DECEMBER 2021 CELLAR CLUB

December 3, 2021

Written by Rose Friedlander

December 3, 2021

Written by Rose Friedlander

DECEMBER 2021

CELLAR CLUB

A reason to celebrate!

Pop the bubbly, arrange your charcuterie board for Santa, and prepare for the holiday season with Cheese & Wine Traders. From world-class cheeses and wines to amazing Vermont-made Gift Baskets, we've got your gift-giving covered this holiday season.

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 2022.

Thank you for being a member of

The Cellar Club, cheers!

Wine Pick #1:

Casal de Ventozela Pseudónimo Pet-Nat NV

Vinho Verde, Portugal

Casal de Ventozela consists of 45 hectares of sustainably farmed vineyards in the heart of the Vinho Verde region. The vines are located in two sub-regions: Vale do Ave and Vale do Covado. The estate is a family-run business, with a strong focus on the environment and a genuine passion for wine and nature. Ventozela has a noble history dating back to 1874. A century later, it was acquired by the current director of the company, Jose Ferrera Cortinhas, who was responsible for resurrecting the estate following the April 25 revolution in 1974. The winery first started selling its grapes and in 2008, its first wines were bottled.

Wine Pick #2

Nicole Chanrion Brut Effervescence

Méthode Traditionnelle NV

Nicole Chanrion's family has maintained their domain in Côte-de-Brouilly for six generations now, and she spent her childhood helping her father in the vineyard and the cellar. Today Nicole does all the work herself, including looking after all 6.5 hectares of land by herself and maintaining all cellar work. If that wasn’t enough, she is also the president of the Côte-de-Brouilly appellation. Where she has time to make all this work is a wonder, and she seems to do so effortlessly. Though she went to a viticultural school in Beaune, her approach is purely traditional as influenced by her family.

CHEESE PAIRING OF THE MONTH:

Plymouth Artisan Cheese, Ballyhoo Brie

Made in Vermont by the award-winning Plymouth Artisan Cheese Company, this soft-ripened brie cheese is a must-try! Made with pasteurized cow’s milk, the square-shaped nugget is deeply redolent of mushrooms and earthy sous-Bois. Its creamy, springy paste is an explosion of butter and roasted hazelnuts, with a brothy umami finish. Still, the cheese manages to retain its milky qualities and melts away quickly on the tongue.