February 2017 Wine Club White Wine
2015 Coto de Gomariz "The Flower and the Bee" Treixadura -- Ribeiro, Spain
The northwest of Spain has an enchanting history and culture with strong Celtic and Roman influences that still exist today. Much of the magic lies in it’s varied landscapes from bustling port villages to pristine beaches, dramatic cliffs (Costa de la Muerte!) and vast rivers. There is a harmony that exists in the land and sea that Galicia embodies, so it naturally produces wines of elemental symmetry. And what is more harmonious than The Flower and the Bee? Our February white produced by Coto de Gomariz from the Ribeiro is made from the indigenous grape known as Treixadura, (tree-shah-Doo-rah), the prominent white grape grown there. Organically farmed and sustainable, this winery's mission is to introduce native Galician grapes to the rest of the world. Like it’s place of origin, the wine boasts a variety of expressions from lighter stone fruits to more weighty, herbaceous qualities. Yellow/golden in color, it has a refreshing salinity that pairs well with seafood or even Empanada Gallega (the traditional fish pie found in several incarnations all throughout the region). With or without food, The Flower and the Bee will find harmony at your table.
February 2017 Wine Club Red Wine
2015 Siete Vidas Tinto -- Austurias, Spain
For the February red wine we’ve chosen the Siete Vidas Tinto, a blend of four different varietals from Asturias.
A bit of research taught us we’ve learned that there are actually only 8 functioning wineries in this region, which sits just east of Galicia on the Atlantic. The wine is very similar to other reds from northwestern Spain. These are not big and juicy like the wines from the hotter regions to the south, rather they are crunchy, aromatic and wild.
The Siete Vidas is a blend of Carrasquín, Verdejo Negro, Albarín Negro and Mencía, all varietals that have a long history in the region. The vineyards in Asturias are recognized as “High mountain” or “Heroic” sites due to their extreme elevation, an exclusive designation in Spain shared only with DO Ribeira Sacra in Galicia and DO Priorat in Catalunya. Siete Vidas even claims that due to such extremes, they cannot produce these wines every year. 2015 was a warm vintage throughout many regions in Europe, benefiting these “fringe” regions that can use little sunshine bump. The wine, despite the crazy sounding varietals, is quite friendly. It reminded us of a punchy Beaujolais or a juicy Cabernet Franc from the Loire valley. The herbal peppery notes that give the wine another dimension and make it a fabulous wine to pair with food. Try it with a braised beef or chicken stew with roasted peppers. The savory facets of this wine are also lovely with roasted vegetables, sometimes a tricky pairing.