Solano Cellars
Thursday, April 4th from 5-8pm
Winter in the Alps is nothing short of magic. The mountains are dressed in a thick blanket of snow, surrounded by the storybook villages that sit in the valleys below, where throngs of people revel in the veritable wonderland of outdoor adventure. But when winter gives way to Spring, the Alps come alive - the snow disappears to reveal the verdant hue of freshly grown grass dotted with wildflowers; streams and rivers tumble down the hillsides, fuelled by the newly melted snow; the only remnants of winter are the snow-capped peaks as they reach into the brilliant blue skies. So while the Alps might always be more commonly associated with winter, in our estimation, there's no better time to celebrate the stunning landscape (and the wine that it produces) than in Spring.
Alpine wine, like the mountains themselves, is an expansive category that ranges from the most recognizable regions (like France) to the more overlooked (like Slovenia). From each of the wine-producing regions along the Alpine range, there's unmistakably commonality - balanced ripeness afforded by the spring and summer sunshine in the vineyards, a deeply mineral core influenced by the streams and rivers that flow from the mountain and into the vines, and accents of fresh, vibrant mountain herbs. But for all the shared character of these wines, they also each bear the influence of the unique culture of their regions - the cuisine, the people, and their history.
On Thursday, we're taking a tour of our favorite Alpine regions and their stunning wines to celebrate the arrival of Spring. From structured, savory skin-contact Sauvignon from Slovenia (say that 10 times fast), to a library release Fendant from Switzerland, to the blue-fruited wonder of the rare indigenous Savoie variety, Persan, you'll taste the full spectrum of what Alpine terroir is capable of.
$30 for a flight of 6 wines ($20 for club members)
Cheese Pairing + $15
The Lineup:
2019 Domaine de Chevillard Les Abymes (Savoie, France)
2018 Domaine de Beudon Fendant 'Cuvée Antique' (Valais, Switzerland)
2011 Domaine de Beudon Fendant (Valais, Switzerland)
2018 Domaine de Beudon Fendant 'Cuvée Antique' (Valais, Switzerland)
2011 Domaine de Beudon Fendant (Valais, Switzerland)
2018 Valentan Sauvignon Blanc (Štajerska, Slovenia)
2023 Domaine Saint-Germain Persan (Savoie, France)
2012 Nüsserhof Lagrein 'Gloria' (Alto Adige, Italy)
*No reservations necessary