Wine Highlights: Tuesday, August 29

This Tuesday, August 29th we’re highlighting four of our favorite wines and a piquette! The bottles will be half-price that night as well.

Fitz-Ritter “Fitz” Riesling Sekt NV, Pfalz, Germany

The Fitz-Ritter family has been making wines since 1785. This sparkling wine from Pfalz, Germany is made with 100% Riesling grapes with a crisp finish and long-lasting effervescence. Made in the classic style, it’s less yeasty than traditionally made sparkling wines.

Bellingham The Bernard Series “Old Vine Chenin Blanc” 2021, Cape Town, South Africa

The Bernard Series was named for the co-founder of Bellingham Bernard Podlashuk, who helped put South African wine on the map. The vines for this Chenin Blanc were planted in 1983 and one of the first old vine focused wines in the region The grapes are hand-picked and harvested at two different ripening levels to add complexity to the wine. This wine is fresh with a minerality and stone fruit and tropical finish.

Ca dei Frati “I Frati” 2021, Lugana, Italy

“I Frati” is Ca de Frati’s signature wine. Made of 100% native Turbiana grapes from Lombardy grown in a limestone clay soil, this wine has a pleasant and delicate flavor with some floral and almond notes.

Tikves “Barovo” 2018

Founded in 1885, Tives Winery has existed through multiple independence movements and world wars — yet continue to make wines from grapes native to the region. This now privatized estate has been recently updated with sustainable farming practices and an emphasis on preserving indigenous grapes. This red is made up of grapes grown from a parcel of vines that are a mix of Kratosij and Vranec grapes in the village of Barovo.

And the piquette:

Mersel Piquette 2021, Lebanon

Unlike wine, a piquette is made by mixing wine pomace with water and then fermenting those residual sugars, resulting in a lower alcohol, effervescent drink. This piquette is made with a mix of Muscat, Sauvingnon Blanc, and indigenous Merwah vines. Organic honey was later added for a second spring fermentation. The result is a pleasant, effervescent drink that’s more reminiscent of a cider or beer.