Desert Wines and Spirits

Saturday, August 13, 2011
4 to 5:30 pm

Today only receive an extra 10% discount

$10.00 per person
$5.00 is credited toward purchase of the featured wines below
Home of: ExecutiveGiftService.com
611 S. Palm Canyon Drive, Suite #1, Palm Springs, 92264
760-327-7701, 800-925-0030

What could be more versatile than a wine that is perfectly charming to sip on its own, well chilled, or that will accompany a wide range of foods including fish, fowl, white meats and a plethora of veggie meals. Almost any red grape will produce a good rosé—as you will experience from the wines below. There are three methods for making a rosé: simply mixing red and white wines, stopping the fermentation of red grapes early and, my favorite, the saignée method whereby the rosé is “bled” from the red wine fermenter at exactly the perfect time. This latter method has an added benefit in allowing for a greater concentration in the make-up of the finished red wine. Ultimately though, who cares? What really matters is the wonderful dry fruity beverage that is easy to drink and makes you feel good.

Mionetto Rosato del Veneto, Valdobbiadene, Italy

List price 12.99; our price 9.99; today only 8.99

This lightly sparkling rosé is made from the rosado grapes of the Veneto: Corvina, Molinara and Rondinella, the three main red grapes of Valpolicella and Amarone. It is a soft sparkler produced in the Prosecco style with a low alcohol, in this case, 10.5%. It has been a while since we served up this wine and the time is right for a revisit.

Cordorniu Pinot Noir Cava, Brut, Spain

List price 14.99; our price 13.50; today only 11.99

This is a marvelous sparkling wine. It never ceases to satisfy. Cordorniu makes several sparklers, but the Reserve White (Raventos) and the Pinot Noir Brut are exceptional, and are a high value consideration. The pale pink colored wine is refreshingly crisp and elegant with plenty of fresh raspberries and black currants.

2009 Bodega Norton Rosado Malbec, Mendoza, Argentina

List price 9.95; our price 8.99; today only 7.99

This winery at the foothills of the Andes produces some of the best red wine of Argentina. Surely it follows that its rosés’ should be of the finest as well. We served this recently with other Argentine wines and wanted to see how well it holds up against other rosés. Besides, I wasn’t here for that event. There is ample red fruit within this dry delivery, but will it hold up to the California rosés to follow?

2009 Pedroncelli Dry Rosé of Zinfandel, Dry Creek Valley

List price 9.99; our price 7.99; today only 6.99

We don’t see a lot of Zinfandel rosé, and after tasting this value packed bottle, I can’t imagine why. Pedroncelli draws grapes from the Dry Creek area near Geyserville in Sonoma County; some of the best Zin grapes in California. The wine is refreshingly crisp and elegant with plenty of fresh raspberries and black currants to delight the palate.

2008 Terra d’Oro Rosé, Shenandoah Valley, Amador Co.

List price 12.00; our price 9.99; today only 8.99

Terra d’Oro Rosé is made mostly of Nebbiolo, the native red grape of Italy’s Piedmont region with 10% Syrah, blended in to deepen the color and focus the strawberry character. The nose entices the senses with strawberry, pink grapefruit, and melon scents. In the mouth, strawberries dominate, leading to a refreshing, just off-dry finish. A joyous sipper that fares well tableside or poolside, this rosé is both a perfect companion to summer weather and to any other time of the year, for that matter.

2010Toad Hollow Pinot Noir Rosé “Eye of the Toad”

List price 12.00; our price 9.99; today only 8.99

The wine has good body and weight for a Rosé of Pinot Noir. It displays a nose of rose petals and violets. Whether in sun or no-sun, this is a truly dry, uncomplicated statement of Pinot Noir at its lightest and most delicate. Spice and pepper bring out the wonderful wild strawberry flavors. It goes great with sushi and wasabi or spicy Thai food.

Saturday, July 9, 2011
4 to 5:30 pm

$10.00 per person
$5.00 is credited against purchase of the featured wines below

Today only receive an extra 10% discount!

Home of: ExecutiveGiftService.com
611 S. Palm Canyon Drive, Suite #1, Palm Springs, 92264
760-327-7701, 800-925-0030

A cold bottle of something that sparkles with bubbles is often the perfect summer enhancement. Especially those lighter in alcohol, which is always a good idea if you are out in the hot sun and by the pool. We have chosen seven products that are fresh and crisp, and dry to slightly sweetened, with lovely fruity quality. The two at the end perform more as cocktails and are quite lovely. These are perfect summer libations and certainly within everyone’s budget.

Canella Prosecco Brut

List price 14.95; our price 12.99; today only 11.69

This wine’s ripe pear and peach notes are marked by a nutty richness. Most Proseccos do exhibit an almond nuttiness that helps the wine finish with a light almond bitterness. This is a great seafood wine up to and including fried calamari.

Verdi Sparkletini Italian Spumante

List price6.99; our price 5.99; today only 5.39

Sparkletini is an elegant, all-natural malt beverage made in Italy by the renowned Bosca family. Sparkletini is a delightfully sparkling Spumante with a light, refreshing taste that’s perfect whenever you feel like enjoying a fun, sophisticated drink. Serve chilled to enjoy its balanced, clean taste. The bottle is sealed with a re-sealable cork closure that preserves all the sparkle. There are subtle strawberry/pear hints in the mouth and a touch of sweetness, checked by an effervescence that is quite refreshing.

Verdi Sparkletini Italian Spumante Apple

List price 6.99; our price 5.99; today only 5.39

This version is an excellent beverage to be served on the rocks while lounging by the pool. One is mindful of biting into a crisp Granny Smith apple when sipping this delightful sparkler.

Verdi Sparkletini Italian Spumante Raspberry

List price 6.99; our price 5.99; today only 5.39

This one shows a very bright essence of raspberry in the nose. If you like Chambord liqueur, you are going to love this quaffing light-weight. Every sip begins with a heady raspberry perfume that carries through to the lovely long finish. A touch of citrus acidity balances nicely the fruity sweetness of the raspberry.

Verdi Sparkletini Italian Spumante Peach

List price 6.99; our price 5.99; today only 5.39

The white peach bouquet is aromatic and inviting. The fruit is very forward, yet reserved in its sweetness. This, it turns out, is the perfect antecedent to the Bellini Cocktail that follows.

Canella Bellini Cocktail di Venezia

List price 13.99; our price 12.95; today only 11.69

The story of Bellini begins in Venice, in the legendary setting of a world-famous artists’ café. One warm summer evening in 1948, its owner decided to mix the fruity white peaches, the grapy sparkle of Prosecco spumante, and a whisper of wild raspberries. He called it Bellini as a tribute to the arts and specifically the Venice-born Renaissance painter Giovanni Bellini. The original formula became two-thirds Prosecco sparkling wine from the hills north of Venice, one third white peach juice with fresh fruit pulp and a few drops of raspberry juice. Forty years after it was invented, Italy’s award-winning Prosecco grower, Canella, took up the difficult challenge of producing the famous Venetian cocktail to satisfy its numerous worldwide fans, yet maintain the freshness and delicacy of the original recipe.

Canella Mimosa Blood Orange

List price 13.99; our price 12.95; today only 11.69

Blood Orange Mimosa is a wine cocktail made from grape wine and the juice and pulp of the celebrated, crimson-fleshed Sicilian blood oranges. The finest cultivars are orchestrated to achieve the best combination of flavors, fragrance and color: the darkest-hued, Moro; Tarocco, the tastiest and sweetest; and the tender Sanguinello. The ensemble is light, fruity, refreshing and flavorsome.

Saturday, June 18, 2011
4 to 5:30 pm

$10.00 per person
$5.00 is credited against purchase of the featured wines below

Today only receive an extra 10% discount!

Home of: ExecutiveGiftService.com
611 S. Palm Canyon Drive, Suite #1, Palm Springs, 92264
760-327-7701, 800-925-0030

There are so many good values to be had from the Spanish wine import market that we will do one event this Saturday and another selection next month on July 9th. I used to think of Spanish wines as being earthy and oaky in the old world sort of way. This simply isn’t so any more. While it is still possible to find wines vinified in the manner of bygone decades, the current style is focused on the so-called international style (read California). Even more amazing is the low cost of wines from old vine vineyards. Production from these vines is progressively lessened as the vineyard ages, which normally sends the price skywards. All across Northern Spain the various wine regions are producing some of their best wines ever and given the prices, we are the beneficiaries.

2005 Juvé y Camps Brut Nature Grand Reserva Cava

List price 16.00; our price 13.99; today only 12.59

Four varietals make up the blend in this excellent sparkler: Macabeo 30%, Parellada 30%, chardonnay 25%, Xarello 15%. It received a 90 point rating from Peñín Guide: Color: bright golden. Nose: fine lees, dry nuts, fragrant herbs, complex, spicy. The palate is flavorful, showing good acidity, a fine bead and fine bitter notes. Wine Spectator likes it too: “Firm acidity provides structure, fleshed out by flavors of apricot, lemon peel, pine and anise, with a crisp finish.”

2010 Artazuri Garnacha, Navarra

List price 11.95; our price 9.99; today only 8.99

Garnacha is the power grape in Navarra. Whether it be deep red wines or pink ones, none are any more appealing than this one. The aroma of berries jumps from the glass with the attendant spice and just a hint of minerality. The flavors are bright and juicy, and the snappy acidity and unabashed fresh red fruit make this an easy quaffing rosé. It is hard not to like a wine that delivers this much character at such a very low fare.

2009 Granrojo Garnacha, Castilla

List price 9.99; our price 7.99; today only 7.19

The Rojo Garnacha has pleasant aromas of licorice along with red and black berries filling the nose. Well-rounded and balanced on the palate, it is elegant and fresh. Red fruit, minerals and a hint of fresh thyme linger on the finish. It is surprisingly silky and full-bodied, with a rich varietal expression that glorifies the Grenache grape.

2007 Hoya de Cadenas Tempranillo, Valencia

List price 9.99; our price 8.50; today only 7.65

The Hoya de Cadenas Estate is situated on the slopes of the Sierra de la Bicuerca, just 100 Km inland from the city of Valencia. The estate cultivates close to 500 acres of the finest local and international vine varieties. The particular micro-climate with temperature variations from day to night gives growth to some pretty special Tempranillo grapes. The Reserva is a rich, rustic, old world style wine; loaded with plenty of fruit and power on the palate; at a fantastic price.

2008 Vega Murillo Tinto de Toro, Toro

List price 17.50; our price 14.99; today only 13.49

The wine exhibits very fruity and floral aromas, principally red fresh fruit, all on a mineral background. There is persistent fruit, minerals and a licorice edge to the flavors as well as displaying a subtle hint of vanilla. The long finish shows good balance and reflects the 3 months spent on new French Allier oak.

2006 Vall Llach Embruix, Priorat

List price 27.00; our price 23.99; today only 21.59

Singer/songwriter Lluís Llach was one of Spain’s key musical figures in the late 1960s, but by the 1990s he had turned his focus to wine, starting this estate in Porrera, one of the nine villages that together constitute Priorat. The estate enjoys old Garnacha and Cariñena plots, with vines 60-90 years of age. Since the estate was founded, they’ve been supplemented with new Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, and Syrah plantings. Ultimately, these are Garnacha and Cariñena velvety-rich wines that are strikingly concentrated and loaded with sweet, spicy berry fruit, braced by smooth tannins. This wine shows blackberry and candied cherry on the nose, with complicating notes of licorice and dried violets. It is supple, forward and fruity, with gentle acidity adding lift and focus. The wine finishes with lingering dark berry flavors and a kiss of herbs. Wine Spectator gave it a 94-point rating.

Saturday, March 26, 2011
4 to 5:30 pm

$10.00 per person
$5.00 is credited against purchase of the featured wines below

Home of: ExecutiveGiftService.com
611 S. Palm Canyon Drive, Suite #1, Palm Springs, 92264
760-327-7701, 800-925-0030

We have made a big buy of Joel Gott wines and figured this was a great time to reintroduce the line-up from this fine wine maker. His wines are remarkable values, offering gobs of classic California fruit, good structure and excellent balance. Joel Gott Wines was established in 1996 with the production of Amador County Zinfandel. Joel had purchased five tons of fruit from boyhood neighbor Tom Dillian and made the wine with then-girlfriend Sarah, a winemaker in Napa Valley. The subsequent 1997 vintage of Dillian Ranch Zinfandel marked not only Sarah and Joel’s marriage, but also the first significant reviews of the wine in respected publications. The success of the 1997 vintage allowed Joel to purchase fruit from twelve different vineyards throughout Northern California in 1999. Joel and Sarah originally intended to produce single-vineyard Zinfandels with these grapes but found during tastings that the wine was much more balanced when blended. They adjusted their plans and released their first California Zinfandel, which sold out in one week. Two products we will be pouring are not Joel’s but should prove enjoyable.

Buble Brut Sparkling Wine, Mendocino

List price 27.00; our price 23.95

For more than two decades the Elke Family has grown Pinot Noir and Chardonnay first for Mumm Napa, and later for Roederer Estates. This is a special bottling that has received very good press. It is a dry brut made from grapes grown in select Mendocino vineyards. The blend is 60% Chardonnay and 40% Pinot Noir.

2009 Joel Gott Sauvignon Blanc, California

List price 12.95; our price 9.99

The 2009 Sauvignon Blanc bursts with tropical notes of mango, lemon, lime, citrus, lychee, pineapple, and guava. The wine has good minerality and balanced acidity and ends with a long finish. Wine Enthusiast awarded it 88 points: “Lots going on for the price on this dry clean Sauvignon Blanc. It has rich flavors of tart citrus fruits, minerals and white flowers. A very pleasant and versatile white wine.”

2008 Joel Gott Zinfandel, California

List price 14.95; our price 12.99

The 2008 Joel Gott California Zinfandel boasts aromas of cocoa, raspberries, and ripe strawberries. On the palate the wine is round and juicy with flavors of pepper, anise, dark cherry and spice, ending with a lingering finish. Wine Enthusiast gave it 88 points: “A great Zinfandel for the price. It’s dry and elegant, with a mouthfeel somewhere between Pinot Noir and Merlot. Really balanced, with soft tannins and acids framing oak-tinged berry and spice flavors”

2008 Joel Gott Zinfandel, Mohr-Fry Ranches, Lodi

List price 19.95; our price 17.50

Nestled between the San Francisco Bay and the Sierra Foothills, the sandy soil of the Lodi Delta enjoys a consistent Mediterranean climate with warm days and cool nights. Generations of grape growers settled here including the Mohrs in the 1850s. At that time the farm was dedicated to row crops and breeding iris. It is now planted to cherry trees, heirloom bean plants and the vineyards. The 2008 shows intense, structured fruit from very old (some 100 years) vines giving great depth and complexity. There is a small amount of old vine Alicante Bouchet in the blend. Look for flavors of anise, plums, cherries and blackberries. Truly a “classic” old style Zin at a very value-oriented price.

2008 Joel Gott Zinfandel, Dillian Ranch, Amador County

List price 25.00; our price 22.99

The grapes come from Tom Dillian’s 20-acre ranch in Plymouth, California, where the mineral-rich red soils and longer growing season create a unique expression of the varietal. The wine has aromas of black cherry, plum, blackberry and pepper spice complimented by sweet tannins, elegant minerality and flavors of ripe fruit, mocha, vanilla and spice.

Dooley’s Toffee Cream Liqueur, Germany

List price 26.00; our price 23.99

Dooley’s, it is very smooth with no bite and offers light alcohol warmth in the back of your throat. Bailey’s, by comparison, has more whisky burn, when you drink it neat. The flavor is pleasantly bold and is comprised of caramel toffee, chocolate, and cream with vanilla coming through. The finish is smooth and buttery; sweet like a dessert.

Saturday, March 12, 2011
4 to 5:30 pm

$10.00 per person
$5.00 is credited against purchase of the featured wines below

Home of: ExecutiveGiftService.com
611 S. Palm Canyon Drive, Suite #1, Palm Springs, 92264
760-327-7701, 800-925-0030

Argentine wines continue to amaze as great buys abound. So many new bottlings have arrived recently that we are scheduling a second look in as many weeks. Unique packaging and a move to organic-designated grapes are becoming part of the norm. This is a great opportunity to sample and discuss the state of the industry as it pertains to Argentina and to your wallet as well.

2009 Matthew Cain Yellow + Blue Torrontés, Cafayate, Salta

List price 11.95; our price 9.99/Liter

Cafayate is the high, sunny valley in the Salta province of Northern Argentina where the Torrontés grape grows so very well. In this case you can taste it in a wine like Yellow + Blue, which Matthew Cain sources from organically farmed vineyards and vinifies it with natural yeasts. In keeping with its “green” pedigree, it’s packaged in Tetra Pak cartons, which are far lighter than glass bottles and take up less room. This is a big plus if wine bottles do not fit well in your fridge, or if you are to carry some wine in your back-pack. This is a dry Torrontés with spicy yellow fruit and floral blossom aromas leading to a dry, clean palate. It is a very well made, tasty wine with good bracing acid.

2009 Matthew Cain Yellow + Blue Malbec, San Juan

List price 11.95; our price 9.99/Liter

Argentina’s San Juan Province is the country’s second largest wine-producing region, located approximately 2,000 feet above sea level near the Chilean border. The Tetra Pak packaging is interesting in that a case of wine in glass weighs 40 pounds and holds 9 liters of wine, whereas a case of Yellow+Blue weighs 26 pounds and holds 12 liters of wine. This earth-friendly, un-oaked Malbec is made from organically grown grapes, as well, and is hand-harvested and fermented with indigenous yeasts. It is medium bodied and dry, with medium acidity, light tannins, moderate intensity, and showing blackberry, plum, and raspberry fruits.

2009 Bodega Elena de Mendoza Red Blend, Mendoza

List price 9.95; our price 8.50

Bodega Elena de Mendoza is named after the family matriarch Elena Napoli, whose parents emigrated from Italy to the heart of Argentina’s wine country in the nineteenth century. The rich, smooth flavors of this wine are an interesting combination of Malbec, Syrah and Bonarda. With dried cherry characteristics, this plush, dark blend is ideal when served alongside barbecued meats.

2008 Filus Malbec Reserve, Mendoza

List price 18.00; our price 14.99

Contrary to other Argentine wineries, Filus Wines was conceived as a New World wine exporter from the beginning in 1997 and its products are made to meet new generation drinker preferences. Both the wine and packaging designing processes relay on targeting Australian and Californian wine drinkers, who are willing to taste new wines from exotic origins. This elegant Malbec is deep ruby red with violet tones and has an intense and bright bouquet with ripe fruit flavors of plums, red currants and raspberries. Ageing in French oak for 12 months enhances and adds complexity to the deep fruit character. The wine received a GOLD MEDAL at the Argentina Wine Awards in 2010.

2009 Bodega Colomé Amalaya Malbec, Valle Calchaqui, Salta

List price 20.00; our price 17.99

Bodega Colomé is owned by Donald Hess, the Swiss entrepreneur who founded Hess Collection wines. The wine is sourced from the highest known altitude Malbec vineyards, averaging 7,500 to 8,000 feet. Founded in 1831, Bodega Colomé is one of the oldest working wineries in Argentina. Amalaya is bright ruby colored and dense with a very fruity nose of red cherries, raspberries and spices. It has a fresh palate, and finishes with soft and round tannins. This vintage remains unrated, but the 2007 Amalaya received 91 points in the Wine Spectator.

FresitaSparkling Wine with Strawberry Infusion

List price 19.00; our price16.95

Well, the wine actually is made in Chile, but the strawberries, at least, are from Argentina. Fresita (“strawberries” in Spanish) is a unique product made from premium Chilean sparkling wine infused with hand picked strawberries from Patagonia and the Andes Mountains. Fresita is naturally produced and has no added sugar from 100% natural strawberry pulp. Enjoy it as an apéritif or dessert wine, for special occasions or to simply to unwind with friends.

Saturday, December 11, 2010
4 to 5:30 pm

$5.00 per person
Home of: ExecutiveGiftService.com
611 S. Palm Canyon Drive, Suite #1, Palm Springs, 92264
760-327-7701, 800-925-0030

It is definitely that time of year and what better selection could we offer than sparkling wines from California and from the Champagne district of France. Once again, Lisa Wherry will present an excellent array of wines from the Young’s portfolio to examine not only the stylistic differences between French and California sparklers, but between the grape blends that make up these bottlings, as well. Moreover, this is, simply put, a fun event and a great way to orient oneself towards the festive days ahead.

2007 Schramsberg Vineyards Blanc de Blancs, Napa

List price 29.95; our price 26.99

The aromas are sweet and inviting with fresh lemon and lime, followed by pineapple and green apple. The generous nose is accentuated by a salty minerality that leads way to the yeastiness of fresh-from-the-oven bread. It delivers delicious flavors of green apple, fresh honeydew melon and lemon custard. The palate finishes with a pleasant acidity that is crisp, long and lingering. It received 89 points from Wine Spectator

Taittinger Cuvée Prestige, Reims

List price 43.00; our price 39.99

Taittinger is the third oldest Champagne house, and the origins of the house can be traced back to 1734. The Taittinger headquarters are in Reims, situated above 4th century Roman cellars with miles of tunnels and cellars used in the aging process in making Champagne. The House style is elegance with creamy richness. Cuvee Prestige is made of 40% Chardonnay grapes, and is a delicate wine with flavors of fresh fruit and honey. It is firm and on the dry side, with light oak, citrus and candied berry notes. Elegant yet well-toned, it shows intensity and character from beginning to end and stays persistent through the long, lovely finish.

2007 Schramsberg Vineyards Blanc de Noirs, Napa

List price 35.00; our price 29.99

The long growing season of 2006 produced a fruit forward Blanc de Noirs, delivering generous aromas of strawberry, apple, and lime, followed with hints of spiced orange, cinnamon, and toasted hazelnut. Red apple and baked pineapple flavors give way to mid-palate notes of strawberry yogurt and brown sugar, leading to a zesty, crisp finish. This lively sparkling wine will retain its fruitful character and mature gracefully for many years to come.

Piper Heidsieck Brut Champagne, Reims

List price 29.99; our price 26.99

Gift packing with bottle in bucket:

List price 33.00; our price 29.99

This is the best bargain in Champagne and is perennially rated 90+. In fact, Wine Enthusiast Magazine gave it a 92-point rating and made it an “Editor’s Choice”: “Toasty aromas leap from the glass in this deliciously mature wine. It is soft but still very dry, with acidity tamed by both fine, mature fruit and a creamy texture that sits well in the mouth. This is a very fine, tasty wine.”

Charles Heidsieck Brut Reserve, Reims

List price 45.00; our price 39.99

This is a fully developed wine, with a radiant bouquet that is captivating yet subtle. Although notes of fully ripe fruit, such as nectarines and cherry plums, are apparent initially, the finish hints at nougat, honey and cereal grains. This wine is smooth and generous on the palate. Three years of maturation have given it body and substance. As the wine opens up, it is full and intense with notes of warm bread blending harmoniously with some ginger and coriander. The grapes used to produce this blend are selected from the top Crus in the Champagne region (34% Pinot Noir, 33% Chardonnay, and 33% Pinot Meunier). It has received high ratings: 94 from Wine Enthusiast and 93 from Wine Spectator.

2004 Iron Horse Russian Cuvée

List price 32.00; our price 27.00

This is the same base wine as their Classic Vintage Brut, but with a richer dosage, which makes it more opulent, slightly sweeter and heightens the fruit. It was originally designed for the historic Reagan-Gorbachev summit meetings ending the Cold War. Here we have a blend of 68% Pinot Noir and 32% Chardonnay aged 3 years on its yeast. It reveals lots of persistent effervescence, tiny, well-formed bubbles, a light straw color, and a distinctive perfume of orange rind and honeyed citrus. In the mouth, it shows a full-bodied mouthfeel and displays good intensity. Even though it is made from the same blend as the Classic Vintage Brut, the Russian Cuvee is much longer, richer, and more intense.

Saturday, July 31, 2010
4 to 6 pm

$5.00 per person
Home of: ExecutiveGiftService.com
611 S. Palm Canyon Drive, Suite #1, Palm Springs, 92264
760-327-7701, 800-925-0030

Aside from rosés, I can think of no better category of wine that would serve the desert dweller more enjoyably. The Prosecco grape is grown primarily in the Veneto area of Italy that is northwest of Venice, near the Alps. Many good Pinot Grigios come from this area also. The wine produced from this grape is light, lightly sparkling, refreshing and versatile. It pairs well with many dishes such as seafood with light pasta sauces and is terrific by itself as an apéritif. It should be drunk quite chilled and, given the intense heat of our summers, served over ice poolside. Prosecco is made using the Charmat method rather than the Champagne method. The wine goes through secondary fermentation in pressurized tanks rather than in individual bottles. The shorter tank fermentation is preferable because it preserves the freshness and flavor of the grapes. The flavor profile is citrus, melon, lemon, honey and almonds (usually in the finish).

Zonin Prosecco

List price 10.00; our price 8.99

This is a very tasty sparkling wine, though without being overly carbonated. The fruit is soft and pear-like and there are just enough sweet elements to remove the acidic edge one gets from Champagne. Besides making an excellent Bellini cocktail, it mixes well with liqueurs such as cream de cassis to form a Kir.

Mionetto Prosecco “IL”

List price 12.99; our price 9.99

The aroma is fruity, reminiscent of pear and citrus with a slightly floral bouquet. The wine is fresh and crisp with apparent apple and peach flavors and contains an alcohol level of only 10.5 percent. This gentle-sparkling wine has garnered a “Best of Tasting” award from the Wall Street Journal and a “Best Buy” recommendation from Wine Enthusiast Magazine.

Villa Sandi Prosecco

List price 14.00; our price 10.99

Villa Sandi is an exquisite Palladian-style villa dating back to 1622, located at the foot of the Marca Trevigiana hills, in the Veneto region and represents the combination of art and agriculture which has characterized the Venetian landscape for centuries. This Prosecco is an ideal accompaniment for a variety of cuisines and courses. Whether served as an apèritif, or at the end of a meal, or any course in between, the natural acidity and fresh taste lightly compliments, but never over-powers, a meal. This elegant sparkler achieves a nice balance between sweet, fruit flavors and lively crispness. Look for peach, pear, jasmine, grapefruit and stone that characterize the fruit with a bit of almond bitterness at the finish.

Lamarca Prosecco

List price 15.00; our price 12.99

This sparkling wine is a pale, golden straw in color. Bubbles are full textured and persistent. On the nose the wine brings fresh citrus with hints of honey and white flowers. The flavor is fresh and clean, with ripe citrus, lemon, green apple, and touches of grapefruit, minerality, and some toast. The finish is light, refreshing, and crisp.

Mionetto Prosecco, Organically Grown Grapes

List price 18.00 our price 14.99

This Organic category Prosecco is made with certified organically-grown grapes. In the vineyard, the grapes are grown without synthetic chemicals and fertilizers. In the cellar, the wine is vinified separately to ensure purity. Reducing the carbon footprint of this wine even further, recycled materials were used for the bottle, label and shipping box. This delightful Prosecco is bright yellow in color. Its perfume of delicate elderflowers leads to an explosion of golden apples on the palate. It weighs in at a mere 11 % alcohol.

Mionetto Prosecco Sergio

List price 24.00; our price 17.99

The blend in this sparkling wine is 70% Prosecco di Valdobbiadene DOC and the other 30% is a blend of Verdiso, Bianchetta and Chardonnay. It honors the traditions of the Veneto winemaking region and the long history of the Mionetto family. Contemporary master vintner Sergio Mionetto produces this wine based on a formula handed down by Francesco Mionetto, who founded the winery. A touch of two old grape varieties, unique to the region, are blended with the area’s finest Prosecco grapes; along with a bit of Chardonnay to add body. The result is a superbly dry, slightly fruity wine with just a hint of acidic crispness. Wine Enthusiast gave the wine a 92 point-rating.

Saturday, April 10, 2010

4 to 6 pm

$5.00 per person

Home of: ExecutiveGiftService.com

611 S. Palm Canyon Drive, Suite #1, Palm Springs, 92264

760-327-7701, 800-925-0030

Some of us have a deep and abiding love of sparkling wine but have to balk at the extravagant pricing of the Champagnes of France.  Of course, the quality of Champagne is virtually impossible to beat.  Even California can field some fine sparkling wine, yet the prices have continued to escalate over the years.  So we look to Spain for values in sparkling wine that allow us to fulfill our thirst for bubbly while preserving our retirement fund.  It is truly amazing that wineries there can produce sparklers in the labor intensive Methode Champenois or Champagne Method. Due to European regulations prohibiting use of that term, cava is now labeled as Methode Tradicional, which has the same requirements with an added stipulation that cava must age for a minimum of nine months on the lees before release. “Cava” is Spain’s word for sparkling wine and covers rosés as well.  We are opening a couple of these as well to round out the event.

Cristalino Brut

List price 9.95; our price 7.99

The winery behind Cristalino, Jaume Serra, was founded in 1943 some 50 kilometers south of Barcelona by distinguished enologist Jaume Serra Guell. The wine has fresh aromas, a fine and fruity palate, and a dry aftertaste. This blend of the grape varietals Macabeo 50%, Parellada 35% and Xarello (Chah-rayl-lo) 15% is clean, dry and crisp with citrus and apple flavors.  Wine Enthusiast gave it an 88 point rating: “Cristalino is always a solid go-to Cava. This brut is round, slightly yeasty and shows citrus aromas that veer toward lemon-lime. The palate is healthy and clean, with a narrow set of citrus and apple flavors. Fairly full and long on the finish, this whole package is more than worth-while given the cost.”

Paul Cheneau Brut “Lady of Spain”

List price 12.00; our price 9.99

Cava was first introduced in 1872 and, by the turn of the century, cava was the wine of choice among the chic patrons of Barcelona’s elegant art nouveau cafes and cava bars.  As a tribute to the fashionable ladies who made cava so popular, Paul Cheneau introduced the “Lady of Spain”.  This blend of Macabeo 45%, Xarello 40% and Parellada 15% has a formation of small bubbles which generate a gentle crown.  It is fine, delicate and very clean, with lightly toasted pastry notes.  Fresh and fruity, it is well structured, crispy, and balanced with a long aftertaste.

Juvé y Camps Brut Vintage 2006

List price 15.00; our price 11.99

Juvé y Camps has been a family run company for three generations although Joan Juvé Mir began growing grapes over two hundred years ago.  Teresa Camps Farré, an exceptional woman and an enthusiastic lover of sparkling wines, inspired her husband to launch the first sparkling wine under the “Juvé” brand in 1921.  The blend is similar to that of the Reserva below although the exact percentages were not available.  If you like this wine, you will love the Reserva.

Juvé y Camps Reserva De La Familia Brut Vintage 2005

List price 17.00; our price 14.99

This cava is made from the free run juices Macabeo 40%, Parellada 40% and Xarello 20%.  It is delicate, fruity, fragrant, and perfectly balanced.  It shows the three indigenous classic grape varieties at their harmonious best: dry, soft and smooth on the palate, with a richness and finesse that come from the four years it has spent aging in bottle. This is a Gran Reserva cava with perfect structure and balance, and great length and complexity. The full nose is fruity and elegant, rich and complex from the long bottle ageing. On the palate it is quite dry, soft and round with a long, exquisite finish.

Cristalino Brut Rosé

List price 9.95; our price 7.99

This blend of 60% Pinot Noir and 40% Trepat shows beautiful scents of raspberry and cherry on the nose with fresh, clean strawberry and cherry flavors in the mouth and a consistent bead. The clean and crisp finish is an excellent match for fried appetizers such as calamari or light desserts such as crème brulee. It is excellent on its own or with fresh fruit.

Juvé Y Camps Brut Rosé

List price 19.00; our price 16.99

This cava is produced from Pinot Noir grapes grown in the Penedés.   The free run juice is allowed a brief maceration on the skins to achieve a deep pink color.  On the nose there are both floral and berry fruit notes in perfect harmony.  Displaying a lovely nose of rose petals and strawberries, it is lively and fresh on the palate, with crisp acidity and a long finish.  Long bottle aging has brought balance, length and weight while retaining freshness and vivacity. Serve this excellent value with a variety of savory courses and as an apéritif.