Q2 – 2023 Wine Club Newsletter
The Finger Lakes possesses an ideal set of variables that allows the region to produce stunning sparkling wines. Sparkling wines were being made in the region as early as the 1860s. The region’s exceptional ability to maintain acidity while ripening fruit along with its slate and gravel soils that impart a unique minerality create a refined and nuanced sparkling wine. As the years have progressed, more and more FLX wineries have tried their hands at bubbles using an array of varieties and vinification techniques.
We at Damiani have pursued the elegant art that is Méthode Champenoise sparkling wines since our inception. In recent years we’ve added to our sparkling portfolio which has always featured a traditional Brut. Our previous vintage of Blanc de Noir from 2012 is a wine that Jeremy and I have some trouble keeping our paws off; it’s that irresistible. And we think our 2013, featured in this club selection, is no different.
Over the years our previous winemakers Lou Damiani and his successor Phil Arras have done their share of experimentation leaving us with a varied collection of very limited sparklers that have been recently disgorged, and we are eager to share them with you. Look out for some exciting small-batch flights and releases of members-only Brut, Blanc de Noir, and Blanc de Blanc this summer. Equally exciting, starting in 2023, we’ll be adding a Brut Rosé to our sparkling lineup! But with any sparkling wine, we’ll all have to be patient for its release so stay tuned!
If none of this news has you tingling with anticipation, this should be the clincher for sparkling wine aficionados: we will be hosting a sparkling wine seminar and sampling at our production facility this July where Winemaker Katey will guide you through how we make our beloved bubbles, from base wine, through tirage, to choosing the dosage each of our precious babies.
We are enthusiastically anticipating sharing all these wines and experiences with you!
Cheers,
Brandy Ahouse, Wine Club Manager
