Winery:  Wellington Vineyards

Wine: Roussanne 2007

Location: Glen Ellen, CA

Purchased: http://wine.woot.com/

Price: $22.00 (from the winery)

 

On our trip to wine country a few years back, Jonathan and I fell in love with a small family-owned winery in Glen Ellen named Wellington. The staff was very knowledgeable and helpful, the wines were great and reasonably prices and they produced a few unique varietals to raise interest among consumers. We liked the wine so much the following Christmas, I ordered Jonathan a few of their wines and had the winemaker sign the bottles. We still have one in our wine cooler for a special occasion!

 

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Winery:  E. Guigal

Wine: Cotes du Rhone Blanc 2006

Location: Rhone, France

Purchased: The Corkscrew

Price: $12.99

 

On our trip to California wine country last summer, we discovered “the red drinkers’ white.” These are white wines primarily made from the following grapes: Viognier, Roussane, Marsanne and Grenache blanc. They fit the category of wines from the Rhone region in France, although we found a few in California. Since last summer we searched for more whites from the Rhone region and found one new regular favorite, E. Guigal’s Cotes du Rhone Blanc.

 

This wine is a blend of 55% Viognier, 20% Roussane and 10% Marsanne. The other 15% are three smaller grapes grown in the region. The color of the wine is nearly brilliant, with just a light golden color. The nose presents a freshness marked by aromas distinctly of a Viognier. They are soft and subtle to the individual. White flowers, apricots, and peaches tickle the nose.

 

This wine is well-balanced and gives the drinker a fruity richness on their palate. The Cotes du Rhone Blanc had a stronger finish than most whites and left a mouthwatering taste, almost like a red. This wine is aged in stainless steel tanks so it presents no oak in taste or smell. We took it out of the cooler a few minutes before serving and it was perfect.

 

The Guigal domain was founded in 1946 by Etienne Guigal in the village of Ampuis. He first arrived in this region in 1923, and made over 67 vintages of wine, participating in the development of the Vidal-Fleury establishment. His son, Marcel Guigal, took over in 1961. Through hard work and perseverance, the Guigal’s purchased the Jean-Louis Grippat estate in Saint-Joseph and Hermitage and Domaine de Vallauit in Cote Rotie, Hermitage, Saint-Joseph and Crozes-Hermitage. Today, Philippe Guigal, a third generation family member, continues to run the family endeavor.