleanse the palate when eating foods that may be spicy. It is always great as a “welcoming” wine, something that gets the conversation started as guests are arriving. Below are some of the vivacious wines that we carry.
This is an amazing sparkling wine coming out of France. How he can make a wine this good to retail at this price is simply beyond me. Maybe he has a bunch of French oompa-loompas working the cellars for him. Jean-Louis comes from a family with a long history of working with wines within the Champagne region, so he has the history to know how to make some great sparklers. He didn’t want to be confined to buying grapes from only the Champagne region so he set up his winery just outside the region and uses the best grapes he can find, regardless of where they are from. This wine has a very pale gold color, with a fresh fruit (mostly pear and apricot) aroma and a light crisp taste.
This wine breaks the first of our rules for being consideration for inclusion in the Vino per tutti family - that it has to fit in the racks!! Alas, this wine does not fit physically, however, it is just too good to let a silly little rule keep it out of our store. To most people, prosecco is prosecco - an inexpensive little bubbly that is pretty much the all same. We think that's like saying a car is just a car and this prosecco is the BMW of proseccos. Yes, it is still light and bubbly (or sporty), but the flavors are full and rich with a creamy texture that fills your mouth and provides a rich experience. This is a great wine to have with a meal of shellfish or pasta in a light cream sauce. Try one and you will see the difference that great grapes and a quality producer can make.
Vouvray is located east of Tours on the north side of the Loire River, where the only grape variety allowed to be grown is chenin blanc, also known as “pineau de la Loire.” The Huet Estate was created in this area in 1928, and barely survived WWII. This is a petillant, or lightly sparkling wine, but it is made through the traditional method of a second fermentation taking place in the bottle and the wine kept on its lees (spent yeast cells) for two to three years. Unlike all but the most expensive champagnes, this is a vintaged wine made from biodynamically grown grapes. This wine has a light, gentle sparkle, is dry, yet deliciously fruity with a nice long finish.
The Billecart and Salmon families have lived in Mareuil-sur-Aỳˆ in the Champagne area of France since the early 1600s. The Billecart and Salmon families joined estates in 1818 through marriage, the estate has always remained in the family and is now headed by Francois-Roland Billicart, the 8th generation since the marriage. Billecart has always been a small, but highly desirable wine. This rose Champagne is produced from the best vintages of chardonnay (40%), pinot noir (40%), and pinot meunier (20%). The Champagne is a unique salmon-pink color touched by a hint of gold, and accounts for only 16% of the total Champagne production of Billecart-Salmon.