Free tasting | Friday, December 14, 2018 | 5-7PM

For Friday's complimentary wine tasting, Tim from Classic Wines is opening a classy, fancy, bougie af assortment of wines that are perfect for the holidays.

Cleto Chiarli ‘Vecchia Modena’ Lambrusco di Sorbara (Emilia-Romagna, Italy) | Winemaker Cleto Chiarli adored Lambrusco and created his winery in 1860 with the intent on bringing the frothy, fresh goodness of this sparkling wine to as many people as possible! This Lambrusco is made with the Lambrusco di Sorbara grape. It’s the color of cantaloupe, light-bodied with a silky mouthfeel, and has notes of fresh strawberries.

2016 Dr. Loosen, Kabinett Ürziger Würzgarten Fischerei (Mosel, Germany) | The Loosen brothers, Ernst and Thomas, took up the reins of Dr. Loosen’s Winey in the Mosel, which has been in their family for over 200 years. This mineral driven Riesling was grown on slate soil and fermented in stainless steel. It has a full stony body with notes of pears and Honeycrisp apples. 

2014 Sinskey Abraxas, Vin de Terroir, Los Carneros (California, USA) | After attending Parsons School of Design in New York, Robert Sinskey’s career was as far away from winemaking as possible until his Dad asked him for help with his vineyards, which then unexpectedly morphed from a hobby into a fledging business. Robert never looked back and has spent decades refining his biodynamic winemaking techniques. His blend of Riesling, Pinot Gris, Gewurztraminer, and Pinot Blanc is distinctive with crisp notes of chamomile, lychee, and pineapple.

2016 Olianas Cannonau (Sardinia, Italy) | This winery was formed in 2000 by a trio: Stefano Casadei, Artemio Olianas, and Simone Mugnaini. This red is mostly Cannonau with a pinch of Tintillu; two-thirds of the grapes were fermented in stainless steel and the rest were actually fermented in buried amphora for almost a month. Afterwards the wine was aged in French oak barrique for 8 months; this medium bodied red has notes of tobacco, cherries, and plums.

2016 Ridge, Geyserville Alexander Valley (California, USA) | Ridge’s history began in 1885 when Dr. Osea Perrone, a doctor who became a prominent member of San Francisco’s Italian community, purchased 180 acres of vineyards around Monte Bello Ridge, a mountainside that Ridge built tri-level wine cellar into. Since then this winery has become a great showcase of finely nuanced Californian wines. This blend of Zinfandel, Carignan, Alicante Bouschet, and Petite Syrah was aged in American oak barrels for a year; it has a velvety round body and notes of mint, plum, and red cherries.

2013 Heitz Cellars, Cabernet Sauvignon, Napa Valley (California, USA) | Density and concentration sum up the palate nicely with notes of  fresh raspberry, mint, and hazelnut. In 1961, Joe and Alice Heitz purchased 8 acres of vineyards south of St. Helena. Heitz rapidly established a reputation as one of Napa's most innovative wineries. This Cabernet is a delightful, bold red, that just begs a skirt steak or roasted veggies with your holiday spread.