Issue link: http://digital.copcomm.com/i/663373
{ SOMMjournal.com } 75 A S T I Le Grand Courtâge Rosé & Le Grand Courtâge Brut, France Like the beginning of a romantic film, Tawnya Falkner took the leap, gave up her career in design/real estate development in San Francisco and moved to Burgundy, France to create Le Grand Courtâge. With only an idea and a great love of wine and food, Tawnya decided to pursue her dream after seeing a gap in the sparkling category relating to price, palate and packaging. Her journey resulted in Le Grand Courtâge, which features a Blanc de Blancs Brut and Brut Rosé sparkling wine coming to us from France but wooing the American palate—the raison d'être for Le Grand Courtâge (the name means "the great courtship"). Le Grand Courtâge offers Old World tradition with an appealing New World flavor in a chic, well-priced package. "As most French wine is traditionally branded, packaged and styled," says Falkner, "I saw an opportunity to create an affordable French sparkling wine that delights the consumer with a memorable name, an elegant bottle and a crisp, light, refreshing bubbly with just a hint of fruit on the finish. The French embrace the spirit of joie de vivre and celebrate simple pleasures like food and wine shared among friends. Our wines are priced to offer an accessible, affordable luxury to encourage people to elevate the everyday." The philosophy on every bottle, EMBRACE LIFE. DREAM BIG. ACCEPT ALL INVITATIONS., is a way of living that Tawnya Falkner personifies wholeheart - edly and has implemented to her success! Tasng Notes Le Grand Courtâge Rosé: A blend of Chardonnay, Ugni Blanc and Gamay; fresh raspberries and strawberries alongside a bou- quet of pink roses. $17.99 ($6.99/187ml.) L e Grand Courtâge Blanc de Blancs Brut: A blend of Chardonnay, Chenin Blanc, Colombard and Ugni Blanc; ripe, yellow apple, lemon blossom and croissants. $17.99 ($6.99/187ml.) LE GRAND COURTÂGE Asti is the largest producer of DOCG wine in Italy, outputting roughly 650,000 hl every year. The wines are made only from Moscato Bianco and usually employ the Charmat method. Mondoro Asti DOCG, Piedmont, Italy Established in 1989, Mondoro is made from 100% white moscato grapes from vine - yards located throughout the Asti province of Northern Italy. Tasting Note: White flowers, poached pear, ripe peach in vigorous sparkle. $14.99 PALM BAY INTERNATIONAL O T H E R The Charmat process (also called cuve close or tank method) was invented by Eugene Charmat in 1907 as a quick, easy and cheaper way to produce sparkling wine. Rather than go through secondary fermentation in bottle, the liqueur de tirage is added to the wine in a closed stainless steel tank or autoclave. The time spent in tank depends on the wine, anywhere from a few days to a few months. The continuous method or Russian continuous method is like the tank method but the wine is pumped through a series of tanks during secondary fermentation. This imparts more of the autolyzed flavor we so admire in Champagne. Marquis de la Tour Brut, Loire Valley, France Named after a 16th-century tower, Marquis de la Tour is from Maison Ackerman, which has been making sparkling wine in the Loire Valley since 1811. Tasting Note: Made with Ugni Blanc, Chenin Blanc and Chardonnay grapes only from the Loire, this value-driven sparkler offers red apple, lemon rind and a yeasty finish. $11.99 PALM BAY INTERNATIONAL (CHARMAT/TANK METHOD, CONTINUOS METHOD/RUSSIAN CONTINOUS METHOD, CARBONATION)