It’s the summer season, with outdoor entertaining at its peak. What better way to enjoy the outdoors than with some dazzling sparkling wine in the value category? In this week’s wine bargain article, we review two excellent sparkling wines under $15.
Gruet from New Mexico
Gruet Brut Rosé – Safeway $12.59 Six-Pack Price
This my favorite wine among the family of Gruet sparkling wines. It has some French Champagne character to it, namely in the fruitiness that supplies delicious flavors and a lasting aftertaste. The Gruet Brut Rosé is made from 100% Pinot Noir grapes grown in their vineyards in Albuquerque, New Mexico. Yes, New Mexico! Gruet is the family name. The founder, Gilbert Gruet, on a trip to the U.S., came across what he determined was a terroir very similar to that of the Champagne region of France. He moved his family to New Mexico and began growing grapes for sparkling wine. The first Gruet release was 1989. I love sipping this sparkler because it is so refreshing, with loads of fruit, especially strawberry that seems to explode in the mouth. I also love the color; it somehow beckons one to drink more. 89 Points. The price at Safeway is on-and-off again. Sometimes it is $15.99. BevMo has it for $14.99.
Gloria Ferrer at Costco for $12.99
Gloria Ferrer Sonoma Brut – Costco $12.99
The Gloria Ferrer Sonoma Brut is a good choice for a party to celebrate and toast anything special. The Sonoma Brut is a blend of Pinot Noir (90%) and Chardonnay. You might wonder why there is no Rosé color from the Pinot Noir grapes as there is in the Gruet above. The reason: In the Gruet Rosé, when the Pinot Noir grapes are crushed, the skins stay in contact with the juice for a short period. It’s the Pinot’s skin that gives the juice its color. For the Sonoma Brut, the skins do not stay in contact with grape juice, and thus the clear wine color. The Gloria Ferrer is a very nice-tasting wine with pear and apple flavors. It’s an easy-drinking and fun sparkling wine. The Wine Enthusiast loves this wine and rates it at 90 Points. I say 88 Points. Average price according to Wine-Searcher.com is $19. By the way, if you like sparkling wine and you live in the San Francisco Bay Area, take a trip to Napa and Sonoma and follow the Sparkling Wine Trail on WineCountryGetaways.com.
More articles on Sparkling Wine and Champagne
- Kirkland Signature Champagne – any good?
- Blind sparkling wine tasting results – and the winner is?
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