Join us Thursday, June 11, from 4–6 PM for a stunning summer wine tasting. This curated lineup showcases exceptional wines from small and distinctive vineyards in California, Oregon, and Italy.
We’ll begin with a refreshing sparkling rosé from Oregon, followed by a Sauvignon Blanc and a Gemina from Sonoma. The tasting then moves into the reds with a flavorful blend from Paso Robles before finishing with an elegant blend from Italy’s renowned Bolgheri region.
As always, the tasting is free, relaxed, and a wonderful way to welcome summer in the harbor. We look forward to seeing you there!
Make a night of it in Sunapee Harbor by using the tasting as a starting point to finish at Wildwood Smokehouse, the Blue Canoe, Fenton’s or Hoptimystic.
Domaine Serene, ‘Evenstad Reserve’ Brut Rosé
The Domaine Serene, ‘Evenstad Reserve’ Brut Rosé M.V. 5 immediately captivates with a cluster of blueberries, cranberries, pomegranate, and hints of green tea and the ocean, creating an intricate profile that intrigues and invites. On the palate, a satiny, refined texture perfectly blends with roundness and notes of lavender, sweet fresh raspberry, and minerality influenced by the ocean, carrying over the complexity from the nose, resulting in an elegant finish. Would pair beautifully with dishes such as oysters.
Technical Details
Varietal – Sparkling Wine
Varietal – 64% Pinot Noir, 24% Chardonnay, 12% Brut Reserve
Appellation – Dundee Hills
Disgorging – 8/23/23
Barrel Aging – 8 months
Alcohol – 12.2%
Massican Gemina
Greco 50%, Falanghina 34%, Fiano 16%. Gemina is the name of an ancient Roman grape planted in the region around the Massican hills of southern Italy. This grape variety originates from Greece, dating back to the first century when it was first called Aminea Gemina. Today, we know this grape variety as Greco. Gemina is a unique white wine blend combining grapes originally from southern Italy and now grown in California. This blend balances our winery’s familial history in southern Italy with our passion for fresh coastal white wines of the Mediterranean.
Smells Like – Refreshing ocean spray, verbena, and ginger
Tastes Like – Lemon, lime, and nectarine
Production – 1,720 cases
Alcohol – 12%
The 2024 Gemina is a blend of Falanghina, Greco and Fiano. Bright and vibrant in the glass, the Gemina is laced with citrus peel, marzipan, white flowers and slate. I especially admire the wine’s freshness and verve. Bright saline notes extend the effortless finish. This opens beautifully on the back end.
93 PTS – Antonio Galloni, Vinous, 2024 Vintage
Massican Sauvignon Blanc
Inspired by the Sauvignon wines of northern Italy, our Sauvignon Blanc pays homage to the tart, delicious, everyday-drinking wines of the Friuli region. While it is difficult to recreate these specific Italian wines anywhere else in the world, we believe our Sauvignon Blanc is a California interpretation of these delicious Italian white wines. The grapes for this wine are farmed at distinct vineyards in Napa, Sonoma, and Clarksburg, where temperatures are warmest during the day and coolest at night. These weather conditions help us produce a wine of intensity and freshness, and as such, we tip-our-Sauvignon-hat to our fellow winemakers in northeast Italy.
Smells Like – Lime zest, green tea, and cut grass
Tastes Like – Yuzu, ginger, and lemongrass
Production – 6,304 cases
Alcohol – 12.5%
Mouthwatering and intense, there’s plenty to admire in this mix of lemon sherbet, tangerine, dried mango and candied ginger. Details of lemon verbena, lime zest, kumquat and toasted green tea linger on the long, expressive finish.
93 PTS – Wine Spectator, 2024 Vintage
Denner Ditch Digger
29% Mourvèdre, 28% Grenache, 23% Syrah, 6% Graciano, 5% Garnacha, 3% Carignan, 3% Cinsault, 3% Counoise
Tasting Notes: Muddled wild strawberries and mulberries are juxtaposed against citronella and garigue. Anise seed, petrichor and red plum notes fill out this massively complex wine. The earthy, savory nature of the blend keeps the open generous textures in check as the finish sails on and on in perfect harmony. – Jeb Dunnuck: 97
WINE SPECS
Vintage – 2022
Varietal – 9% Mourvèdre, 28% Grenache, 23% Syrah, 6% Graciano, 5% Garnacha, 3% Carignan, 3% Cinsault, 3% Counoise
Appellation – Paso Robles
Acid – 5.9 g/l
pH – 3.7
Bottling Date – 05/07/24
Alcohol % – 14.6
Cooperage & Elevage – Aged for 20 months in 87% used 500L and 600L barrels, and 13% concrete tank.
Fermentation – 5-day cold soak with twice daily pump-overs. 10-day maceration with a mix of delestages and pump-overs for cap management. Fermented with 37% whole clusters.
Case Production – 1700
Vineyard Notes – 95% Estate – 64% Willow Creek, 31% Adelaida, 5% Central Coast.
Il Seggio Bolgheri Rosso Doc
The Seggio river is the largest watercourse in the municipality of Castagneto Carducci. Its source is up in the metalliferous hills of Sassetta, an area that was already well known in the Etruscan period, which is extremely rich in underground deposits of ferrous minerals. It cuts across the entire area of Bolgheri and its alluvial debris enriches the characteristic clay soils with precious large pebbles, thus ensuring excellent drainage of the soil.
This Bolgheri Rosso is produced with typical grape varieties, carefully harvested and vinified to ensure density and concentration but also to create a very fresh and easy-drinking style of wine.
Each varietal and each parcel is harvested at different times and vinified separately with traditional methods in steel vats, with careful management of maceration. Ageing then proceeds for 15 months in French oak barriques (30% new, 70% second-use), and for at least 6 months in the bottle.
Intense ruby red in colour. The nose exhibits lovely fresh, crunchy fruit, enriched with mineral and spicy notes. The palate is medium bodied with hints of red berries. The elegant, silky tannins are wholly enveloping and velvety-soft. The finish is pristine, clean, and vivacious.
Due to the bold characteristics of Il Seggio and its ability to embody and enhance the fresh Mediterranean profile of Bolgheri’s terroir, it pairs effortlessly with a wide range of dishes such as grilled meats – especially Chianina beef – spit-roasts, ossobuco, charcuterie of wild boar, medium-matured and fully-matured pecorino cheese, and smoked ricotta. It is enhanced with pasta prepared with white meat ragout, pappardelle with hare, and creamed pumpkin risotto. It is great, if you dare – but served at a slightly lower temperature – with Livorno-style mullet, creamed baccalà and hearty fish soups. Serve at 16-18°C and uncork an hour before drinking.
40% Merlot 30% Cabernet Sauvignon 20% Cabernet Franc 10% Petit Verdot