Free tasting | Saturday, March 9, 2019 | 4-6PM

Bethann from Cafe Europa (a fine wine wholesaler) is opening the newest and natural wine arrivals from their portfolio including Loire Chenin Blanc, a Gamay/Côt (Malbec) blend from Brendan Tracey, Argentinian Malbec, and Party-in-a-bottle País from Itata, Chile. Read more here for the wine line-up and wine-nerdy factoids.

NV Manoir de la Tête Rouge 'Free Mousse'

Who: Winemaker Guillaume Reynouard

What: 80% Cabernet Franc, 20% Chenin Blanc grown on Jurassic soil

Where: Saumur, baby (Loire Valley, France)

How: Method pétillant naturel and disgorged by hand; fermentation takes place in vats with native yeasts

Farming method: All organic farming since 1998; Biodynamics since 2010

Fun Fact: Le Manoir de la Tête Rouge was built in 1649 at the foot of the hill of Le Puy Notre Dame. That’s old, man.

What It Tastes Like: Pale orange gold hue with aromas of  apple and apricots. Tastes like buttery toast with a pop of citrus freshness. Bubbles are fine and persistent.

2017 Lise & Bertrand Jousset, Premier Rendez-vous, Montlouis sur Loire

Who: Husband and wife winemaking team Lise & Bertrand Jousset

What: 80% Cabernet Franc, 20% Chenin Blanc grown on Jurassic soil. 

Where: Montlouis sur Loire (directly south of Vouvray in the Loire Valley, France)

How: Natural fermentation in 400-600L barrels then aged for 6-8 months in stainless steel

Farming method: Biodynamic farming

Fun Fact: The soil types are 70% clay/flint and 30% sandy soil, imparting that classic Chenin minerality through and through

What It Tastes Like: Aromas of wet rocks, honey-dipped pears and lime. Chalky acidity on the backend. Full-bodied and unctuous. 

2017 Brendan Tracey 'Gorge Sèche', Loire Valley

Who: Winemaker Brendan Tracey is a natural winemaker working in the Loire but originally a punk rocker/DJ from New Jersey

What: Principally Pinot d'Aunis, dry pressed and 1/3 Côt and Gamay

Where: Vendôme, France

How:  Inspired by Thierry Puzelat and Philippe Tessier, Brendan employs natural yeasts, and a semi-carbonic maceration on his red wines.

Farming method: Biodynamic 

Fun Fact: Brendan Brendan played in punk bands that opened for bands like The Dead Kennedys, Black Flag and the Avengers.

What It Tastes Like: A blackberry snow cone

2018 A Los Vinateros Bravos, Volcánico, Itata

Who: Winemaker Leonardo Erazo from A Los Viñateros Bravos ("To the brave vintners") 

What: 100% País (aka the Mission grape and one of the first grapes to be planted in the Americas)

Where: Itata Valley, Chile 

How: Made from dry-farmed País vines planted in 1890 on basalt slope soils of volcanic origin (hence the name Volcánico)

Farming method: Biodynamic

Fun Fact: The Itata Valley was the first settlement of the Spanish Conquistadors during the 16thcentury, who brought their own grape vines to grow (that’s some Party Planning 101 right there) and so the first propagation of some of Chile’s earliest vineyards began.

What It Tastes Like: Think Alsatian Pinot Noir meets Languedoc Grenache. It’s basically chug-it-out-of-the-bottle light-bodied wine with a strong dose of earth and purple fruit.

2012 Finca Abril, Rapsodia Malbec Reserva

Who: Finca Abril was founded in 1996 with vineyards dating back to 1922

What: 100% old vine Malbec

Where: Mendoza, Argentina

How: 50% of the wine is aged 12 months in oak (French and American) and 50% in stainless steel

Farming method: Organic 

Fun Fact: Malbec from Argentina is plush and rich with black fruit flavors; French Malbec is often leaner, earthier, and more rustic

What It Tastes Like: Notes of dark chocolate, plums, and a boatload of vanilla and spice