As summer fades to fall, I’ve been focusing on bringing in some new, seasonally appropriate goodies for the wine department.
– Erin Hepinstall, Wine & Cheese Manager
This week that meant two freshies from Wonderwerk House of Fermentation.
Wonderwerk is a project between high school friends Issamu Kamide and Andrew Lardy. They are focused on creating low-intervention and high-innovation bottles.
First up, we have Marinara! – an ever-evolving red blend that, as the name suggests, pairs well with any red-sauce Italian fare you can think of. This vintage is a blend of Teroldego, Grenache, Montepulciano, and Zinfandel, offering notes of bright plum, fresh earth, and strawberry fruit leather. Moderate tannins and faint hints of Castelvetrano olives come together to deliver a complex yet approachable bottle for your red and white checkerboard tablecloth needs.
Next, on the more brunch-leaning side of things, we have Free Your Mind Lite. This bottling has a super low ABV and starts with Riesling and Montepulciano, with additions of Japanese Ume plums and organic Oaxacan hibiscus flowers to bring in some tartness. The finished result falls somewhere between kombucha and a sour ale in flavor profile. It’s super refreshing, light, and quaffable – perfect for a boozy beach brunch or the morning after your best friend’s wedding.
Copy written by Erin Hepinstall