Saturday, April 29th from 2-5 p.m. – Super Saturday Wine Tasting! We’re taking you on a Tour de France with special guests Daniel Lukin-Beck and Katerina Dordelman of Asheville’s own Sour Grapes — sample 9 awesome small grower/producer, organic and biodynamic French wines for just $5 — free if you’re a Grape Nut!
Our next Super Saturday adventure will give you the chance to try some incredible French wines from local distributor/importer Sour Grapes. Led by the passionate Devon Price and the cool and calm Daniel Lukin-Beck, Sour Grapes has established itself as one of our top sources of high quality, estate grown, organic and biodynamic French wines. For this tasting, we’ll focus on the wines of Vignerons de Nature, a small group of independent growers and producers committed to organic and biodynamic viticultural practices. We’re talking farmers with dirt under their fingernails, folks who know that good wine is made in the vineyard, real wines from real people! Sour Grapes direct imports these wines and they are some of our favorite French wines in the store.
If you’ve had bad luck with organic wines in the past, you obviously haven’t tried the right ones — these are the right ones! We’ll pour you samples from a variety of famed French wine regions with an emphasis on the vineyards and producers of Southern France. This guarantees to be a great chance to taste, learn, and save big on some great wines from some wonderful small growers/producers. No RSVP is required and you do not have to be a Grape Nut to attend — just pay $5 before you begin the tasting and have a great time.
The Wines
Save big on all of the tasting wines! Mix any 3 of them and save 10%, mix any 6 and save 15%, or mix any 12 and save 20%!
1. 2016 Le Ballon Vin Blanc (Languedoc) –Equal parts Sauvignon Blanc and Vermentino from organic vineyards in Southern France. Stainless steel fermentation results in a fresh, dry, crisp white wine perfect for sunny spring and summer days.
2. 2014 Francois le Saint Sancerre “Calcaire” (Loire Valley)– Pure Sauvignon Blanc from calcareous soils farmed organically. Tiny production and a stunning example of mineral-rich, racy and restrained Sancerre. Did anyone bring goat cheese?
3. 2015 Chateau de la Selve Viognier (Rhone Valley) –From biodynamically cultivated vineyards in the lesser known Ardeche section of the Rhone Valley. Fermented with native yeasts in neutral oak. Super aromatic, full bodied, yet fresh Viognier.
4. 2016 Chateau de la Selve Rosé “Maguelonne (Rhone Valley) – Lovely expression of Grenache, Cinsault and Syrah from biodynamic and organic vineyards fermented with native yeasts. Dry, perfumed, red and white fruits, flowers. Delicious!
5. 2015 Le Ballon Vin Rouge (Languedoc) – The perfect house red! A blend of organically cultivated Grenache, Cinsault, and Cabernet Sauvignon, all fermented in steel. Medium bodied, fresh, spicy. Great with bbq chicken, great with friends.
6. 2015 Domaine de L’R Chinon (Loire Valley) –Full on NATURAL WINE! No junk in the trunk here folks. Just pure, certified organic, Cabernet Franc from older vines fermented with native yeasts. Unfined and unfiltered and bottled with very low sulfur addition. Earthy, spicy, mineralic, funky good.
7. 2012 M. & S. Bouchet Cabernet Franc (Loire Valley) –Just 100 cases of this wine make it to the US each year……..most of it goes to Parisian bistros. We got 15 of those case. 85 year old, biodynamically farmed Cabernet Franc with serious soul! Aged for 2 years in neutral oak and bottled without fining or filtration and minimal sulfur. Josh’s current freakout wine!
8. 2015 Domaine Duseigneur Cotes du Rhone “La Chapelle” (Rhone Valley) – One of the leading biodynamic estates in the Southern Rhone, this is a prime example of how clean farming results in great tasting wines. Equal parts Grenache and Syrah result in an explosive, rich, decadent red wine. Serve with barbeque please!
Tasting Price: $12.59 in mixed 3-packs | $11.89 in mixed 6-packs | $11.19 in mixed cases
9. 2015 Chateau les Croisille Cahors “Silice” (Southwestern France) – Organic Malbec from old vines in France’s top Malbec appellation. 12 months aging in French oak results in a boisterous, full bodied, warming red. Enjoy with lamb, beef and such.
10. 2012 Domaine Duseigneur Lirac “Antares” (Rhone Valley) – Chateauneuf du Pape like flavor and style at a fraction of the price! Old vine Grenache and Mourvedre combine to create a sumptuous, heady red wine with ripe notes of plum, blackberry, spice and oh so much more. One of the best wines for the money in the store. Lamb chops, medium rare, please. Yep!