It’s hard to believe that the New Year is right around the corner! What a year 2022 has been. Thank you all for welcoming me to Wine on Main.
As 2023 approaches, I’ve been thinking about more fun things that I can implement here at the store in the New Year. We already have a number of great events planned in January and February including a book club with an author zoom, wine classes, and a Valentine’s Day event to be announced. I also thought that it would be exciting to start a blog. There’s a great deal that goes on behind-the-scenes at Wine on Main before wines make it to the shelves. The wine industry is multi-faceted, and I’ve had the opportunity to see it from many angles. I thought it might be interesting to share more of it with all of you.
This will be an enjoyable exercise for me as well. As an English major and former high school English teacher, writing has always been in my DNA. My first true professional foray into the wine industry was serving as Wine Correspondent for a regional website. I covered major events like wine festivals, interviewed key people in the wine industry, and described new bottles I’d found. It will be entertaining for me to revisit those roots.
For my first post, I thought it would be apropos to look back at some of the most interesting wines I’ve come across over the past two months. One of the joys in owning my own shop has come from seeing more of the wine that’s out there as opposed to focusing on one specific distributor portfolio. This a particularly interesting time in the wine world as well as more esoteric wine styles like orange wine, natural wine, and organic wines come to the forefront.
Pullus Pinot Grigio, Slovenia
Pinot Grigio is one of the most popular white varietals. Easy-drinking, light, and fruity, it’s certainly a crowd-pleaser. What some people don’t know is that Pinot Grigio can be made in a “ramato” style. “Ramato” translates into copper in Italian. Pinot Grigio Ramato is so named because thanks to a little bit of skin contact, it takes on a light copper color in the glass. It adds to the wine’s flavor and complexity while still maintaining the essence of Pinot Grigio.
The Ramato style originated in the Fruili region of Italy and most of them herald from there. Pullus is an especially unique find because it comes from Slovenia. Though winemaking in Slovenia dates back well before the Romans, Slovenian wine is just starting to emerge in popularity for the market at large. I find this wine exceptionally elegant and balanced. Fresh and fruit forward, it is supplemented by beautiful structure that is enhanced from the skin contact. There are aromas of pear, stone fruit, and nectarine with hints of white florals as well.
Txakoli Primo Zarautz, Spain
Txakoli isn’t a wine that you see a lot of, and I’ve been excited to see how many of you have embraced this wine! Made in Spain’s Basque region, the wine has green fruit flavors and a great deal of delicious minerality. The wine is dry but has a hint of natural effervescence. Its composition makes it wonderful on its own but also ideal for food pairing. The crisp acidity cuts through fattier fare like cheese while its dry style prevents it from overwhelming dishes.
Dampt Pinot Noir, Burgundy, France
I LOVE Burgundy. A self-professed Chardonnay lover, I have great admiration for this region which makes some of the finest Chardonnays. Burgundy excels in Pinot Noir as well. While California tends to make big, juicy Pinot Noirs, Burgundy producers err on the side of restraint. The results are delicate, smooth Pinot Noirs with ripe red fruit flavors underscored with hints of earth.
Unfortunately, with that prestige usually comes a hefty price tag. Imagine my delight when I found a beautiful Burgundian Pinot Noir that could retail for $21.99! Dampt Freres is a family-owned endeavor that is run by three brothers, Emmanuel, Eric, and Herve. Their Bourgogne Pinot Noir is silky smooth with flavors of cherry, raspberry, and hints of earth.
Schild Estate Sparkling Shiraz, Australia
You’ve probably heard me go on and on about this wine already… but really, it’s so cool! Before coming to Wine on Main, I’d never encountered a sparkling Shiraz before. Ruby red in the glass, the wine has aromas of blackcurrant, blackberry, and dark cherry alongside more delicate hints of chocolate and spice. Like a regular Shiraz, the wine is made in a dry style. It is your favorite red wine… but with bubbles!
As an added bonus, Schild Estate is a great producer. Located in the heart of the Barossa Valley, one of Australia’s top regions for Shiraz, they are passionate about making estate-grown wines that embody the terroir of the region.
For more information about any of these wines, email us at info@wineonmainnh.com.