Torremilanos Ojo Gallo Clarete (shown below!)
‘Ojo Gallo’ is Castellano for ‘rooster eye’ as a callback to the traditional clarete style of the region. Spanish clarete is a type of wine that is traditionally produced in the Rioja region of Spain. It's a light-bodied red wine that is made from a blend of red and white grape varieties. The name "clarete" comes from the French word "clairet," which means "pale" or "light-colored," reflecting the wine's relatively light color and body.
In Spain, clarete is often enjoyed as a refreshing and easy-drinking wine that pairs well with a variety of foods, including tapas, grilled meats, and seafood. It's typically served chilled, which makes it a popular choice during the hot summer months. However, it is worth noting that the style of clarete produced today is not always the same as the traditional style, and can vary in color and flavor depending on the producer and the grape varieties used.
This light, chillable red is a field blend of very old vines of Tempranillo, Garnacha, Bobal, Monastrell, Viura, Albillo and Malvasia co-fermented in cement tanks. Founded in 1903, the 200-hectare Finca Torremilanos is the second-oldest wine-producing estate in what is now Ribera del Duero DO (after Vega Sicilia). Pilar Pérez Albéniz, one of the most respected women in the region and winner of the inaugural ‘Ribera Heritage’ Award in 2019, is still at the helm, with two of her sons, Ricardo and Vicente handling winemaking and sales, respectively.
Finca Torremilanos is the first-ever Demeter-certified biodynamic winery in the appellation, as of 2015. They are a little family-run estate that marches to the beat of its own drummer in producing both traditionally-styled and experimental wines!
- Producer: Finca Torremilanos
- Region: Castilla Y Leon, Ribera del Duero, Spain
- Varieties: Tempranillo, Garnacha, Bobal, Monastrell, Viura, Albillo and Malvasia
- Alcohol: 14%
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Mersel Lebnani Abyad Skin Contact Wine 1L (shown below!)
The Mersel Winery goes back all the way to 1550 BCE, when their ancestors the Phoenicians established the trading culture that connected the coastline of today’s Lebanon with the whole world. Lebanon is among the oldest sites of wine production in the world. Today Mersel continues this legacy, with the same passion that the Phoenicians had centuries ago, exporting the highest quality wine from the land of the cedars.
The name 'Mersel Wine' comes from the region Maksar Mersel, which is the highest altitude viticulture region in Lebanon. They also have vineyards in Ainata in the Bekaa Valley, Dimane and Bcharre in Wadi Qannoubine, and Bousit in Northern Lebanon. Their philosophy is to keep it simple. Their wines are made naturally, with very little or no sulfites.
The Sauvignon Blanc that makes this wine is picked during the first week of August, partially destemmed, partially pressed, with the free-run juice added back on skins in stainless tanks. The Merwah is harvested in the first week of October and undergoes a slow fermentation on skins for three weeks. It is then pressed and blended with the Sauvignon Blanc. The result is a beautifully drinkable, light-bodied skin contact wine with subtle flavors of bruised apple, tropical fruit and pineapple. Serve chilled and serve with creamy pasta, fried tofu, chicken katsu or brie cheese! Cheers!
- Producer: Mersel Winery
- Region: Bcharre, Qannboubine Valley, Lebanon
- Varieties: 70% Merwah, 30% Sauvignon Blanc
- Alcohol: 12.5%
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Viña Echeverria Romi Orange Wine (shown below!)
The Echeverria family has been making wine in Chile since 1740. They are now located in the Curicó Valley, Maule, Chile where they enjoy French pre-phylloxera rootstocks, on their 80 ha of vineyards! If you know anything about vine age and phylloxera, this is quite the flex! They were the first family winery from Chile to sell wine to Harrods in London. Chief Winemaker Roberto Echeverria employs sustainable farming techniques in the vineyard and prides himself on producing a wine for most every palate, while embracing a philosophy that's based on consistency. The Romi Orange wine is made with 100% Sauvignon Blanc (one of the most popular varieties in the Curicó Valley winemaking region) - it’s dreamy, with a beautiful golden-amber color with notes of sweet orange blossom. The texture is rich and luxurious. Serve chilled and serve with seafood paella!
- Producer: Viña Echeverria
- Region: Curicó Valley, Maule, Chile
- Varieties: 100% Sauvignon Blanc
- Alcohol: 13.5%
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Cirelli Montepulciano d'Abruzzo DOC (shown below!)
Winemaker Francesco Cirelli grew up loving the countryside - it was always his safe haven. Today he and his wife live and work at the Cirelli Farms, located about 5 miles away from the Adriatic Sea where they grow wine grapes and olives. Cirelli Farms is certified organic and everything produced on their farm is done with respect to the natural cycles of their olive groves, vineyards, organic horticultural crop fields and animal breeding. Crop rotation, a period of rest for the soil, fertilization and livestock grazing are only some of the vital steps in the process of producing wine (in terracotta wine jars), olive oil, organically grown fruit and vegetables and meat of the finest quality. Francesco is known for his amphora-fermented wines. During this process, the grape skins are softly plunged into the juice, in order to prevent the extraction of the stronger tannins. The maceration process usually lasts around twelve days, after which the skins are separated from the wine and softly pressed. The result is a silky, balanced red wine that is soft and easy to drink. Francesco’s wines are so special, so easy to fall in love with. Notes of blackberry, red plum, dried savory herbs and baking spices. Serve slightly cooler than room temperature and enjoy with fennel sausage or pepperoni pizza! Salute!
- Producer: Azienda Agricola Cirelli
- Region: Abruzzo, Italy
- Varieties: 100% Montepulciano
- Alcohol: 13%