November 2nd, 2023
- South American Wine -
South America is an entire continent. A land full of many climates — from tropical to cold. You can find wines grown in Peru, Brazil and Uruguay, but today we will be focusing on the two countries that produce over 80% of South American wine: Chile and Argentina. Despite their close proximity, these two countries have very different terroirs and you will see that influence in the varietals and styles produced in each nation. If you think South America is just an affordable place to find big oaky red wines, you'll be surprised by the range of styles waiting to be explored!
FREE Pop-Up
Tequila & Mezcal Tasting
Tonight!!! Thursday, 11/02/23, 5 - 8 p.m.
Learn about agave based spirits from Mexico from one of our favorite aficionados. Join Nate, of Maverick, today for a free Tequila & Mezcal tasting!
Next weeks FREE Pop-Up
Whiskey and Spirits
(Thursday, 11/09/23, 5 - 8 p.m.)
Jon with Libation Project Nov 7th we will feature Jon from Libation with a whiskey line up and other specialities!!
International Sherry Week!!!
(Next week, November 6th - 12th)
FREE Sherry Tasting Table
(Thursday, 11/09/23, 4 - 7 p.m.)
Join Pat Sharp of Bourget Imports to taste the historic Sherries of Valdespino! This historic bodega dates back to the year 1264, and is the only house today that still ferments their wines in casks. Valdespino also uses twice as many solera scales than your average producer, and is the only bodegas to exclusively produce single vineyard sherries. Valdespino is a shining example of terroir, with high altitude vineyards of albariza soils and only native yeast fermentation.
Save The Date

Mark your calendars, because we're hosting a Champagne Event on December 14th with Laurent Perrier!

More details to come.
- South American Wine 101 -
South American Sparkling
Cheers to the great wines of South America! We love to see Sparkling Argentinean wine make a splash in the North Loop, and you can find the Alma 4 Blanc de Blanc poured at Porzana! Or enjoy this delicious traditional method wine made of 100% Chardonnay, with 30 months lees aging, in lieu of Champagne. The Alma 4 is elegant with toasty notes of lemon peel and white flowers — keep this sparkling wine in mind for the upcoming Holiday Season. The Alma Negra Brut Nature Rose is a beautiful dry sparkling wine, bursting with aromatics of rose petals, red berries and brioche. This sparkling rosé is the perfect way to enjoy Malbec, for those of you who do not enjoy drinking bold red wines.
Chilean Whites
There are so many delicious white wines produced in the cool, coastal country of Chile. Perhaps the light, crisp, and slightly vegetal Sauvignon Blancs are most recognizable, such as the Prisma Sauvignon Blanc. If you're feeling like an adventure, we love exploring the still white wines made from Pedro Ximenez — most commonly assocoiated with the Spanish dessert wine. We love the Mayu Pedro Ximenez which is a single vineyard, old vine, dry expression grown in one of Chile's highest elevation vineyards. A staff favorite is the No Es Pituko Chardonnay, a sulfite-free natural wine from the CuricĂł Valley. This unfiltered Chardonnay is creamy with notes of banana, apple, and toasted brioche.
Chilean Chillable Reds
To all you "glou glou" drinkers out there — don't overlook the juicy, low tannin red wines being made in Chile. The Weon Carignan is an organic wine made from 70 year old vines grown on granitic soils; it's juicy but with a distinct stoniness. The Mariposa Pais is a perfect detour for Gamay drinkers looking for bright red fruit. Rogue Vine Grand Itata Tinto is an organic Cinsault with uplifting acidity and notes of red berries and rose petal. The No Es Pituko Cabernet Franc is fresh and silky, featuring florality and black cherry.
Chilean Lighter Bodied Reds
There are so many amazing varieties to explore in Chile. The De Martino 'Vigno' Carignan is made from a 4.5 hectare vineyard planted back in 1955, creating a complex and structured wine. Vuelta E Mano Garnacha spends 12 months in French oak, resulting in a biodynamic wine with plummy acidity, backed by salt and smoke. Catalina Ugarte Pais is a new addition to the shop that we adore. This Pais comes from vineyards that are over 100 years old — a cerebral experience. Aromas of wildflowers, an herb garden, and red raspberries punctuate the velvety body of this wine. The Macatho Caña Dulce Cinsault is a low-intervention, biodynamically farmed, natural wine. This Cinsault is medium bodied with notes of cherry blossom, plum compote, and strawberry.
Bold Chilean Reds
As you move inland from the coast of Chile, you enter the warmer sun soaked regions perfect for ripening thicker skinned grapes. The Pérez Cruz Cabernet Franc is elegant yet peppery and spicy. This wine spends 14 months in French oak, and has a beautiful structure. The Viña Marty Pacha Carmenere Reserva is a classic expression of this Chilean specialty. Pacha is full bodied, with great structure and silky tannins, peppery and black fruited. The Clos de Luz Cabernet Sauvignon is grown in selection massale planted vineyards. It's a perfect chocolate-covered-cherry Cabernet, with an iconic South American dose of pyrazines (greeness).
Argentinian Whites
When it comes to Argentina, there are two benchmark producers we recommend any newcomer explore: Zuccardi and Catena. In terms of Malbec, the Zuccardi is purple in the glass with notes of black fruits, violet and granite. The Catena Malbec is more ruby in the glass, with notes of red plum, oaky vanilla, and tobacco. They both make a sweeping collection of wines, both white and red. The two most notable white grape varietals of Argentina are Torrontes and Chardonnay. Torrontes is an aromatic, dry white wine with notes of rose, geranium, peach and lemon zest. Pair this floral wine with heavily spiced foods such as curries! When it comes to Chardonnay, expect to find riper oaky styles. A great alternative to Californian or Australian Chardonnay!
Argentinian Lighter Bodied Reds
While Argentina is best known for their Malbecs, there are brighter styles of red wine to enjoy as well. Viñedos Nicolas Catena Vino Natural Ancestral is made from indigenous Criolla fermented in amphora. This sulfite-free, lighter red has bright pomegranate and dried flower notes, with a mineral finish. Grown between 3,675 to 4,921 feet of elevation, Domaine Nico Pinot Noir is the world's first extreme high-altitude parcela Pinot Noir. Expect red berries with a spicy character of cinnamon and black pepper. The Escala Humana Livvera Bequignol is made from 100% single vineyard Bequignol grown in the Uco Valley. This is a great alternative to Gamay or Trosseu, with low tannins and cinnamon dusted cranberry profile. This is a rare grape to find, and we highly suggest seizing the opportunity!
Argentinian Bold Reds
French varietals that thrive in Argentina include more than just Malbec. Bordeaux grapes Cabernet Sauvignon and Cabernet Franc do well in Argentina, as does Bonarda — believed to have originated in the Savoie region. We love the Antucura Cabernet Sauvignon with notes of fennel, herbs, plum and black currant. The Colonia Las Liebres Bonarda is an organic red with bright juicy fruit balanced by earthy herbal notes. Fabre Montmayou Reserva Cabernet Franc is made by Hervé Joyaux Fabre, who was raised in Bordeaux in a family of wine negociants. His vision was of old vine, high elevation, wines made traditionally but without the use of herbacides. This Cab Franc shows juicy red and black fruits with a dash of mint.
Argentinian Malbec
Mendoza produces 85% of the Malbec produced in Argentina, and Malbec accounts for about half of the countries total wine production. There are dozens of delicious Malbec's to try on our shelves, but here are a few favorites to get you started. Familia Furlotti Malbec is a 3rd generation wine with punchy dark fruits and a silky texture. Mendel Malbec is a full-bodied wine with aromas of espresso and sweet French Oak, with dense flavors of plum, roasted herbs and mint. Catena La Consulta Malbec is a rich, well-structured Malbec with notes of spice, mocha, and raspberries. The Susana Balbo Crios Malbec is a fruity style with soft tannins, refreshing acidity, and a subtle influence of oak.
Friday Tasting Table
Friday, 11/03/23, 4 - 8 p.m.
Join Michael of Mezzogiorno Wines for a FREE wine tasting this Friday!
Get 10% off any bottle of wine from the tasting table.
Cocktail of the Week: The Lion's Tail
The Lion's Tail first appeared in “The Café Royal Cocktail Book” published in 1937. Allspice dram was unavailable in the United States beginning in the 1980’s, until St.Elizabeth showed up stateside in 2008. With the current Bourbon boom and the return of Allspice Dram, you can make a cocktail perfect for both fans of daiquiri’s and Whiskey sours alike! Give the Lion's Tail a try!
Ingredients:
2oz Bourbon
.5oz Allspice Dram
.5oz Lime Juice, freshly squeezed
1 tsp Simple Syrup
2 dashes Angostura Bitters
Garnish: Orange Twist

Instructions:
Add the bourbon, allspice dram, lime juice, simple syrup and bitters into a shaker with ice and shake until well-chilled. Strain into a coupe or cocktail glass. Lightly express the oil from an orange twist over the top of the drink, and discard the twist.
Cheers,
Elijah
Staff Picks - What to Drink this Week
Try these special, staff-selected libations!

2021 Catalina Ugarte Pais Secano Interior Ranquil - $28.99
New to the shop, Catalina Ugarte is a young winemaker working with tiny local growers in the Secano Interior region of the Itata Valley. Trained in Italy, Spain, and her native Chile, her focus is on the uniquely Chilean viticultural heritage that is the PaĂ­s grape, and the ancient vines that dot the Itata valley. The grapes come from from heirloom vineyards of 100+ years of age around the village of RanquĂ­l, located inland from the Pacific coast in southern Chile. Her Pais is floral and velvety with soft tannins and notes of sage, fruit leather and rosewater, a perfect companion to roasted turkey and stuffing! rcing grapes from heirloom vineyards of 100+ years of age around the village of RanquĂ­l, located inland from the Pacific coast in southern Chile.
-Angie

2019 Zantho, St. Laurent, Burgenland Austria - $15.99
The wines of Zantho are the result of a very happy cooperation between Josef Umathum and Wolfgang Peck. The grapes come from Umathum's famed vineyards and the wine making magic happens at Peck's Winzerkeller Andau co-op in the Burgenland, near to the Hungarian border. They work with only Austrian grape varietals. While St. Laurent is certainly Austrian (as well as grown heavily in the Czech Republic), the origin of the grape is shrouded in mystery. It is believed to be the offspring of Pinot Noir and a mysterious second parent. Whatever it's cloaked origins are, this St. Laurent (in the hands of Umathum and Peck) is a winner. Intoxicating aromas of smoky blackberry and cherry draw you into a palate of black berries and chocolate caressed by light and smooth tannins with good retention of acidity to lift it all to a satisfying lightly spiced dry finish. And it comes in at a very reasonable price, too. Try this wine with duck confit and wild mushroom risotto!
-Patrick

2021 Commanderie de la Bargemone Blanc - $24.99
Everyone knows the classic Provencal rose from Bargemone, but did you know they make a delicious white of equal caliber? Provencal whites are not the hottest selling category in this market, however the consumer should not overlook them due to their versatility with fish dishes and their heavier body for the heavier season. The cepage for this wine is equal parts Vermentino and Sauvignon Blanc with no use of oak, which maintains nice freshness in the wine. The nose offers aromas of lemon oil and sage and the medium bodied palate delivers nice mineral and salinity with notes of tropical fruit. This wine would be great with linguine with clam sauce but should be a rock star with your general seafood pairing needs. 
-Rob

Frascole Chianti Rufina- $21.99
As the weather begins to chill it is only natural to look towards the sun soaked vineyards of Tuscany for comfort. The Lippi and Santoni families have been working together on the Frascole estate to produce wines and oils since 1992 and they emphasize the importance of respecting the land by working carefully by hand on their vines. This wine is predominantly Sangiovese with small amounts of Canaiolo and Colorino; this expression of Sangiovese is incredibly approachable due to growing at a higher elevation that encourages a longer ripening time for the grapes. There is a strong tannic structure accompanied by herbal and cherry notes with well balanced acidity. This wine pairs beautifully with anything tomato based, try it with a cozy minestrone soup to warm up!
-Olivia

Delirium Nocturnum; 4pk cans - $19.99
It was a few years ago when a friend gave me a can of Delirium Nocturnum at a backyard fire. It was awesome, but I didn't have it again until a few days ago with a different group of friends. It was just as awesome as I remember. Imagine a real tasty, well-made Belgian with some darker, roastier notes in it. Think of a medley of banana, clove, chocolate, and caramel over a bass note of brown bread. Seriously, it's way tasty. Brouwerij Huyghe (don't ask me to pronounce it) out of Belgium makes some fantastic beer, but this one is definitely my favorite to date.
-Nick N
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Cheers, Everyone!
The Team at North Loop Wine & Spirits