It’s true that we are known for our “Big Reds”, but that’s not all we make here at Balistreri! In fact, the whole family has been tasting and taking notes on our favorite summer wines, including a few naturally made whites, some lighter bodied reds, and even a sangria recipe that you can make at home!
We tracked down some great summer whites in our wine library- 2017 Sauvignon Blanc and 2017 Muscat. To celebrate the beautiful weather, we are making the last few cases of these wines available exclusively to our mailing list! Check out the tasting notes on these and other summer wines below.
2017 COLORADO SAUVIGNON BLANC
Only 8 cases left of our very first vintage!
$40 regular price | $32 summer special!
This was the very first vintage of Sauvignon Blanc we ever produced, and thus has a special place in our heart. Fermented on the skins and then manually pressed with a basket press, this refreshing wine has plenty of energy and focus. The zippy acidity that once dominated the wine in it’s youth has now softened with age. It’s beautifully textured with notes of bees wax and white pear.
While Sauvignon Blanc is known to be refreshing, it can sometimes be too acidic. However, our version is very different than the typical mass produced examples you find in stores. For one thing, ours was fermented on the skin which adds subtle structure and softens the acidity making it smooth and easy drinking. It’s also completely natural with no additives; and is unfiltered and unfined. These qualities give it an amazing color and texture.
This is a truly unique wine and perfect for the warm weather. As we mentioned, there are only a few cases left. If you are interested in trying this wine, please visit our website to reserve yours today.
2018 AMERICAN GRENACHE
Light, fresh summer red!
$36 regular price | $28 summer special!
Grenache is one of the world’s most widely planted grapes, but you most often see it blended with other varietals. Indeed, we often blend it with Mourvedre and Syrah to create our full bodied GSM blend. However, in 2018 we decided to ferment some separately and release it on it’s own. And good thing we did! This is one of the most stylistically unique reds on our line up!
This high tone energy carries over to the palate where it explodes with juicy notes of blackberry, strawberry and a subtle cinnamon spice.
When you first pour this Grenache, you’ll be struck by the magnificent color. It’s not as dark as other grapes, but it’s extremely vivid and bright, almost glowing from the glass. This high tone energy carries over to the palate where it explodes with juicy notes of blackberry, strawberry and a subtle cinnamon spice. In some regards, this wine is reminiscent of a substantial Pinot Noir. For those of you who are interested in Pinot or similar grapes, this is an excellent natural alternative.
Overall, what is most compelling about this Grenache is how easy drinking and refreshing it is for a red wine. The fruit character is perfectly ripe but has a subtle tart, crisp edge to it which makes you want to go in for another taste.
We recommend chilling this wine down for 10-15 minutes in the fridge before serving. You don’t want it ice cold, but serving it under room temperature will highlight the freshness of the fruit. It’s also an excellent wine to pair with summer foods as it compliments and brightens most dishes rather than overpowering them.
2017 Colorado Muscat (Bookcliff Vineyard)
Last few cases of our classic “orange” style wine
$40 regular price | $32 summer special!
Here’s another beautiful white wine from our Library! This Muscat was made in our traditional “orange” style with one exception. Instead of fermenting on the skin for the majority of the fermentation, we pressed it off a bit earlier. This led to a ridiculously fruity, delicious and easy drinking Muscat that is hard to beat in this warm weather.
Muscat is known for it’s amazing aromatics, and this is no exception.
Muscat is known for it’s amazing aromatics, and this is no exception. Beautifully layered notes of orange blossom, meyer lemon, honeysuckle and white grape fill out the nose. On the palate, there’s a slight richness but finishes with a clean, crisp citrus note.
Just like the Sauvignon Blanc, there is not much of this 2017 Muscat left. We only have about 5 cases for sale, so please reserve yours online if you are interested. Don’t forgot, we also have our richer, slightly sweeter “Orange Muscat” available online too.
Balistreri Sangria Recipe!
Easy to make and perfect for the summer!
Recommended Wines: Grenache, Sangiovesse, Reisling, Late Harvest Zin
Sangria is the perfect companion to all your summer adventures- whether its a day at the pool or a reward picnic at the end of a long hike. (Is also really easy to make)
- Start with Wine, we recommend Grenache, Sangiovesse, or Late Harvest Zin if your looking for something a little sweeter
- For white sangria, our go to right now is our 2018 Riesling
- Next comes the fruit. You have some freedom here with exactly what you want to use, but we typically balance citrus with pear and apple and then accompany that with whatever is seasonal.
- The recipe here is 1 orange, 1 apple, 1 pear, 3 strawberries, fresh grapes, and Bing cherries. For the white sangria also add a slice or two of lemon.
- Slice all the fruits, place in decanter, pour wine over and let soak for 3 hours.
- Finally, pour over some ice, add a splash of lemon-lime soda (7- up, sprite) or just some seltzer for a dryer version, then kick back in the sun and enjoy!
Pro sangria tip, if you opened a bottle of wine in the evening and didn’t quite finish it, pour it over your fresh fruit, set it in the fridge and your sangria will be ready for the next day. Also when your sangria is all gone there are some boozy fruit slices you can snack on! Cheers!
