CELLAR CLUB DECEMBER 2020

December 1, 2020

Written by Emma Blahut

December 1, 2020

Written by Emma Blahut

December is a time of celebration, toasts, and more! Two of our absolute favorite sparkling wine picks of the year are included in this month's selections as a way to celebrate you and your loved ones this Holiday Season.

So, a toast to you, to your family, and special ones. We will see you in 2021.

Thank you for being a member of

The Cellar Club, cheers!

Wine Pick #1:

Lambert de Seyssel Petit Royal

Méthode de Traditionnelle NV

Seyssel, Savoie, France

To say that wines from this tiny AOC have a historical pedigree is quite the understatement. As mentioned in documents dating back to the 11th century, the wines of Seyssel have been lauded and enjoyed for centuries. Royalty, including Queen Victoria, have delighted in the sparkling wines from here when spending time at the nearby spas. Indeed, this Rhône River winery is located less than an hour’s drive from Geneva and has more in common with the Swiss style of wines than the powerhouses found many miles downstream. The winery was founded in 1901 by the Clerc and Varichon families and was reborn by Gerard Lambert and the founding Varichon’ great-grandson Olivier after years of mismanagement by a Négociant. Today, the well-deserved reputation as the source of one of France’s finest sparkling wines has been secured.

Wine Pick #2

Lini 910 Lambrusca Rosso NV

Correggio, Emilia-Romagna, Italy

As their label makes clear, Lini was founded in 1910 by Oreste Lini in Correggio, the very heart and home of the great Lambrusco. Now, the fourth generation of Linis honor their past and embrace the future of the wines of the region. Winemaker Fabio Lini’s artisanal approach to the viticulture and alchemic process of crafting this delicious wine speaks to a commitment to quality in an arena of indifference and greed. Over time, the reputation of Lambrusco has risen from the previously expected cheap, sweet fizz associated with the name. His wines, made in tanks rather than in the Champagne méthode diverge from standard practice. Lini's wines undergo a much longer secondary fermentation to allow the bubbles to fully integrate with the wine and its lees and result in a Lambrusco with bright fruit, freshness, and complexity. We hope you’ll enjoy this taste of both the past and the future this holiday season.

CHEESE PAIRING OF THE MONTH:

Champlain Valley Creamery,

Pyramid Scheme

Pyramid Scheme, which has gained its name from the distinct truncated pyramid shape, is a true stunner on the holiday cheese platter due to its vegetable-ash-covered & bloomy rind. Similar to Triple Cream Brie, Pyramid Scheme is dense and fudgy with the milky sweetness of fresh Vermont organic cow milk and the added complexity of a tiny tang on the finish. The vegetable ash gives this cheese not only its distinct look but also helps to neutralize the acidity, aids in the ripening process, and produces an especially sweet and creamy cheese. Pyramid Scheme is incredible when eaten on its own, with a bit of bread and perhaps a drizzle of honey or your favorite jam.