February 2025 - Winervana

February 28, 2025

Beau Vigne Signature Series Cabernet Sauvignon 2019

Beau Vigne Cabernet Sauvignon 2019

Beau Vigne, pronounced “bo-veenya” and meaning “beautiful vineyard” in French, is a boutique winery located in Napa Valley, California. Founded in 1999 by Napa native Ed Snider and his wife Trish, with its first vintage release in 2002, the winery has established a reputation for producing exceptional wines, particularly Cabernet Sauvignon.

The Snider family’s connection to Napa Valley dates back to 1913 when Ed’s grandfather, Martin Garzoli, a Swiss-Italian immigrant, settled in the region. Garzoli was involved in winemaking and ranching in the Carneros area, laying the foundation for the family’s future in viticulture.

Beau Vigne’s estate vineyard, known as Stags Ridge, is situated within the Atlas Peak AVA, accessible via Soda Canyon Road. This high-elevation site, approximately 1,400 feet above Napa Valley, is characterized by volcanic soils, contributing to the distinctive qualities of their wines.

In its early years, Beau Vigne collaborated with notable winemakers to craft its wines. Dave Phinney, the founding winemaker, aimed to create red wines that could compete with the world’s finest. [Phinney went on to fame and fortune with his Orin Swift Wine Company and the overrated The Prisoner.] This vision was furthered by winemaker Kirk Venge, who joined in 2008 and led the winery to achieve a perfect 100-point score from Robert Parker’s Wine Advocate.

Continue reading “Beau Vigne Signature Series Cabernet Sauvignon 2019”

February 28, 2025

Anchored Roots Savignon Blanc 2022

Anchored Roots Savignon Blanc 2022

Eric and Amy Gale are the owners and sole full-time employees of Anchored Roots, Door County, Wisconsin’s newest winery, founded in 2020.

The couple make an ideal front-of-house/back-of-house duo. Amy grew up in Milwaukee, with hospitality at the forefront of her career path. Her initial focus was event planning, from non-profit fundraisers and catering, to corporate events and weddings. This was followed by experience in tasting room management at Airfield Estates in Prosser, Washington.

Eric was born and raised in Luxemburg, Wisconsin. Perhaps predictably, while he was growing up he worked summers at a neighbor’s 60-head dairy farm. However, his academic bent led him to a Bachelor’s degree in biology with a minor in chemistry. He then pursued a Masters in Viticulture at Washington State University. After graduation, he landed a job at Chateau Ste. Michelle, Washington state’s oldest winery. His primary responsibility was overseeing the Cold Creek vineyard, Ste. Michelle’s first, originally planted in 1972.

Continue reading “Anchored Roots Savignon Blanc 2022”

February 26, 2025February 27, 2025

Lanson Le Rosé NV

Lanson Le Rosé NV

Lanson Le Rosé is a signature rosé Champagne from Maison Lanson, one of the oldest Champagne houses in France. Lanson’s tradition of crafting high-quality rosé Champagne dates back over a century, making it one of the pioneers in this category.

Lanson was founded in 1760 in Reims, France, by François Delamotte, making it the sixth oldest Champagne house, initially operating under the name Maison Delamotte.

In 1798, Nicolas-Louis Delamotte, son of François, took over and partnered with Jean-Baptiste Lanson, a friend of the family.
In 1837, the company was renamed Lanson, Père et Fils to honor Jean-Baptiste Lanson’s contribution. That same year, Maison Lanson adopted the Maltese Cross as its emblem, in tribute to the son of the house’s founder, a member of the Hospitaller Order of Malta.

The first Lanson Rosé was created in 1833. On December 4, 1900, Maison Lanson received the Royal Warrant from Queen Victoria, the prestigious patent awarded by the British monarch to suppliers to the Royal Court of England. Lanson was one of the first Champagne houses to be awarded this distinction, and continues to hold it today. The house maintains a strong focus on traditional methods, avoiding malolactic fermentation, which preserves the Champagne’s fresh and crisp style.

Lanson was also the first Champagne house to introduce the concept of “brut” Champagne, a drier style of sparkling wine.

The brand survived World Wars I and II, despite challenges such as vineyard destruction and economic downturns.

In 1972, Lanson introduced its prestigious “Noble Cuvée”, a high-end vintage Champagne. Throughout the 1980s and 1990s, Lanson continued its global expansion, particularly in the United States and Asia. In 1990, Lanson was acquired by the Groupe Marne et Champagne. In 1996, the brand was sold to Boizel Chanoine Champagne Group (BCC), now known as Lanson-BCC Group, which revitalized the house while maintaining its heritage. Continue reading “Lanson Le Rosé NV”

February 25, 2025February 25, 2025

Medici Ermete Concerto Reggiano Lambrusco 2022

Medici Ermete Concerto Reggiano Lambrusco 2022

Nestled along the Via Emilia, a historic trade route that winds through the heart of Emilia-Romagna, the Medici family’s journey into winemaking began in 1890. Remigio Medici, a successful tavern owner, was determined to make the most of the family’s vineyards, which stretched from the Via Emilia to the foothills of the Enza valley. What started as a small winery soon became a thriving family business.

Remigio’s son, Ermete, took the reins of the business and quickly expanded it. Ermete’s sons, Valter and Giorgio, carried the torch forward and were pivotal in broadening the winery’s reach, especially through exports, thus marking the start of the family’s international presence.

By the 1970s, Lambrusco, an iconic sparkling red wine from the Emilia-Romagna region, was experiencing a boom in the United States. Alongside Chianti, Lambrusco was one of the first Italian wines to be exported abroad, gaining widespread popularity.

Continue reading “Medici Ermete Concerto Reggiano Lambrusco 2022”

February 23, 2025February 25, 2025

Louis Roederer Champagne Rosé 2016

Louis Roederer Champagne Rosé 2016

Louis Roederer [Road-ur-ur], a distinguished champagne producer situated in Reims, France, traces its origins back to 1776, when it began as Dubois Père & Fils. While its early days were marked by still wine production, the focus soon evolved to embrace the art of crafting fine champagnes. The business underwent a transformation under the stewardship of Louis Roederer in 1833 when he not only inherited but also renamed the company for himself. He boldly ventured into international markets, focusing particularly on Russia. This endeavor gained him immense recognition, including from Tsar Nicolas II, who appointed Louis Roederer as the official wine provider to the Imperial Court of Russia.

Created in 1876, the wine made for Nicolas’ grandfather, Alexander II, was the first Cuvée de Prestige (Prestige Cuvée) of Champagne and is called Cristal, referring to the unusual clear glass of the bottle. The Tsar had pointed out to his sommelier that the design of a standard champagne bottle made the beautiful color and effervescence of champagne invisible to the eye. He therefore instructed Roederer that his personal cuvée be served in bottles made of transparent crystal glass with a flat bottom (allegedly to foil the insertion of explosives in the indentation by would-be assassins) to remedy this defect. Thus was Cristal born, and the first notion of a premium cuvée. For more than a century, the appearance of the patented Cristal bottle has remained unchanged. After the fall of the Russian monarchy in 1917, Roederer decided to continue producing Cristal and to market it internationally, and it remains one of the world’s most sought-after champagnes in the world.

Continue reading “Louis Roederer Champagne Rosé 2016”