Meet the Whites
For this special flight, we are bringing you four White Wines that you may not have heard of! From all over the world, these unique and versatile whites will have feel like you’re joining the family!
Le Ballon
70% Vermentino 30% Colombard. Traditionally made. Fermented in stainless steel. Vin de Pays classification.
Le Ballon is a winery within the Vignerons de Nature co-op, producing affordable and delicious organic wines in Languedoc-Roussillon France.
Vignerons de Nature consists of a group of passionate winegrowers sharing the same philosophy and who had the idea of pooling their resources. All the wines come from organic or biodynamic agriculture or from winegrowers who deeply respect their terroir. Today, they represent 30 winegrowers throughout Italy and France.
Bottle: $15 | Glass: $7
Passionate Wines “Via Revolucionaria”
This 100% hand harvested Semillon is from a single vineyard in the Tupungato region of the Uco Valley, Mendoza, Argentina.
Passionate Wines is the brainchild of Matias Michelini. He is the winemaker, agronomist, and Grand Poobah of his winery named Passionate Wines. Matias strives to make experimental wines that express terroir. These wines are low production and are drawn from multiple inspirations, regions, and styles. The Via Revolucionaria wines are single vineyard, unconventional wines, fermented with native yeast. He produces a skin macerated Torrontes “Brutal”, an unfiltered Semillon “Hulk”, and a carbonic macerated and fermented Bonarda “Pura”. The Montesco wines are small production wines that focus on place and varietals. Matias continues to experiment with other cuvees with the mantra of producing either atypical varietals or classic varietals in non-traditional methods.
Bottle: $19 | Glass: $8
Idlewild “Flora & Fauna” Bianco
For 2021, the blend compromises of roughly 40% Arneis, 30% Muscat Canelli (a.k.a Muscat Blanc, Moscato Bianco), 10% Cortese, 10% Erbaluce, and 10% Favorita (a.k.a. Piedmontese biotype of Vermentino). The fruit comes from Fox Hill Vineyard and Lost Hills Ranch from North Coast, California. Fox Hill lends aromatic richness while Lost Hills balances with vibrancy and brighter aromatics
“Flora and Fauna loosely means the collection of plant and animal life of a certain epoch. Inmy version, it is the collection of varietals from the cellar that make up the blend for the year. The 2021 is based in Arneis that is blended with Muscat Canelli, Favorita, and more to achievethe balance desired from this Piedmontese inspired blend. The fruit predominently comesfrom Fox Hill Vineyard and Lost Hills Ranch. Fox Hill lends aromatic richness while Lost Hillsbalances with vibrancy and brighter aromatics. Winemaking starts in the vineyard, and my preference is to work with sites that require mini-mal to no work. In other words, the basics done right and well timed are all a great site needs.When that is the case, the winemaking becomes a simple game of guiding the fruit to bewhat it already is. I time picking for this blend to when the core of the wine’s pieces overlayinto a balance of bright acidity with emerging tones of aromatic depth. From there, thegrapes were whole cluster pressed, fermented via native yeasts, left on all the lees and solids,aged in neutral oak, and underwent native secondary fermentation. Complexity and textureare gained from allowing secondary fermentation and aging on lees in neutral oak for fourmonths, while the structure and acidity from picking plenty early allow for great vibrancyand energy through the wine.
Bottle: $27 | Glass: $12
I Vigneri VIGNAdiMILO
The 100% Carricante vine of this small parcel is the fruit of one particular mass wine selection made by Salvo Foti in over 20 years of activity. The vineyard was planted in part with the ancient Etnean technique of the “Mallet cuttings: or “Magliuoli”: direct production, without grafting on American vine (ungrafted). Vineyard cultivation is done by hand using natural products. Biotechnologies are not used in winemaking. Transfer and bottling are carried out according to the phases of the moon. Contrada: Caselle, in the municipality of Milo – Eastern Etna (Italy) at 750 m a.s.l. Plot: VignadiMilo (The Vineyard of Milo) Varieties: Carricante 100%, Carricante, in part ungrafted native vines. Direct pressing of whole grapes with static and natural settling of the must for about 30 hours.
The Vigneri are all men and women who are originally from Mt. Etna, and many have been working with us for more than 25 years. Knowledge, this direct personal relationship – without intermediaries between us – is fundamental. The goal is to make “Human Wines”, carrying winemaking with respect for Humankind and the Environment.
Bottle: $59 | Glass: $26