For the longest time I have been hoping that we would find a real crowd pleaser, a wine that is appreciated across the tribes so that you can take said wine into any party and know your contribution will be a hit. I am thrilled to report that we found one! And I must say I am also somewhat shocked by what it is.
First a little background. For My Wine Tribe’s holiday tasting I wanted to focus on sparkling wines. Festive and celebratory, they can be counted on to add a bit of ‘luxe to any night out. We all know that the French own the champagne title. No sparkling wine from anywhere other than the Champagne region of France can be officially called champagne. Fair enough. But there are a lot of other sparkling wines out there. Prosecco, for example, is the sparkler of choice among my bon vivant, 30-40-year-old friends. This crowd knows its way around a bottle of bubbly, but doesn’t want to appear overly ostentatious. Their solution: Prosecco.
That’s what I knew about sparkling wines when I walked into Esquin. I worked with a great guy named Kyle, who rose to the Wine Tribe challenge: four different sparkling wines from all over the world, comparably priced at no more than $25 a bottle, and they had to have a wide distribution. We went with:
Bisol Crede Prosecco Superiore Brut from Italy ($19.99 a bottle),
Gruet Brut, a $14.99 New Mexico sparkler that, according to Kyle, comes from “one of the best producers in the US,”
Louis Roederer Brut Champagne, a budget-stretching $46.99 (from France, of course) but a “quintessential” and award-winning French champagne,
Szigeti Gruner Veltliner from Austria ($19.99) . . . another Kyle fave.
So without further ado, the Gruet Brut was the crowd’s favorite. A $14.99 New Mexico wine? Divine. The Gruet website describes their Brut as “a crisp, and full-bodied sparkling wine, which has developed rich complexity and fine mousse. The allure of toasty finish from twenty-four months on tirage is a complement to the sophisticated apple and citrus flavor.” Okay, honestly? I don’t know what “fine mousse” or “tirage” mean, but I have an email into them and will report back.
As it turns out that there is a fine French pedigree behind the house of Gruet: Gilbert Gruet was born in France in 1931 and began making champagne under the name of Gruet et Fils in 1952. Gilbert ran into some European winemakers while visiting New Mexico and decided to plant an experimental vineyard. At 4,300 feet, his vineyards are some of the highest in the U.S. They are blessed with great soil, which Gruet protects by avoiding pesticides. The resulting wine is a beautiful blend of Old World know-how and New World real estate. For the price, it can’t be beat. Tribe members called it “refreshing” and “dry, easy to drink,” noting the “hints of orange blossom, apricot and pineapple.”
How did the other bubblies fare? The Louis Roederer was the number two with tribes. Though folks found it a bit sour, they agreed that it paired well with food. Descriptors included: “This is what champagne should taste like;” “Tart, full body but still has bite;” “Crisp green apple;” and “Reminds me of lemonade.”
The Developed Tribe had a lot of love for the Szegeti Gruner Vertliner from Austria. Tribe members thought it held up the best with food. It was a tad sweeter than the competition and its reported flavor profile included hints of pear, pineapple and flowers.
Interestingly, only one taster (from the Developed Tribe) preferred the Prosecco. She was definitely in the minority. The Prosecco was panned by the other 19 tasters, who found it “bitter” and “harsh,” and compared it to “bad apple juice,” “potpourri,” “wool,” “lemon curds,” and “rubber bands.” (SB note: I am not making this up.)
So, if you are looking for a crowd pleaser this holiday season I would go with the Gruet Brut. If you’re feeling flush, splurge on the Louis Roederer Brut. Whatever you choose, enjoy! And please, as always, feel free to send us your favorite sparklers. We would love to keep testing. 😉
PS: If you want to learn more, here’s is a good primer on champagne and other sparkling wines.