In the Drink

First-Class Fizz

Photo by Heidi ReuterEveryone loves a good bottle of bubbly—and a great gift idea—this time of year, and we’ve got both: Kluge SP Blanc de Blanc 2004. Produced in Charlottesville, Va., an area celebrated for its Bordeaux-esque climate, this sprightly sparkling wine makes a great apéritif thanks to its sweet (but not too sweet) concentration of apples and lemon, pleasant mouth feel, refreshing effervescence, and toasted biscuit notes true to a traditional blanc de blanc. Great to sip with a variety of cheeses, this well-crafted American wine should also pair well with seafood, shellfish, Asian dishes, poultry and pork. Better yet, mix it with just a wee bit of tangerine juice for an invigorating Christmas-morning toddy. Virginia—specifically Albemarle County (home of the Monticello Wine Trail), where Kluge Estate Winery and Vineyard is located—is fast becoming a bona-fide wine region. Over the past decade, the state has made great leaps in the wine industry; it’s now considered to be where Napa was 20 years ago. The Kluge winery is gorgeous and well worth a weekend getaway. There’s a local connection, too: CEO Bill Moses is a former Main Liner whose daughter, Kristen, is an Episcopal Academy alum. Though the rest of her family live near the winery in Virginia, Kristen is still a hometown girl.

For more information, e-mail her at
kmoses@klugeestate.com. Currently, Kluge SP is available only at Bryn Mawr Wine & Spirits Store (922 W. Lancaster Ave., 610-581-4560) for $21.99 a bottle.
 

Main Line Today Restaurant Week runs October 13-26!