October 15, 2021

J LOHR “Los Osos” Merlot 2019

(Paso Robles, CA) $15

Rich, dark, plummy fruit, a touch of spice, and a supple, soft texture.

89 points KM

Available at Vivino

What sweet addition is made to Prosecco to craft a Bellini?

A. Pear juice

B. White peach purée

C. White fig syrup

D. Sun-dried moscato bianco grapes

While cocktail bars today may often substitute Champagne, the Bellini was most definitely born from Prosecco—celebrated yesterday on National Prosecco Day. The first Bellini was poured in the summer of 1948 by Giuseppe Cipriani, founder and barman of the legendary Harry’s Bar in Venice. Inspired by the region’s fragrant white peaches and world-famous sparkling wine, Cipriani pushed the fresh fruit through a sieve to create a purée, then combined it with crisp, bright Prosecco. The official recipe is one-part pureé to two-parts Prosecco. According to Arrigo Cipriani, current bar owner and Giovani’s son, Cipriani named his refreshing concoction after 15th-century local Venetian artist Giovani Bellini, whose landscapes glowed with similar pale pink shades. Harry’s Bar opened in Venice in 1931 and was declared a national landmark by the Italian Ministry for Cultural Affairs in 2001.

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Percentage of French winegrowers who currently farm with draft horses, according to the Equivigne Project. As the wine industry seeks to use fewer chemical inputs and fossil fuels, more vintners are turning to the gentle… Continue reading

J LOHR “Los Osos” Merlot 2019

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