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WINERY OF THE WEEK



SEPP WINERY, AUSTRIA
GRUNER VELTLINER 2013 (white)
ZWEIGELT 2013 (red)



By:  Ed "The Wine Guy"


There was a time not too long ago that Harney's did not stock Gruner Veltliner; we now, by popular demand, have four (4). Gruner Veltliner is Austria's most widely planted white wine grape. This Sepp Winery offering, produced by bio-dynamic farming, is typically light, dry, crisp, with citrus (predominantly lemon peel) aromas and flavors. with a hint of pepper, and a slight spritz - some of the effervescence that naturally results from the fermentation process has been trapped. I have found that a Gruner Veltliner wine is a perfect match with raw oysters, but pairs equally well with many fish and seafood dishes, and with cream-based fish and chicken recipes. Zweigelt, a red wine, is medium-bodied and fruit-driven. The closest flavor I can detect is that of cranberry sauce. As with all young, fruity red wines, it can be served slightly chilled, without the loss of quality.

WINERY OF THE WEEK

EMILIANA ORGANICO WINERY
BRAND NAME: NATURA




By:  Ed "The Wine Guy"


Emiliana is the largest organic grape grower in Chile. Its Natura brand produces delicious and inexpensive wines. Featured here are the Chardonnay (2013), Pinot Noir (2013), and Malbec (2012). The Chardonnay is light- to medium-bodied, unoaked, clean, and fresh, with, mainly, pineapple and apple cider flavors. The Pinot Noir is different (but good) than what you're used to; it has a note of spice which is peculiar to Chilean Pinot Noir. The Malbec exhibits aromas and flavors of plum and blackberry, with a note of pepper; while it doesn't rival the Malbecs of Mendozza, Argentina, it compares favorably.

BENZIGER NORTH COAST SAUVIGNON BLANC 2013 CALIFORNIA


 


By:   Ed “The Wine Guy”




Benziger Family Winery uses certified biodynamic, organic, and sustainable farming methods. While having similar aromas and flavors of a New Zealand Sauvignon Blanc - grapefruit, lime, and minerality - this Sauvignon Blanc is less intense, less fruit-forward, as are the Sauvignon Blancs from France and Chile. I have long-admired the Sauvignon Blanc wines from Chile. This wine is aged in stainless steel drums and left on its lees (deposits of dead yeast mainly, which helps to develop more complexity and mouthfeel, especially a creaminess). This is my preferred style of Sauvignon Blanc. Benziger Family Winery was recently purchased by The Wine Group, a corporate conglomerate, which promises to continue with the green-farming tradition.

WINE OF THE WEEK BONTERRA CHARDONNAY 2013 MENDOCINO COUNTY, CALIFORNIA




By:  Ed “The Wine Guy”



In keeping with Organic Wine Month at Harney's, I have chosen Bonterra Chardonnay 2013 as our first organic wine selection. All of Bonterra's grapes are farmed organically, meaning that they are grown without the use of chemical fertilizers, pesticides, fungicides, or herbicides. This Chardonnay is dry, medium-bodied, refreshingly acidic, and exhibits aromas and flavors of tropical fruits, butterscotch, and green apple, with a hint of vanilla. It is a balanced wine, meaning that all the components (fruit, acidity, tannins, oak, alcohol) are working in harmony, and no one component sticks out or dominates. Although the taste difference between an organic wine and an inorganic wine may be negligible, you can be sure that an organic wine is contributing to one's personal health and to a healthy environment.