The Gift of Exploration - City Vino Wine Cru

• Posted on 5 November 2019
• Posted in City Vino, City Vino Wine Club, City Vino Wine Cru
• 0

Wine allows us to explore the world, all from the comfort of our very own glass. Through wine, we are able to explore new wine grapes, new wine regions, and experience unique combinations of aromas, flavors, and textures.

City Vino has a wine club called the City Vino Wine Cru. The Wine Cru affords its members the ability to explore wines that are not widely available and may be made from new-to-you grapes, or made in wine regions with which you are not yet familiar. Each month, Cru members receive one or two bottles of wine, along with information on the wine(s), plus recipe ideas, a food item (ie. cheeses, bread/crackers or sauce), and food pairing suggestions. The cost per month is fifty dollars with a one-time ten-dollar initiation fee. Additionally, another great perk, of being a Cru member is 10% off all future wine purchases at City Vino.

During this past year, our Wine Cru members received, as a month's selection, two wines from the iconic Chateau Musar in Lebanon, which was established in 1930 by Gaston Hochar, and is currently under the direction of his grandsons. The wines selected were the Jeune Blanc, which is a blend of Viognier, Vermentino, and Chardonnay; and the Jeune Rose, which is a blend of Cinsault and Mourvèdre. These wines are both unoaked, bright and fruity wines that Musar introduced to meet the market demand for early drinking wines.

On another occasion, the Wine Cru received a bottle of Domaine Seguin-Manuel Bourgogne Aligoté from Burgundy France, and a bottle of Unico Zelo Dolcetto from Clare Valley Australia. Aligoté is the second-most-planted white grape behind Chardonnay in Burgundy, and makes bright citrusy white wine with aromas and flavors of apple, peach and dried herbs. Dolcetto is a red grape whose home is in Piedmont, Italy, but the Unico Zelo hails from down-under, providing a differing region for production of wine made from this grape.

One month, the Wine Cru wine included the Shinola Orancia from Merkin Vineyards in Arizona, and Papaskarasi from Chamlija in Turkey. The Merkin Shinola Orancia is made from 100 percent Malvasia Bianca, and this white wine was aged in contact with its skin, which gives it distinctive color, aromas and flavors. The Chamlija Papaskarasi is made from the Papaskarasi grape! Exploration, indeed.

In May, our Wine Cru wine was from the famous Zuccardi family from Mendoza, in Argentina, which was founded in 1963. The Wine Cru wine selection was named Emma and is made from the Bonarda grape.

Finally, this last month, the Wine Cru received a bottle of Les Vins De Vienne “Les Chirats de St.-Christophe” Hermitage 2010. The wine is made from 100% Syrah. Retail for this wine should be $100 on the shelf; a total find for the Wine Cru!

Wine Cru wines are available for pick-up in store beginning on the second Saturday of each month. Monthly subscriptions are charged on the Monday preceding the pick-up date. The last day to sign-up or to unsubscribe is the Wednesday before the monthly subscription is to be charged.

Whether you want to explore the world of wine yourself, or give the gift of exploration to family or friends, City Vino will be happy to show you the world!