​Colonia Las Liebres Bonarda ($11.99)
Mendoza
From the producer:
"100% Bonarda Argentina organic grapes come from pergola vineyards located in Luján de Cuyo (Mendoza), at 800 m. The area has a semi-desert climate with hot days and cool nights. We choose deep, fresh soils with low fertility to control vigor, delay ripening, and avoid hydrological stress. These are sandy loams where the clay component provides mineral nutrients and water retention, while the sand component prevents the silt and clay part from compacting excessively, and guarantees water drainage.

Vinified in 300hl stainless steel tanks with temperature control for a duration of 10 days from crushing to pressing, with daily rack-and-return for a gentle extraction. The wine is aged in concrete tanks, receiving no oak treatment in order to preserve freshness and to represent a pure expression of the grape.

The efforts that the winery has been making since 2012 to grow grapes organically have finally paid off in this 2017 vintage. This Bonarda is an organic certified wine, presenting notes of crispy red fruits and white pepper, with soft tannins in the palate and intense flavors. It has a long and fresh finish, with lots of character. Its deep and vibrant mouthfeel makes it a true pleasure wine. Ideal to pair with pasta Pomodoro dishes, pizza and light meats."

From me:
Bonarda from Argentina is also called Douce Noir, and its DNA traces back to Savoie, France. It's a dark grape that produces a medium-bodied, red fruit forward wine that is not usually aged in oak. You might have heard of an Italian Bonarda, but they are a completely different set of grapes and have nothing to do with this varietal. Bonarda is the second most planted red grape in Argentina (behind Malbec), and it produces wine that is easy to drink with a kind of brambly fruit and spicy earthiness on the palate. This wine is an excellent value, and a great alternative to Pinot Noir or Merlot.


Vicentin Blanc de Malbec ($16.99)
Mendoza
From the producer:
"Blanc de Malbec owes its name to the type of vinification. It is a red wine vinified as a white, making it the first Blanc de Malbec in Argentina. The idea for this innovative wine came from the vineyard and led to its final creation. The hue is slightly pink, well defined and bright. Soft floral notes of sweet jasmine are perceived along with violets and mild aromas of fruits including
peach, strawberry and watermelon. Fine integration with the wood awakens flavors of cinnamon, cloves and spices. Sweet, fresh, unctuous, explosive, very fruity and elegant on the palate; the taste is intensified by hints of mature and sweet tannins."

From me:
I had never encountered a white Malbec until this one, so I was obviously curious about what the wine would be like. Red Malbec is usually quite bold and full-bodied, often with spicy or smoky undertones. As a white wine it still has a lot of character, and it is very elegant on the palate. It is aged six months in oak, but the wood just smooths it out and builds on the creamy mouthfeel created by the malolactic fermentation. This is a well-balanced, interesting, pretty wine that is also sure to be the talk of the table.

​Nifo Sarrapochiello Falanghina del Sannio ($12.99--was $14.99)
Campania
From the producer:
"Rooted in Campania for three generations, the winery Nifo Sarrapochiello is located in Ponte, a small town in the Sannio, a pleasant place, already existing in Roman times, which owes its name to the presence of an imposing "pontem lapideum" on which the Via Latina passed that connected Rome to Benevento and thanks to which the Romans supplied themselves with wine and grapes of the highest quality.

Winemaker for passion and cultural heritage is the young owner, Lorenzo Nifo Sarrapochiello, who has decided to combine respect for tradition and scientific innovation, in order to ensure the company the high quality standards that have always been pursued. In fact, since 1998, the Nifo Sarrapochiello grapes are grown and treated with the organic farming method ( bioagricert control organism ). After a strictly manual harvest, the grapes are transformed with production standards that protect the environment and the health of the consumer: this results in perfumed wines, intensely aromatic and with a great personality.

Pale straw-yellow wine with aromas of pear, banana, aromatic herbs, yellow flowers and sweet spices. Taste is very delicate and elegant, persistent. A perfect match with fish steaks, white meat and aged cheese."

From me:
Falanghina is one of Italy's better known whites, and is an ancient varietal. This wine is a must with seafood, though it would go well with poultry and pork. Elegant, long finish with ripe fruit undertones.

Cantine Monfort Terre del Föhn Marzemino ($12.99)
Trentino
From the producer:
"The Marzemino grape occupies a prominent place in the wine growing world in Trentino thanks to its excellent quality. The origins of the vine are lost in history but it is likely that it comes from Marzemin, a village in Carinthia. Currently Marzemino is cultivated in particular on the right bank of the river Adige and, especially in the foothills of Nomi, Pomarolo, Isera and Mori. In the Vallagarina the variety has found ideal soil and climate conditions which lend it its unmistakable organoleptic characteristics. To distinguish it from other similar wines it is called 'Marzemino Gentile' where 'gentile' (gentle) is justified by the matchless delicacy of the wine.

WINE MAKING METHOD
Brief red wine fermentation on the skins, malolactic fermentation and refining in stainless steel vats. Brief ageing in bottle.

TASTING NOTES
Colour: bright ruby red . 
Bouquet: delicately fruity (fruits of the forest) with floral notes of  sweet violet
Palate: dry, harmonious,  pleasing for its fruity notes and slight almond finish.

FOOD MATCHING
First courses with meat sauces, white meats, poultry, cheeses.
This wine is famous  for its fruity taste. It is an indigenous wine mentioned in the Opera 'Don Giovanni' of Mozart."

From me:
I'm really into indigenous grapes and wines that are off the beaten path, so for me this is a really compelling one. It drinks a bit like a Pinot Noir in that it's light-bodied and brightly fruit-forward. I think at $12.99 it's a great alternative to Pinot, but it also stands on its own as a cool climate red. Organic.

​Standing Stone Dry Riesling ($13.99)
Finger Lakes, New York
From the producer:
"Standing Stone Vineyards is integral to the heritage and future of the Finger Lakes region. Located on the Eastern slopes of Seneca Lake, the site is not only visually stunning but also ideal vineyard land. Factors such as proximity to the lake, slope, and soil type are vital components that contribute to moderating lake effects and ripening, and contribute to the distinct nature of our wines.

In order to achieve the purest expression of place, we implement low intervention practices, both in the cellar and in our farming methods. We have increased biodiversity and ecosystem health and eliminated synthetic inputs. It is an exciting time to delve into what this farm has to offer and we invite you to taste the wines, and explore with us.

Our Dry Riesling is sourced from one of the oldest Riesling vineyards on Seneca Lake, planted in 1972.  The combination of vine age and the site’s location contribute to a concentrated and ripe presentation.  The palate is agile and crisp with round fruit flavors and a textured mouthfeel.

​Vinification Techniques:  Indigenous yeast fermentation lasting three months, blend of two Riesling blocks but heavily weighted toward the older West block, no fining or filtering agents."


From me:
Standing Stone has been a solid Finger Lakes producer for years, but upon the retirement of the original owners, Hermann J. Wiemer bought the brand and the vineyards. Wiemer is an exceptional label, so I am thrilled that they are putting their name behind Standing Stone. This Riesling comes from older vines, and you can really sense that in the body and in the ripeness of the fruit. It starts fruit-forward, drinks elegantly over the mid-palate, and has a dry finish. Even if you think you don't like Riesling, do give this a try.