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Posted: 2025-02-17 09:13
During our Speakeasy events we try to visit local producers at discovered that Wolf Point Distilling was very close to our content house. Fortunately co-owner Victoria Polvino was working the taproom when we arrived, and thus, we received an excellent overview of the distillery and their expressions. Regarding this portfolio, we immediately noticed the intricate hand drawn artistry of each label which illustrate the famed stories from Chicago history that inspired each bottle.
It's name derives from the area formed by the confluence of the North, South, & Main branches of the Chicago River which was "central to the early development of Chicago, from its humble beginnings as a settlement in the late 18th century to its incorporation as a city in 1837. It was home to the city’s first tavern, theater, trans-river bridge, and much more".
Wolf Point Distilling specializing in small-batch spirits such as small-batch bourbon, rye whiskey, gin, vodka, and specialty infusions. We tasted through their entire portfolio forming an appreciation for many of the very unique offerings, like the Everleigh Botanical-Infused Vodka. The spirit is named for the Everleigh Club, a renowned high-class brothel in Chicago from 1900 to 1911, and run by the Everleigh sisters. It uses a vapor infusion distillation method followed by macerating select botanicals. These botanicals are Elderberry, Orange & Lemon Peel, Chamomile Flower, Angelica Root, Mint, Grains of Paradise, Hibiscus, and Caraway. The recommended cocktail fits perfectly within the BevFluence Effervescence Unleashed program. Everleigh Cocktail: A cocktail made with Everleigh Vodka includes 2 oz of vodka, 1.5 teaspoons of simple syrup, and 4 oz of Prosecco. Shake the ingredients in a cocktail shaker filled with ice, then strain into a glass and top with Prosecco. Garnish with lemon peel. On a similar plane, the Florence Field Gin was inspired by the woman (Florence Lathrop Field) responsible for donating the iconic Chicago Bronze Lions and various significant artworks to the Art Institute of Chicago. This botanical forward gin is made using a plethora of ingredients -- Juniper Berries, Lemongrass, Coriander, Grains of Paradise, Cardamom, Lemon Peel, Angelica Root, Chamomile Flower, Orris Root, Hibiscus. This is a very pleasant sipping gin that would work with any gin based cocktail.
The Captain Santa Vapor Infused Moonshine falls within the unique category as the moonshine is infused with vapors of the Christmas season (Cinnamon, Orange Peel, Lemon Peel, Hibiscus Flower, and Pink Peppercorn). The spirit was inspired by the story of Captain Santa, a generous and compassionate ship captain who gave away Christmas trees to those in need in the early 1900s before the vessel was destroyed during a storm in 1912.
The distillery offers two other vodka products, the Jackscrew Vodka and O'Leary’s 1871 Cinnamon-Infused Vodka. The former is named after the effort to actually physically lift Chicago's infrastructure 4 to 14 feet higher in order to create new foundations for a city-wide sewer and storm system. And I'm sure our readers are familiar with the myth(?) of Catherine O’Leary’s cow, Daisy. The Jackscrew is clean with zero burn while the Cinnamon-Infused Vodka provides a little kick from the spice.
For whiskey fans, we finally move into the barrel program where the Wolf Point Straight Bourbon Whiskey is a four year singe barrel made from a mash bill of 75% corn, 21% rye, and 4% malted barley. At 92 proof, the experience was improved with a drop or two of water which elevates the vanilla nose as well as the nutmeg and other baking spices on the palate. The Wolf Point Straight Rye Whiskey is a little higher proof and includes 4% malted barley. This expression offers a warm chewy core with slight black pepper on the tail surrounded by a little earthiness, mint, and clove.
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Posted: 2025-02-04 07:46
The Effervescence Unleashed Cocktail of the Month for February 2025 is the Sparkling Rosé French 75.
We are celebrating both the American Cider Association CiderCon as well as Valentine's Day this month with an ode to rosé cider.
* 2 ounces Gin: Raincity Last Garden Gin * 1 ounce simple syrup * 1/2 ounce Lemon juice * Top with sparkling rosé wine: Snow Capped Cider Sparkling Rosé Cider * Lemon peel, for garnish (optional)
Raincity is a small distillery located in scenic Squamish, British Columbia. Last Garden Gin is a floral fusion of Elderflower and Osmanthus with the signature spicy flavor of Juniper. With over a dozen botanicals lending their spicy, citrusy, and floral flavors and aromas to this spirit, Last Garden Gin will transport you to a summer garden in full bloom.
Snow Capped Cider family’s orchard legacy spans over a century, with five generations cultivating a tradition of excellence that has grown into businesses like Snow Capped Cider. The cider is crafted at an impressive elevation of 6,130 feet, making it one of the highest-elevation orchards and cideries in the world. The Sparkling Rosé is made from single varietal Pinova apples aged on Malbac wine lees with dried elderberries for 9 months in oak.
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Posted: 2025-01-31 12:21
"Of the great oceanic currents, the Humboldt stands out. It generates one of the richest maritime ecosystems in the world. It’s so large and cold that it affects the coasts of South America from the 50th to the 4th parallels. And, whenever it shifts course the impact on weather patterns is global. So potent is the Humboldt that it’s no wonder that any wines grown on its doorstep are affected accordingly."
This statement was the basis for a virtual tasting of six Chilean coastal Chardonnay and Pinot Noir wines presented by Wines of Chile and Joaquin Hidalgo, wine columnist for La Nación, During the presentation he informed us that , "due to its scale and length, the Humboldt Current changes the weather around it, creating a cold buffer in nearby air masses and lowering temperatures as it goes. Even in tropical regions, the resulting lack of evaporation, due to the cooler temperatures, makes for a decisive drop in atmospheric humidity. " How so? "Firstly, it cools the water over the sea, generating a classic thermal inversion in summer, condensing the little humidity generated during the day and, from the early morning right through to midday, creating a thick fog that spreads over the sea and coast. It’s the same kind of mist famously seen in California’s Sonoma Coast and the Santa Lucía Highlands, just on a larger scale. Because this fog also filters the sunlight, grape varieties with short ripening cycles, mainly Chardonnay, Sauvignon Blanc and Pinot Noir, develop slowly and delicately."  "This combination of cool temperatures and ample sunlight ensures that the wines ripen fully but gradually. While the whites retain sharp acidity and low pH, the fruity aromas tend to be ripe -- apple and pear for Chardonnay with notes of lime and ginger, and the palates are rich in spite of the tart core. For Pinot Noir, the color is slightly more vivid due to the impact of the sunlight, while the crisp aromas of sweet and sour cherry are accompanied by wet earth, a hint of blood, tart acidity and a rich palate."  The Humboldt effect also presents some problems. The closer to the Ocean, the more intense the moderating effect on temperature and fog becomes, thus frost rises as a concern. To alleviate this risk, vineyards are planted facing North to capture as much sunlight as possible. And since temperatures barely change across variations in latitude, there is a delicate balance between the grapes planted and the appropriate micro-climate. These "pockets"; such as San Anontio, Lo Zarate, Colliguay, and Isla de Maipo; are where the wines we tasted are grown. According to Hildago, these pockets are well suited for Chardonnay and Pinot Noir. Chardonnay delivers green apple and pear, with notes of lime and ginger; flavors are rich, in spite of the tart core. Whereas Pinot Noir offers a slightly more vivid color due to the impact of sunlight. Crisp aromas of sweet and sour cherry are accompanied by wet earth, a hint of blood, tart acidity and a rich palate. In addition, calcareous clay soils in Limarí bring a chalky feel to Chardonnay and Pinot Noir as seen in the wines from Miguel Torres, Viña Concha y Toro, and Santa Rita. On the other hand, abundant granite soils in Chile’s Coastal Range lead to lean, smooth textures, particularly in Pinot Noir. See the TerraNoble and Viña Garcés. Viña Montes Alpha Chardonnay Chile 2022 Aroma of tropical fruit then candied papaya; toasty, red apple, and vanilla. Santa Rita Chardonnay Floresta Chile 2021 Yeasty floral; pears and pineapples, saline, good acidity, creamy texture. Miguel Torres Cordillera Chardonnay Chile 2023 Floral; salinity and acidity - lots of ripe apple and lime - chalky from clay soils. Viña Garcés Silva Boya Pinot Noir Chile 2020 Raspberries and roses on the nose; red currants (tart) and herbaceous; fresh acidity - light tannins. Viña Concha y Toro Amelia Pinot Noir Chile 2022 Nice mouthfeel. Soft red fruit on nose, tea, chalky, some black pepper & saline, lingering finish. TerraNoble Algarrobo Pinot Noir Chile 2023 Sour cherry puree on nose; continues on palate, wet stone earthiness, structure, acids, lasting finish.
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Posted: 2025-01-21 06:00
 Like several successful Virginia wineries, Ducard Vineyards opened 15 years ago during the ascendence of the Commonwealth's wine industry. Their estate is located in a beautiful valley on the eastern edge of the Shenandoah National Park in the shadow of Old Rag Mountain and White Oak Canyon. In the early days Rappahannock Cellars produced award winning wine from their grapes but eventual owner Scott Elliff decided to transition from grape grower to commercial winery. During that he made many wise decisions such as planting grapes suitable for the Virginia climate, starting small when building out the tasting room and production facility, and most importantly, hiring Julien Durantie as winemaker.  The Ducard Norton was the first of their wine to reach our attention and they planted "America's Grape" based on a recommendation from Dennis Horton. The early versions were very acidic but Julien was able to nurture more fruit and less acidity moving to an open lyre vine training system. The results have been several consecutive years of award winning Norton wine.  They have also innovated and expanded their portfolio in terms of grape varieties and styles. Their red wines run through traditional Bordeaux grapes Merlot, Cabernet Franc, and Petit Verdot to several red blends. One the paler side, the offer a couple Chardonnays, Viognier, Pinot Gris, as well as blends and a couple effervescent wines: the Pet Gnat and XOXO - both based on Viognier. During my visit Scott curated a flight of four wines he thought best personified DuCard's current lineup.
2022 TANA Chardonnay ($45) This is a Burgundy style wine where the Chardonnay grapes were harvested from the Estate's TANA vineyard and aged five months in French oak. The fresh citrus and green apple fruit basks with great acidity and length. No cloying butter or oak character. 2022 Cabernet Franc Vintner Reserve ($40) The best fruit from this vintage was sourced from their Whetstone Run vineyard which helps produce layers of dark cherry fruit, some earthiness, and without any sense of methoxypyrazines (aka green pepper). Expect a long, easy finish. 2021 Triskele ($70) This wine is only made during the best of years (five out of fifteen vintages) and apparently 2021 was one such year. The Cabernet Franc, Petit Verdot, and Tannat grapes come from their three vineyard sites. The wine shows floral and herbaceous notes then structured layers of dark fruit with approachable tannins. An excellent wine. 2021 XOXO Sparkling Viognier ($50) This Hugs and Kisses sparkling wine is made from 100% Viognier from the TANA vineyard where the wine is aged two years on its lees. This leads to noticeable yeast, but an elegant display of subtle stone fruit and a lasting finish.
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Posted: 2025-01-18 09:54
"The overall inspiration for the wine comes from the often asked question, "why not?" This is a popular question here at CV and has led to many different styles of wine we produce. " - Jake Blodinger, winemaker at Chrysalis Vineyards discussing their Buttorfleoge Norton Pet Nat. Since the inception of the modern Virginia wine industry, both Horton Vineyards and Chrysalis Vineyards have been pioneers in its development. This can be seen by their introducing (or re-introducing) popular grape varieties such as Viognier, Petit Manseng, and Norton. In addition, they have been pioneers in creating different styles of wine - notably - sparkling red wine.  The Chrysalis Vineyards 2019 Buttorfleoge ($28) is a rarity. This is a Norton Pét-Nat, a new use for Virginia's native grape. In 2023 there were 130 acres of Norton planted in Virginia (10th most abundant in the Commonwealth(1)). The grape is usually seen as a rich and juicy dry wine that needs a few years in the bottle to tame its astringent nature. Yet, its versatility can be seen in the other styles such as a port-styled wine, a semi-dry lighter offering, and in various blends. But this is the first sparkling I've experienced via Pétillant Naturel using 100% whole-clustered pressed Norton wine. Expect the traditional dark purple color of the Norton but there is an unexpected strong floral note followed by blackberry bubbles. According to Jake Blodinger, winemaker at Chrysalis Vineyards, "using the methode ancestrale technique ‘rediscovered’ in the Loire in the 1990s, this 100% whole-clustered pressed Norton wine is produced using only the natural microflora found at Locksley Estate. This wine is fermented in tank until there is only a small amount of sugar left. At this point, the wine is bottled and laid down to let the fermentation finish. The result is a true, terroir-driven pétillant-naturel (or Pét Nat), and an exciting addition to the Norton lineup here at Chrysalis Vineyards". The Horton Vineyards NV Knots & Shuttles ($24.95) is a another red sparkling wine, this one made from 100% Tannat. Another rarity on many levels. First, Tannat is the 14th most widely planted grape variety in the Commonwealth with only 78 acres planted. For perspective, Cabernet Franc is the most widely planted grape with 661 acres (1). Second, Virginia Tannat is generally bottled in Bordeaux-styled blends or as a single varietal wine depending on its tannic structure and juiciness. But as a sparkling wine? This has to be a first. The wine starts with a black fruit intensity but yields to more finesse once the effervescence starts its escape.
(1) 2023 Virginia Wine 2023 Commercial Wine Grape Report
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