Alois Lageder - 2018, Schiava

Never heard of the grape Schiava?  Don't worry, neither had I until recently and I feel like Italy was holding out on me.  I'm obsessed with this wine.  Perfect to chill a little bit and drink as a summer red.  It reminds me of a great beaujolais with some earth. I thought it was Carbonic Maceration when I first tried it, but it’s just the brightness of the grape and the minerality from the terroir. Plus some aging in concrete.  Anyhow, it's a new obsession of mine so I thought I'd share!  Drink it chilled.

GDG by Stolpman

Speaking of crazy, GDG, or God Damn Gamay, is one of my favourite things that they’ve done recently. Oh, the name? Funny story: Tom Stolpman, Pete’s father and founder of the vineyard, has always nagged for him to plant some Nebbiolo. When he discovered some new plantings and then realized they weren’t this esteemed Italian grape he screamed out “Is this God Damn Gamay"?!”. Worry not, he got 500 vines of Nebbiolo for his birthday a couple years ago and he actually likes the GDG! It’s a bright wine, made using carbonic maceration where the grapes are kept whole and the juice ferments inside the berry. This is how it’s done in Beaujolais, where Gamay is king.

Love You Bunches by Stolpman

Stolpman Tasting Notes:
”Serve chilled and taste with an open mind, I believe this wine is irresistible […] Taste this new 2019 vintage. Ka Boom - cherry sour candy and a crunchy red verve that sings through the mouth - this redefines the STOLPMAN SO FRESH brand. A friendly carbonic upfront pop followed by a touch of tart berry eschewing in a dusting of zippy tannin. A touch darker and more giving than the tightly wound 2018.”