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“Beyond the Price: The Collector’s Compass in the World of Wine”

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beyond the price

Beyond the Price:

The Collector’s Compass in the World of Wine”

In the world of wine, there are those who drink and there are those who collect. And then, there are those who live for wine—for whom every bottle is a chapter in a story, an investment in tradition, and an extension of their own unmistakable palate.

To you, the true connoisseurs, for whom the term “luxury” is just the starting point, we speak today. We understand that your relationship with wine has been cultivated over the years.

It is not a trend, but a family legacy, a ritual passed down from generation to generation. You have watched iconic bottles opened at celebrations and have invested in promising vintages, trusting your own judgment and the advice of a select circle of advisors. For you, wine is an asset, an object of privilege, and an inexhaustible source of pleasure. However, even for the most seasoned collector, a challenge arises when the routine of familiar places is broken. A business trip to an unknown city, a vacation in an unexplored region. The fear of a wrong choice is not about financial loss, but about the loss of an experience—of not finding that wine that resonates with the history of the place and the quality you demand.

This is where Avinae Wine & Spirits becomes your partner,beyond the price, your compass in the world of wine. We are not simply a store; we are a curatorial house for the world’s most exquisite gems. Just as you meticulously select the pieces for your collection, we select every bottle on our shelves. Each wine has a documented history, a guaranteed provenance, and a value that goes beyond its price.

Our collection is not based on volume, but on exclusivity.

Instead of overwhelming you with options, we offer a selection designed for the most demanding palate. We are proud to be a link in your chain of trust, the place where you can discover your next great investment or that unique bottle that will complete your cellar. We invite you to visit us, not to buy, but to continue your journey. Come and share your passion, challenge us with your questions, and uncover those stories that only a true connoisseur can appreciate. At Avinae, your palate is our guide. Let us be your trusted curator, offering the assurance that every choice will be the right one, and every bottle, a privilege.

 

Nuestra colección no se basa en el volumen, sino en la **exclusividad**. En lugar de abrumarlo con opciones, le ofrecemos una selección pensada para el paladar más exigente, desde clásicos de Burdeos hasta la nueva ola de vinos de la **Sierra de Gredos**. Nos enorgullece ser el eslabón de la cadena de confianza, el lugar donde puede descubrir la próxima gran inversión o esa botella única que completará su bodega.

‘white’ red wine

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I absolutely love the ‘white’ red wine….please can you tell me where I can source this, basically what are your recommendations?

What are the three aromas in the wine?

Thank you so much for your insightful review. We are absolutely thrilled to know you enjoyed the wine, and even more so that your experience led to a new discovery. This is the very heart of our mission at Avinae: to provide a curated journey for the “Sophisticated Explorer”—someone who seeks more than just a drink, but a story, a connection, and a deeper understanding.

Your description, “white red,” is a brilliant way to capture the essence of a truly special category of wine. What you likely encountered was a light-bodied red with a vibrant acidity and fresh, lively fruit notes that make it feel unexpectedly refreshing and versatile, much like a white wine, but with the added complexity and soul of a red. This kind of experience is precisely what we aim for: surprising and delighting a discerning palate that is open to new ideas.

For someone like you, who appreciates these nuances and seeks to expand your horizons, the world of wine is full of hidden treasures. To continue your exploration, we would passionately recommend delving into the realm of low-extraction reds and wines made from grapes like Pinot Noir, Gamay, or Frappato. These aren’t your typical heavy, tannic reds; they are elegant, aromatic, and full of character, offering a completely different perspective on what a red wine can be. They are perfect for a palate that is curious and unafraid to challenge convention.

We invite you to visit our store and let us be your guides. Our staff, whom we see as fellow curators and narrators, can introduce you to our Pinot Noir from the Jura or our Gamay from the Loire. These wines not only share the fresh elegance that captivated you but also carry unique stories about their terroir, the generations who cultivated them, and the specific craftsmanship that makes each bottle a one-of-a-kind experience. We believe that every bottle of wine tells a story, and we are here to help you uncover them, one sip at a time.

We look forward to seeing you soon and continuing this journey of discovery together.

What are the three aromas in the wine?

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Aromas ,wine !!  What are the three aromas in the wine?

¡Qué excelente pregunta nos traes hoy! Es una de las claves para desentrañar los secretos de cada botella, y es algo que exploramos a fondo en nuestras catas en Avinae. Cuando hablamos de los aromas del vino, no nos referimos a solo tres aromas específicos, sino a tres grandes categorías que nos ayudan a entender de dónde vienen esos matices que tanto nos sorprenden.

Imagina a nuestra querida Ana, “La Curiosa del Vino”, en una de nuestras sesiones. Ella llega con ganas de aprender, y le encanta descubrir cómo sus sentidos pueden desvelar la historia de un vino. Así es como le explicamos los “tres aromas”:

 

Las Tres Grandes Familias de Aromas en el Vino:

 

  1. Aromas Primarios (La Esencia de la Uva y el Terruño): Estos son los aromas que provienen directamente de la uva y del lugar donde creció (el terruño). Son la primera capa de la personalidad del vino.
    • Principalmente frutas (fresas, cerezas, manzana verde, cítricos, melocotón), flores (rosa, violeta, jazmín) y a veces notas herbáceas o vegetales (pimiento verde, eucalipto, hierba recién cortada).
    • Ejemplo para Ana: “Cuando hueles ese aroma a fresa fresca en un vino rosado de Mallorca, o esa nota de limón en un Prensal Blanc, ¡eso es un aroma primario! Es la uva hablándote.”
  2. Aromas Secundarios (La Magia de la Fermentación): Estos aromas se desarrollan durante el proceso de fermentación, cuando las levaduras convierten el azúcar en alcohol. Son el resultado de la “cocina” del vino en sus primeras etapas.
    • Notas de panadería (pan tostado, levadura, brioche), lácteos (mantequilla, yogur) o incluso toques de levadura de cerveza. En algunos vinos blancos, como un Chardonnay fermentado en barrica, puedes notar esa rica cremosidad.
    • Ejemplo para Ana: “Si en un vino espumoso sientes ese toque a pan recién horneado o a galleta, ¡eso viene de la fermentación! Es el trabajo de las levaduras dándole una capa extra de sabor.”
  3. Aromas Terciarios (La Evolución y la Crianza): Estos son los aromas que aparecen con el envejecimiento del vino, ya sea en barrica (madera) o en botella. Son los aromas de la madurez, de la transformación.
  4. Un abanico enorme: especias (vainilla, clavo, canela, pimienta), frutos secos (almendra, nuez), notas tostadas o ahumadas (café, chocolate, tabaco, cuero), terrosas (setas, sotobosque) o incluso animales (cuero). En vinos tintos con crianza, o en blancos complejos, estos aromas son los que añaden profundidad y elegancia.
    • Ejemplo para Ana: “Esa nota a vainilla o a coco en un tinto con barrica, o ese aroma a cuero viejo y tabaco en un vino de guarda… ¡esos son aromas terciarios! Nos cuentan la historia de su viaje y su maduración.”

En Avinae Wine & Spirits, no solo te hablamos de estos aromas; te ayudamos a identificarlos, a confiar en tu nariz y a entender cómo se entrelazan para crear la experiencia única de cada vino. Es un viaje sensorial que te permite apreciar cada botella de una manera mucho más profunda.

¡Así que la próxima vez que tengas una copa en la mano, tómate un momento, huele, y deja que el vino te cuente su historia a través de sus aromas!

¡Salud!

Aqui el link a nuestras catas : Mallorca Wine Experience 

El equipo de Avinae Wine & Spirits Palma de Mallorca

Why is there a stigma with people in regards to white versus red wine? Typically white wine is seen as girly and sweet while red wine is refined and cultured. Is that true or no?

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Why is there a stigma with people in regards to white vs red wine?

¡Ah, qué excelente pregunta nos traes hoy! Es una observación muy astuta y, créeme, una que escuchamos a menudo, especialmente en lugares como América. La idea de que el vino blanco es “femenino y dulce” mientras que el tinto es “refinado y culto” es un estigma muy extendido. Pero, ¿es verdad? Como decimos aquí en Mallorca, “Ni de bon tros!” (¡Ni mucho menos!).

Permítanme llevarte en un pequeño viaje, como hacemos en nuestras catas en Avinae, para desentrañar esta percepción.

Imagina a nuestra querida Ana, “La Curiosa del Vino”. Ella llega a Avinae, quizás con esa misma idea preconcebida. Le han dicho que los tintos son para “entendidos” y que los blancos son solo para el verano o para quienes empiezan de nuevo white vs red wine . Pero Ana, como buena curiosa, está abierta a aprender y a confiar en sus propios sentidos, que es precisamente lo que en Avinae el  equipo fomenta.

 

La Verdad Detrás del Velo:

 

  1. La Dulzura es un Espectro, No un Color: La idea de que el vino blanco es siempre dulce es, sencillamente, lejos de la verdad .Piensa en un Sauvignon Blanc fresco y vibrante, con sus notas cítricas y herbáceas, o en un Pinot Grigio seco y mineral. ¡Son vinos secos! La inmensa mayoría de los vinos blancos que se consumen son secos. Sí, existen vinos blancos dulces maravillosos como los Sauternes o los vinos de hielo, pero son una categoría específica, no la norma. De la misma manera, también hay vinos tintos dulces, como los Oportos o algunos vinos de postre. La dulzura no es exclusiva de un color de uva.
  2. Refinamiento y Complejidad: Un Asunto de Elaboración y Terruño: ¿Vino tinto refinado,curado y culto? Por supuesto que sí. Pero, ¿y el blanco? Un Chardonnay envejecido en barrica, con sus capas de vainilla, mantequilla y frutos secos, puede ser tan complejo y profundo como cualquier gran tinto. Piensa en los Grandes Vinos Blancos de Borgoña o en los Rieslings secos y longevos de Alemania, que desarrollan una complejidad asombrosa con los años. Aquí en Mallorca, tenemos variedades blancas autóctonas como el Prensal Blanc o el Giró Ros, que, bien trabajadas, dan vinos blancos con una estructura, una mineralidad y una capacidad de envejecimiento que sorprenderían a cualquiera que solo piense en “vinos blancos ligeros y dulces”. La complejidad y el refinamiento vienen de la uva, el terruño, la añada y el arte del enólogo, no del color de la piel de la uva.
  3. El “Girly” vs. “Cultured”: Un Estereotipo de Género Obsoleto: Esta es la parte más triste del estigma. Asociar un tipo de vino con un género es una simplificación que no tiene cabida en el mundo moderno del vino. La apreciación del vino es profundamente personal. Se trata de lo que a ti te gusta, lo que marida bien con tu comida, lo que tú disfrutas en un momento dado. En Avinae, vemos a todo tipo de personas, con todo tipo de gustos, disfrutando de nuestra selección. Hay hombres que adoran un rosado fresco en verano y mujeres que prefieren un tinto robusto con una buena carne. El “culto” en el vino no es seguir una regla impuesta, sino explorar, aprender y, sobre todo, disfrutar.

 

Nuestra vinosofía white vs red wine en Avinae:

 

En Avinae Wine & Spirits, nuestra misión es precisamente romper con estos estigmas. Queremos que “Ana, la Curiosa del Vino”, y cada uno de nuestros clientes, se sienta libre de explorar el vasto y maravilloso mundo del vino sin prejuicios. Nuestras catas están diseñadas para que confíes en tu propio paladar, para que descubras la diversidad de Mallorca y del mundo, y para que entiendas que cada botella tiene una historia que contar, independientemente de su color.

Así que, la próxima vez que alguien te hable de “vino de chicas” o “vino de hombres”, sonríe y recuérdales que el verdadero refinamiento en el vino reside en la apertura mental, la curiosidad y el placer de descubrir. ¡Y eso, sin duda, es algo que celebramos cada día en Avinae! Unete a Mallorca Wine Experience y descubra mas !!

¡Salud y a seguir explorando sin etiquetas!

Mallorca Wine Experience

El equipo de Avinae Wine & Spirits Palma de Mallorca

 

¿Smager vinen det samme derhjemme eller på ferien?

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wine tasting palma

¡Hola, amantes del vino! Qué excelente pregunta nos traes hoy: “¿Smager vinen det samme derhjemme eller på ferien?” (¿Sabe el vino igual en casa que de vacaciones?). Es una cuestión fascinante que muchos de nosotros, en Avinae Wine & Spirits, nos hemos planteado. Y la respuesta, queridos amigos, es un rotundo y apasionado “¡No, no siempre!” Permítanme contarles por qué. Cuando se trata de disfrutar del vino, la experiencia puede ser aún más mágica durante las wine vacations.

Imaginen esto: están en su hogar, en la rutina diaria. Abren una botella de su vino favorito, quizás un tinto robusto que siempre disfrutan con la cena. Lo sirven en su copa de siempre, en su ambiente familiar. Es bueno, reconfortante, predecible.

Ahora, trasládense con nosotros a la hermosa Palma de Mallorca. El sol acaricia su piel, la brisa marina les trae aromas a sal y jazmín. Están sentados en una terraza con vistas al Mediterráneo, o quizás en una de las encantadoras bodegas locales que tanto nos gusta descubrir en Avinae. Les traen una copa del mismo vino, o quizás uno de esos vinos mallorquines autóctonos que tanto nos apasionan, como un Manto Negro o un Callet. ¿Lo notan? El sabor, la experiencia, es diferente.

En su próxima escapada, no olviden que las wine vacations pueden transformar por completo su manera de degustar y apreciar el vino.

¿Por qué ocurre esto? Aquí entra la magia y la ciencia:

  1. El Entorno y la Atmósfera: En casa, pueden estar distraídos por el trabajo, las tareas, el día a día. De vacaciones, están relajados, abiertos a nuevas sensaciones. El entorno influye enormemente en nuestra percepción. Una vista espectacular, el sonido de las olas, la compañía de seres queridos, todo esto eleva la experiencia sensorial. En Avinae, cuando realizamos nuestras catas, no solo les presentamos el vino; creamos una atmósfera acogedora y personal, donde pueden concentrarse plenamente en lo que ven, huelen y saborean, sin prisas ni distracciones. Es parte de nuestra “Mallorca Wine Experience”.
  2. La Temperatura y la Humedad: Las condiciones climáticas de un lugar pueden afectar sutilmente cómo se percibe el vino. La humedad, la presión atmosférica, e incluso la temperatura ambiente, juegan un papel. En Mallorca, con su clima mediterráneo, los vinos pueden expresarse de una manera particular.
  3. El Estado de Ánimo y las Emociones: Este es, quizás, el factor más poderoso. Cuando estamos de vacaciones, nuestra mente está en un estado de alegría, curiosidad y relajación. Las emociones positivas actúan como un potenciador de los sentidos. Un vino que en casa nos parece “bueno”, de vacaciones puede ser “extraordinario” porque lo asociamos con momentos de felicidad y descubrimiento.
  4. La Compañía y la Comida: ¿Están maridando el vino con un plato local fresco, recién preparado, o con quesos mallorquines que realzan sus notas? Las combinaciones de comida, como las que les ofrecemos en nuestras catas en Avinae, pueden transformar completamente la percepción de un vino. Además, compartir una botella con amigos o familiares en un ambiente festivo siempre hace que el vino sepa mejor.

Nuestra historia en Avinae Wine & Spirits está llena de estos momentos. Hemos visto a innumerables “Anas, las Curiosas del Vino” (nuestro cliente ideal), llegar a nuestra tienda en Carrer dels Llums, 3, en Palma, buscando no solo una botella, sino una experiencia. Y es en nuestras catas, donde Atanas y el equipo comparten su pasión y conocimiento, que descubren cómo el vino cobra vida de una manera única. No es solo el líquido en la copa, es la historia detrás de la bodega, la tierra de Mallorca, la compañía, y la emoción del momento.

Así que, la próxima vez que abran una botella, ya sea en casa o de vacaciones, recuerden que el vino es un reflejo de su entorno y de su estado de ánimo. Y si quieren experimentar cómo un vino puede saber verdaderamente “diferente” y memorable, les invitamos a visitarnos en Avinae Wine & Spirits. Aquí, cada copa es una historia, y cada historia, una experiencia inolvidable.

¡Salud y hasta la próxima aventura enológica!

El equipo de Avinae Wine & Spirits Palma de Mallorca

What are the elements of luxury wines ?

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luxury wines intended What are the elements of luxury wines ?

The factors contributing to the exceptional quality of luxury wines include:

  • Terroir: Unique and ideal regions with specific soil composition, climate, and natural conditions that impart distinctive flavors, aromas, and textures.
  • Grape Quality: Use of the finest quality grapes, often from older vines, resulting in lower yields but more concentrated fruit.
  • Expert Craftsmanship/Winemaking: Meticulous and passionate management of every stage from vineyard care to fermentation and aging by highly skilled winemakers, leading to unique character and qualities.
  • Balance: Perfect equilibrium among the wine’s components: fruit, acidity, tannins, and alcohol, ensuring no single element overpowers the others.
  • Aromatic Complexity: Multiple layers of aromas (floral, mineral, fruity, earthy, spice) that significantly enhance the tasting experience.
  • Length (Persistent Finish): Flavors and nuances that linger long after consumption, indicating high quality.
  • Aging Potential: The ability to age gracefully over many years, allowing abrasive tannins and acidity to soften and more complex flavors to develop.

Luxury wines are distinguished by a combination of intrinsic qualities and extrinsic factors that contribute to their prestige, desirability, and high price point.1 Here are the key elements:

 

  1. Exceptional Quality (Intrinsic Factors):
  • Terroir: Luxury wines originate from exclusive, ideal terroirs – regions with unique soil composition, climate (sunshine and cool breezes), and natural conditions that are perfect for grapevine growth.2 This “sense of place” is crucial, imparting distinctive flavors, aromas, and textures.3

  • Grape Quality: Only the finest quality grapes are used, often from older vines that produce lower yields but more concentrated, intense fruit.
  • Expert Craftsmanship/Winemaking: Passionate and highly skilled winemakers meticulously manage every stage, from vineyard care to fermentation and aging.4 This hands-on approach, precision, and attention to detail result in a wine with unique character and qualities.

  • Balance: A hallmark of high-quality wine is perfect balance among its components: fruit, acidity, tannins, and alcohol.5 No single element should overpower the others.

  • Aromatic Complexity: Luxury wines offer multiple layers of aromas – floral, mineral, fruity, earthy, spice, etc.6 The interplay of these aromas significantly enhances the tasting experience.

  • Length (Persistent Finish): The flavors and nuances of a luxury wine linger long after it’s been swallowed, often for 20 seconds or more.7 This persistence is a strong indicator of quality.

  • Aging Potential: Many luxury wines are designed to age gracefully over many years, even decades. This maturation allows the abrasive tannins and acidity to soften, developing more complex and nuanced flavors.8

  1. Scarcity and Exclusivity (Extrinsic Factors):
  • Limited Production: Luxury wines are typically produced in small batches or from low-yield vineyards, making them inherently rare.9 This scarcity drives demand and exclusivity.10

  • Allocation/Access: Due to their limited quantities, these wines are often sold through mailing lists, exclusive clubs, auctions, or invitation-only events, making them hard to obtain for the general public.11 This “chase” adds to their appeal.

  • High Price: The elevated price tag is a direct reflection of the quality, rarity, and demand.12 While price alone doesn’t define luxury, it’s a significant indicator.

  • Brand Reputation and Heritage: Luxury wines often come from renowned wineries with a long history, tradition, and consistent track record of producing exceptional wines.13 This heritage adds to their allure and trustworthiness.

  1. Perception and Experience (Consumer-Centric Factors):
  • Status and Privilege: Owning and sharing luxury wine provides a sense of status, privilege, and accomplishment for the consumer. It’s a statement piece.
  • Storytelling: A compelling and authentic story behind the wine – its origin, the winemaker’s philosophy, the unique characteristics of the vintage – enhances its appeal and connects with consumers on an emotional level.14

  • Aesthetics: The packaging, including the bottle design, label, and presentation case, often exudes elegance, opulence, and uniqueness. It contributes to the overall perception of luxury.
  • Immersive Experience: Luxury wine often goes hand-in-hand with curated wine tasting events, access to wine experts (sommeliers), and other experiences that deepen appreciation and understanding.15

  • Collectibility: Many luxury wines are considered collector’s items, sought after by wine lovers and aficionados worldwide.16

In essence, a luxury wine is more than just an expensive bottle; it’s a culmination of superior viticulture and winemaking, rare availability, a rich history, and a captivating narrative that culminates in an unparalleled sensory experience and a powerful symbol of status and enjoyment.

A Bubbly Personality

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A Bubbly Personality

A Bubbly Personality

Bienvenido, a nuestro blog de vino. Soy Daniel Harringon sumiller en Avinae Wine & Spirits . Con el tiempo, gracias a lectores como tú, éste espacio se ha convertido en uno de los blogs de vino más leídos en ingles. Gracias por estar a ese lado de la pantalla. Te animo a que pases al nuestro colaborando con tus comentarios y preguntando lo que te interese. Nunca hemos tenido la pretensión de entrar en ránkings de los mejores blogs de vino de España. Ni cosas por el estilo. Desde que empezamos con Avinae Wine & Spirits ,Mallorca Wine Experience y ahora con Vinos de Mallorca siempre hemos querido dotar a nuestra web de contenido de calidad. Nos inspiramos en algunas webs inglesas que nos parecieron interesantes. La idea es que los miembros de nuestro club de vinos tuvieran en este espacio un rincón donde poder encontrar información útil. Vídeos sobre catas de vino, algunos consejos para aprender de vino, curiosidades sobre le mundo del vino, recomendaciones de vinos y de winebars en los que hemos estado (y nos han gustado), ideas para hacer enoturismo,  etc. Hay posts que incluyen vídeos y hay otras entradas con sólo texto.

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A Bubbly Personality!! The sparkling wine, the cheeky glass of bubbles, the fancy stuff, the drink to toast with…Regarded in many countries as a symbol of elegance, wealth and prestige, Champagne has many, many fans worldwide. As do its sister and cousin wines like Cava, Crèmant, Prosecco, Franciacorta, Cap Classique, Sekt  and a wealth of others.

CHAMPAGNE:

all Great the King!! Quite possibly the single most famous sparkling wine in the world, this beverage has garnered a cultural status far beyond its volatile origins (first examples of Champagne were known as The Devils wine because they would spontaneously explode due to poor quality bottles). Champagne is made from the three noble grapes of Champagne; Chardonnay, Pinot Noir and Pinot Meunier but they can also include (rarely) small percentages of Pinot Blanc, Pinot Gris/Fromenteau, Arbane and Petit Meslier. Some producers prefer Chardonnay dominant styles; Léclapart, Guy Charlemagne, Jaques Selosse etc. Others prefer Pinot Noir dominant styles; Bollinger, Paul Bara, Nicolas Maillart etc. But there are also wealth of famous producers who simply keep to balanced blends depending on the year’s crop.

CAVA:

Unlike the old King Champagne, Cava is more the young smoldering Prince, having received its official D.O status in 1972, this sparkling wine see´s two thirds of its aprox 250 million bottles exported from Spain and sold all over the world. Cava is made in the same method as Champagne (called méthode traditionnelle in Europe and méthode champenoise in the region of Champagne) which is a high marker for quality as it is labour intensive and yet Cava tends to be a lot cheaper than Champagne. The difference lies in the grapes used and the environment/climate the grapes are grown in! Cava is made from the Xarel-lo, Macabeu and parellada grape varieties and are the main and most commonly used in Cava. Other grapes that can be used are Chardonnay and Malvasia. Josep Raventos travelled through Europe in the 1860s to promote the still wines of the Codorniu estate and during his travels he passed through Champagne, which inspired him to apply what he learnt there and by 1872, he had made his first sparkling wine!

PROSECCO:

Prosecco is both a town and the name of one of the world’s most popular selling sparkling wines, due to its accessibility and price. The vineyards in the region it is made date back a couple of thousand years and have prominence due to the history involving the Romans. It wasn’t until the beginning of the 16th century that the wine “Ribolla” was promoted to “Castellum Nobile Vinum Pucinum” after the castle that was near?…..That´s right, you guessed it, the village of Prosecco! In 1593 an Englishman by the name Fynes Moryson, noted that the wine Pucinum was now known as “Prosecho” and regarded it one of the finest wines in all of Italy. The grape used in its production is now called Glera, but was originally known as the Prosecco grape and in order for it to be considered Prosecco it must be a minimum of 85% Glera and 15% other permitted grapes (Pinot Bianco, Chardonnay, Pinot Grigio, Bianchetta Trevigiana). This sparkling wine however is not made using Methode Traditionnelle, the Italians use the Charmat-Martinotti method in which the secondary fermentation happens in vats and not in bottles, which makes the process faster and cheaper. So there you have it, a bite-sized guide to the 3 most “important” Sparkling wines in the world. I should probably write a second one of these as there are still many other bubbly gems to talk about……so see you in the next one dear reader. A Bubbly personality!! And we are back with a second part to this breakdown of the world’s beloved bubbly wines. Last time we addressed the most recognized ones, but that doesn’t mean, by any means, that the ones I will talk about here are inferior in any capacity

CRÉMANT

Just because Champagne is Champagne doesn’t mean that the rest of Frances famous wine regions don´t bring their A game to the sparkling wine table!! With Crémant it does get a little complicated though as many wine regions produce it and each with their own guidelines/grape varieties/ quality standards. The Crémant producing regions are as follows; Loire, Bourgogne, Limoux, Alsace, Bordeaux, Jura and Savoie! These regions use anything from Chenin Blanc, Cabernet Franc, Mauzac, Chardonnay, Pinot Noir, Pinot Gris, Riesling, Grolleau, Orbois to name a few Crémant from Bourgogne is made from Chardonnay/ Pinot Noir and is comparable to Champagne wines but with a finer mousse and a much lower price point. Crémant from Loire has a wonderful freshness to it due to the predominance of Chenin Blanc, making it perfect for fondue or fish and chips or anything nice and fatty.

FRANCIACORTA

If ever a wine could call itself elite, it would be Franciacorta. Born in the Province of Brescia, in the heart of Lombardia, this wine is made and aged in a similar way to champagne. The grapes used are Chardonnay, Pinot Noir and Pinot Blanc (Pinot Blanc being the stand-in for Pinot Meunier on the French side) and is considered equal to Champagne. Why then, is it not as international or easily found? That’s where the elite part comes in! only 10% of Franciacorta is allowed to be exported, the rest must be kept in Italy by order of a controlling organization called: Consorzio per la Tutela del Franciacorta. They are the same ones that decree that the name “Franciacorta” must never be modified or have anything added to it, when presented on a label. As a style it is comparable to Brut/ Extra Brut as it contains less sugar than your average Champers (around 5 to 7 grams per liter for Franciacorta). It is said the wine was made systematically as of the XIX century and is thanks to the efforts of Guido Berlucchi di Borgonatto whose early experiments gave birth to the concept that would become Franciacorta. In 1967 the first 1500 bottles were produced  and as a result it gained its first DOC, later in 1995 It evolved to DOCG status.

CAP CLASSIQUE

If you are a lover of sparkling wine, then you must add Cap Classique to your list!! Produced in South Africa, this delicious sparkling wine, created by Frans Malan using Méthode Cap Classique (MCC), a technique he developed after visiting Champagne (Essentially Méthode Champenoise). The wines early years reflected Stellenbosch and its character with a focus on the Chenin Blanc grape, as well as Pinot Noir and Pinotage. But nowadays most opt for traditional Champagne grapes in the form of Chardonnay, Pinot Noir, Pinot Meunier and Pinot Blanc. The name Cap Classique comes as homage to the Capes vineyards.

The Roman Vintage!

The year was 200 BC and the Roman legion gets given the best encouragement you can give a man in a leather skirt! That all Legionnaires are to drink 2 – 3 liters of wine a day for better health! Skip forward a few years (about 80 more or less) and Rome is in full swing with its wine culture, having carved a way through Europe and establishing Vineyards in every viable area and having destroyed Carthage 20 years prior and in the process burning the libraries of Carthage (But not before ransacking any and all books of interest, including all 26 volumes of Magos Agricultural treatise which contained winemaking techniques far more advanced than what the Romans had), the Romans finally started producing wines on par with the vastly superior Greek wines of the time and in the year 121 BC the vintage was so abundant and such high quality that it was named…….”OPIMIUM VINTAGE” named after Consul Lucius Opimius. Some of the wines from this special vintage were sealed inside large amphora’s and drunk over a century later (probably way past its prime). A Bubbly Personality The most coveted of the wines to come out of this period and more specifically, out of this magical vintage, was Falernian wine. Falernian wine, grown near present day Napoli on the slopes of Monte Massico was a white wine aged for years in large clay amphorae. In some instances it was aged for decades and there is record of a 160 year old Falernian wine being served to the Roman Emperor in fine crystal goblets, the colour, rich golden amber. Varro once wrote that Falernian wine increases in value with age. So highly regarded was this wine that it became one of the first wines exported to Britain (whilst still under Roman rule).

Excuse me Garçon!!!

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Bienvenido, a nuestro blog de vino. Soy Daniel Harringon sumiller en Avinae Wine & Spirits . Con el tiempo, gracias a lectores como tú, éste espacio se ha convertido en uno de los blogs de vino más leídos en ingles. Gracias por estar a ese lado de la pantalla. Te animo a que pases al nuestro colaborando con tus comentarios y preguntando lo que te interese.

Nunca hemos tenido la pretensión de entrar en ránkings de los mejores blogs de vino de España. Ni cosas por el estilo. Desde que empezamos con Avinae Wine & Spirits ,Mallorca Wine Experience y ahora con Vinos de Mallorca siempre hemos querido dotar a nuestra web de contenido de calidad. Nos inspiramos en algunas webs inglesas que nos parecieron interesantes. La idea es que los miembros de nuestro club de vinos tuvieran en este espacio un rincón donde poder encontrar información útil. Vídeos sobre catas de vino, algunos consejos para aprender de vino, curiosidades sobre le mundo del vino, recomendaciones de vinos y de winebars en los que hemos estado (y nos han gustado), ideas para hacer enoturismo,  etc. Hay posts que incluyen vídeos y hay otras entradas con sólo texto.

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Wine For Thought:  Excuse me Garçon!!!

For a lot of people ordering wine in a bar or restaurant can be almost a nerve-wracking experience, and by default we end up ordering either the safe choice …..The NZ Sauvignon or the Argentinean Malbec , or we try and look savvy and order the second cheapest wine on the list, hoping to not look cheap.    Wine For Thought:  Excuse me Garçon!!!

Let’s see if we can’t make the situation more approachable and relaxing shall we?

First things first, don’t expect diamonds from walnuts, as my imaginary great grandfather never said. Be realistic with your chosen drinking venue; don’t ask for Puligny-Montrachet in your local pub and don’t look for Blossom Hill White Zinfandel in the fancy French Bistro. And always be aware of your budget in both scenarios.        Wine For Thought:  Excuse me Garçon!!!

When at a Pub or Bar it is apt to drink the wine you most enjoy at a certain price point because it is not often a question of pairing with a fine meal or impressing anyone (To be honest it should never be about impressing someone), and more so about enjoying a few glasses for whatever reason took you there, without putting emphasis on the “What” is being drunk. This being said, unless you recognize what wines they are… avoid a dive bars house wine, that’s just a big no.

When dining in a place of well earned repute, budget for the occasion. Don’t let 20 or 30 £/ € more for the perfect bottle of wine, stop you from truly enjoying the whole experience and unlike in the more casual domain of the Pub/Bar, try and avoid going for the comfort wine. Instead try asking for a recommendation to the wait staff, or better yet, to the Sommelier if there is one on hand. Explain to them your budget, you likes and dislikes and have them explain to you why they chose the wine they did. Anyone who has studied wine, loves the opportunity to put said studies in to practices and to share their passion with the customer.                              Wine For Thought:  Excuse me Garçon!!!

Remember that you go to a nice restaurant rarely (at least the majority of us mortals do), so make sure you are in a place in your month, week or even your day to just enjoy the experience.

Wine For Thought:  Excuse me Garçon!!!

Cheers M´Dears

Find more on our Wine Tasting  or sing up 

A strange pair!!

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Wine For Thought: A quick history lesson!!

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