The guys were down in the cellar yesterday disgorging and dosaging another "batch" of our Reserve Sparkling Wine. I thought I'd use this as a great time to explain the process a little better...
Disgorging and dosaging: a wine story in photos
There are a few different methods to make sparkling wines (known better as Champagne, although legally only wines made in the Champagne region of France can be called that). We choose to use the méthode champenoise or method traditionnelle (traditional method) in which the secondary fermentation process that actually creates those bubbles is done inside the bottle. This creates a much more elegant style with finer bubbles (its also a lot more work, but hey, we like the end result better).
Cort tries to lay claim to all 200 cases in existence as we chug ... er ... taste through 2 Lads' newly released 2009 Reserve Sparkling Wine, a Chardonnay/Pinot Grigio blend that's spent two years resting on the lees. In celebration of our 50th podcast (and Michigan's 175th birthday, to boot!), watch for a contest alert within today's video for a chance to win a pair of tickets to the Wineries of Old Mission Peninsula's Feb. 18 Romancing the Riesling event! (Click through for more details on the event and how you can purchase tickets to Romancing the Riesling yourself...)
The 2011 harvest is in full swing — most of the vineyards are picked clean, though Cabernet Franc, Merlot and other reds are still ripening at some — and if the early results are any indication, it's going to be a good year for Michigan wineries.
Ever wondered if the "Michigan wine" you're drinking is made from grapes grown in Michigan? Understanding the intricacies of wine labels — which seem straightforward enough, but actually contain a potential minefield of technicalities — is a surefire way to determine what's actually going in your glass.
Take a look at what 2 Lads' 2010 lineup has in store as we taste through the Old Mission Peninsula winery's latest Riesling, Pinot Grigio and Rosé of Cabernet Franc.
Congratulations to AMANDA OLIN! She was randomly selected from yesterday's entries to win a "Grown on the OMP: Old Mission Peninsula" T-shirt and a bottle cooler from Left Foot Charley.
Today's prize also is showing some Old MIssion Peninsula love. It's a cool 2 Lads cap paired with an attractive 2 Lads wine crate. (Sorry, guys, you'll be responsible for filling the crate with wine yourself!) If you've never been to 2 Lads, check it out; you'll be blown away by the modernity — and the view!
