Virginia Bubbles for the Holidays

Sparkling wine as a category has been on the rise here in the States for a while. And Virginia is no exception.

Earlier this month I did a round-up of sparkling wines. I love drinking bubbles (especially Champagne) all year, but the holiday season surely correlates with more frequent bubble-popping. But the day after that post ran, I tasted four bubblies from Virginia that I wanted to highlight.

This tasting was coordinated by Virginia wine buff Frank Morgan and attended by three Virginia winemakers and one cidery.

I'm not a huge cider fan, but I was blown away by how good the cider in this report showed. And three other reliable Virginia producers delivered with their sparkling wines.

These wines were received as samples and tasted sighted.


2017 Castle Hill Cider Levity - Virginia
SRP: $25
Golden apricot/honey colored. The nose boasts lots of honey, apple blossom, warm white tea and an earthy-dusty notes. Crisp and zesty on the palate, bright, quite dry, with lemons, apples, apricot, along with notes of spiced tea, honey. Earthy and savory and herbal tones underneath, this is a subtle, vibrant and complex cider. 50% Harrison apples with the rest a mix of nine different varieties. Fermented in buried terra-cotta pots (a la Georgian qvevri) with native yeasts, 7.9% alcohol. (90 points)

2018 Early Mountain Malvasia Bianca Petillant Naturel - Virginia, Central Virginia, Madison County
SRP: $27
Pale lemon color with fine bubbles. The aromas burst with dandelion, orange blossom, lychee, guava and honey. Crisp and bright on the palate, with light bubbles, yet lots of juicy tropical fruit (lychee, green melon, guava). Brisk, bright and fun but lots of honey, orange blossoms, nettle, clean laundry. Another solid Mid-Atlantic Pet-Nat, and I think Malvasia Bianca lends itself very well to this style. 10% alcohol. (89 points) 

2014 Veritas Vineyard Scintilla Brut - Virginia, Central Virginia, Monticello
SRP: $30
Light gold color. Rich and biscuit with sugar cane, apricot, baked apple, bread dough, toasted almonds, some yellow flowers. Plump texture on the palate, richly fruity with apples, apricot, lemon crème pie, but bright acidity keeps it fresh. A mix of doughy, flinty, musky notes as well, with some floral and honey on the finish. 90% Chardonnay and 10% Cabernet Franc, 12% alcohol, 12 g/l dosage. (87 points) 

2017 Rappahannock Cellars Sparkling Rosé - Virginia, Northern Virginia, Rappahannock County
SRP: $34
Bright watermelon color. Nose shows strawberries, white cherries and red apple peel topped in strong musk, white pepper, clove and nettle notes. Bright acidity frames the wine nicely, but this has a lot of textural depth and richness. Red apples, strawberries, cherries, the fruit is generous and deep and topped in white pepper, chalk dust, honeyed white tea and basil notes. 27% Cabernet Sauvignon, 33% Merlot, 30% Cab Franc, 10% Petit Verdot, 8 g/l dosage. (88 points)