Around the World in a Glass: Labor Day Wine Picks

A textbook example of Vinho Verde at its best: energetic citrus and pear with a touch of residual sugar balanced by acidity and only 9.5% alcohol for the mindful drinker.

• A blend of 35% Loureiro (whose inviting, aromatic character dominates the blend), 35% Arinto, and 30% Trajadura •
• This is a textbook example of the style that has brought Vinho Verde to prominence: a kiss of residual sugar to balance out the crisp, Atlantic acidity, all enveloped in a comforting embrace of creamy petillance. 

Quinta da Lixa, owned by the Meireles family since the mid-1980s, started as a local favorite for its beloved “Lixa wine.” In the 1990’s, the family expanded their estate vineyards and built a new winery, transitioning to estate bottling. Today, under the expertise of renowned oenologist Carlos Teixeira, the winery produces exceptional Vinhos Verdes known for their quality and affordability.

The 2023 Gomes Vineyard Sparkling Albariño is a light and fresh sparkling wine with notes of gooseberry, kumquat, and stone fruit blossoms. It is a fantastic aperitif wine and is guaranteed to pair so many favorite recipes including grilled octopus!

• 100% Albariño
• Sourced from the Gomes Vineyard
• Whole cluster pressed and settled for 2 days
• Fermented in tank with native yeast for 3 weeks
• No malolactic fermentation
• Secondary fermentation in bottle for 2 months
• Disgorged and topped with light dosage and crown cap
• 12% abv

Carboniste, founded by husband-and-wife team Dan and Jacqueline Person, is a modern Californian sparkling wine producer focused on showcasing the vibrant character of California’s fruit. With experience at Schramsberg and Larkmead, Dan, along with Jacqueline, consulted for Naked Wines, crafts sparkling wines like Albariño, Extra Brut Pinot Noir Rosé, and Pét-Nat Pinot Grigio. Rather than following traditional French methods, CARBONISTE adapts its winemaking techniques to highlight the fresh, fruity flavors of each varietal.

La Bernarde sits at the top of Côtes de Provence in a wild forest above Le Luc. The certified organic vines of the estate are anchored to a reddish limestone bedrock in one of the highest and coolest sites in the entire region. Bright and mineral focused, displaying fresh orange, strawberry and floral aromas in the glass. Energetic and precise on the palate, with blood orange, nectarine and lavender notes.

• Certified Organic
• 40% Grenache, 35% Cinsault, 25% Syrah
• High altitude site at 350m that sees snow most winters
• Southeast facing
• Harvest is about 10 days later than the lower lying areas of Côtes de Provence
• Clay and limestone with lots of stones
• Direct press rosé
• Fermented and aged in stainless steel
• La Bernarde and their organically farmed, traditionally made wines are quietly staking their claim as one of the finest in Côtes de Provence
• Bright and minerally focused, displaying fresh orange, strawberry and floral aromas in the glass. Energetic and precise on the palate, offering strawberry, blood orange, nectarine and lavender notes

La Bernarde, located in the picturesque village of Luc in Provence, is a historic winery known for its organically farmed wines that capture the essence of this renowned region. Perched on a limestone hillside at 300 meters above sea level, the estate benefits from a cooler micro-climate, allowing them to produce crisp, mineral-laced rosé, as well as balanced and textured whites and reds. With all vineyards owned and farmed by the La Bernarde team, their wines are authentic expressions of Provence’s unique terroir.

Çalkarası is very suitable for producing high quality rosé wines due to powerful fruit flavors balanced with good acidity. Kept with the skins for an hour and a half, it has a light salmon color. The nose has lovely aromas of wild strawberries and raspberries. The palate is well balanced with good acidity and lush, juicy fruit.

• 100% Çalkarası (pronunciation: Chal-kara-see)
• Sourced from a vineyard located 950 meters above sea level, with an average of 25-year-old vines
• Mix of sand, limestone, and clay
• Fermented in stainless steel tank at 18ºC
• Kept in steel tanks for 3 months on fine lees and stirred weekly to add complexity

Paşaeli is a family-owned Turkish winery founded in 2000 by Seyit Karagözoğlu, a native of İzmir with a deep passion for wine. After years as a wine importer, Seyit recognized the potential of Turkey’s soil and climate for high-quality grape growing and planted indigenous varieties in the Aegean region, alongside Bordeaux varieties near İzmir. Paşaeli produces well-made, balanced wines that offer great value, showcasing the unique terroir and indigenous grapes of Turkey.

Fruity, juicy, and a light touch of tannin for structure. Coming in a liter bottle with a screwcap, this wine is begging to be the life of the party. 

• Variety: Zweigelt
• Region: Wagram
• Vineyard: Schloßberg and Hundsberg
• Soil Type: Loess
• Fermentation & Élevage: Stainless steel

Bernard Ecker farms 20 hectares in the serene Wagram region, known for its deep, mineral-rich loess soils perfect for grüner veltliner. With a family winemaking history spanning 400 years, Bernhard has led the estate since 1998 and chairs the historic Wagramer Selektion winery association. His expertise extends to preserving the rare roter veltliner, producing wines with exceptional clarity and charm through careful vineyard management and a blend of stainless steel and wood aging.

A vibrant and versatile red wine with notes of orange peel, ripe red berries, and a slight hint of earl grey tea. Definitely a crushable crowd-pleaser (hence the liter bottle).

• 70% Bobal, 10% Tempranillo, 20% Macabeo (co-fermented)
• 60+ year-old-vines
• Fermented with native yeasts
• Partially aged in amphora

Kiki & Juan is a vibrant Spanish venture by John “Juan” House of Ovum and Kerin “Kiki” Auth Bembry, whose connection began on a bus in Spain in 2011. Their certified organic wines, offered in playful 1-liter bottles, showcase the unique terroir of Utiel Requena in Valencia with a joyful and expressive character.

A lighter style Arbois with medium tannin and notes of red fruits. The perfect pair for anything coming off the grill, from hamburgers and steaks to grilled vegetables.

• Practicing Organic
• 60% Pinot Noir, 35% Trousseau, 5% Poulsard
• From vines in the communes of Arbois and Montigny
• 280-380m altitude
• Grown on red marl and gravel
• De-stemmed
• Indigenous yeast
• Aged in older foudre

Désiré Rolet founded this family-run winery in the Jura region in 1942, and since 1958, his four children have carried on the legacy, elevating the domaine to prominence with their commitment to quality farming. Now undergoing a full conversion to organic practices, the estate’s steep-sloped vineyards produce mineral-driven wines that reflect the purity and intensity of the Jura’s cool climate.