Emma Dozen Grapes

If you are watching HBO’s latest hit zombie apocalypse series, The Last of Us, you probably saw some pretty obvious product placement in Episode 3, “Long, Long Time”. 🍷

Louis Jadot Beaujolais Villages was one of the gateway wines that opened the door to my passion for French reds. It will always hold a special place in my heart. I was so excited to see it on the big screen, especially after driving through Beaujolais this past summer!

In preparation for the season finale tonight, I picked up a bottle of Beaujolais Villages and did a lil review over on the blog. It’s an easy, affordable crowd pleaser that pairs well with a large variety of foods. I wouldn’t age it for ~20 years like Bill and Frank did on the show, but during an apocalypse, I guess you gotta work with what ya got! 💁🏻‍♀️

The Last of Us - Beaujolais Villages - Emma Dozen Grapes If you are watching HBO's latest zombie apocalypse hit show, The Last of Us, you probably saw some pretty obvious product placement in Episode 3, "Long, Long Time.” During the episode, doomsday prepper, Bill, finds himself the last person standing in his town of Lincoln, MA. So, he goes around tow...

New Zealand, the land of excellent Sauvignon Blanc that is available at an unbeatable price! This month, I compared three different NZ Sauvy B’s from the same region, Marlborough. Each one was a delicious, unique expression of the grape. 🌾🌳🍋🍏🥭 Read more about each one on the blog!

Pinot Noir also thrives in NZ. I tried one from Central Otago, the southernmost wine region in the world. The juicy & herbaceous notes grew on me as the wine opened up.

Do you have a go-to Sauvy B from New Zealand!?! I have a few that are always stocked in my wine fridge during the summer.

New Zealand - Emma Dozen Grapes Nestled to the southeast of Australia lies New Zealand, a country well known for making remarkable Sauvignon Blanc. The majority of the country’s vineyards are located on the east shores of the two main islands and are the southernmost of any wine countries in the world. The cool, maritime climate...

Argentina - wow. The two wines I tried this month were on par with this year’s football team. ⚽️

This South American wine country is well known for high altitude vineyards that result in bold, acidic, and well-balanced wines. The gorgeous inky purple color of the Malbec from Uco Valley, Mendoza was the perfect precursor to the lucious, juicy plum flavors. The Torrontés from Salta… What a surprise! This crisp, acidic and delightfully refreshing varietal is getting added to my summer wine rotation. Read more about it on the blog & in stories.

Leave your recommendations for Argentina wines below. I can’t wait to explore more of what this country has to offer! 🇦🇷

Agentina Wine Challenge - Emma Dozen Grapes Explore the world of wine by trying an Argentina Malbec

Ringing in 2023 with a challenge to expand my palate! ✨⠀
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After an incredible visit to the Rhône Valley & Bourgogne, I’ve found myself exclusively gravitating toward the French aisle at the liquor store. As much as I *L O V E* French wine, I’m challenging myself to rediscover what the world of wine has to offer.⠀
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So, each month this year, I am picking up a new wine from the country of the month and sharing my thoughts.⠀
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Feel free to join me! I would love to see what you pick and read your tasting notes. 🥂

2023 Wine Challenge Happy New Year, everybody! This year, one of my goals is to get back into wine tasting in a fun, easy and approachable way. Lately when I go to the store, I have found myself gravitating exclusively toward French wines. As much as I absolutely L O V E French wine, I want to venture back outside my c...

last night was a dream ✨⠀
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This 2018 Chianti Classico has a beautiful bundle of ripe red fruit and to***co notes tied together with a big, round body. The acid paired perfectly with the fresh tomatoes and cut through the creamy ricotta on the bruschetta.

https://emmadozengrapes.com/blog/chianti-classico-at-ciao-roma/

Chianti Classico at Ciao Roma - Emma Dozen Grapes One of the things I love most about living in a city is the abundance of restaurants and amazing food around every corner. Since moving to Boston, Kyle and I have tried to go to a new restaurant every week for a date night and we continue to be impressed with each restaurant we’ve tried.

⁣New blog post! 🎄✨⠀
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I can’t believe that tomorrow is Christmas Eve! One of the things that I love to do with close friends & family at (small) gatherings is wine + charcuterie board pairing. Here are a couple of our favorites for the holidays!⠀
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Dr. Konstantin Frank Winery Rkatsiteli + herb Chèvre, green olives & dried apricot ⠀
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Henry Fessy Beaujolais Nouveau + mild Crémeux de Bourgogne, dried cranberries & fresh pomegranate⠀
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DOMAINE GUIGAL Crozes-Hermitage + apple smoked Gouda, prosciutto & green olives⠀
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Remember - pairing is personal! Live your dreams and pair what you like! 🍷🧀🫒 I'd love to hear your favorites.

https://emmadozengrapes.com/blog/christmas-wine-charcuterie-pairings/

⁣Happy Holidays! 🎄 ⠀
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Do you need a gift for the wine lover in your life? Check out my new blog post for 7 different options that you can easily ship anywhere. 🎅🏻 ⠀
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https://emmadozengrapes.com/blog/holiday-gift-guide/

⁣Like many of my peers, I’m blessed with the opportunity to spend the holidays with my parents in the house I grew up in! 👨‍👩‍👧‍👧⠀
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While I’m here, we’re clearing out the wine rack. Many of the bottles are 15+ years old and I’m curious what they taste like! I have absolutely no expectations and am excited to share this experience with you. 🥳 ⠀
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Follow along on my Instagram Stories this month for the good, the bad, and the ugly as we open up a new bottle every night. 🍾

When I'm looking for a new wine, I find it helpful to ask the Wine Consultant at my local liquor store! 👩🏼‍💼⠀
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Recently, I was introduced to this quietly complex French red from the Languedoc-Roussillon region. I picked up a list of aromas and flavors from this easy sipping blend of Old Vine Carignan, Syrah and Grenache. Raspberry, ripe cherry, baking spices, leather, oak and blackberry jam just to name a few. The flavors were dynamic on my tongue and followed through on a herbaceous finish. ⠀
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In addition to using fruit from vines that are over 70 years old, this wine gained layers of complexity through oak barrel aging. For about $15 and rated at 97 points, this is a perfect example of how fascinating, mysterious and complicated French wines can be. 🇫🇷🍷⠀

https://emmadozengrapes.com/blog/ch%C3%A2teau-croix-daum%C3%A8des-cuv%C3%A9e-r%C3%A9serve/

emma dozen grapes - Emma Dozen Grapes While curiously browsing and reading labels in the French wine aisle of my local liquor store, I was asked by an employee, Lauren, if I needed help finding anything. Come to find out, she is also a wine enthusiast and provided a lively and informative conversation about some of her go-to suggestions...

⁣“Wine is the only artwork you can drink.” - Luis Fernando Olaverri⠀
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The 2018 Dry Riesling from Sheldrake Point is truly a work of art. ⠀
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On the nose, I smelled lavender, lime zest, green apple and faint limestone. The elegance of the light mouthfeel paired with a high acidity and long finish make this dry Riesling unmistakably Finger Lakes. 😍⠀
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This vintage won Sheldrake Point a double gold at the Finger Lakes Wine Competition - meaning all of the judges unanimously agreed it was worthy of a gold medal. For $14, it is an amazing choice for Thanksgiving! 🦃

https://emmadozengrapes.com/blog/sheldrake-point-dry-riesling/

Sheldrake Point Dry Riesling - Emma Dozen Grapes During our visit to Sheldrake Point over Columbus Day weekend, I fell in love with their Dry Riesling. It won a Double Gold Medal at the 2020 Finger Lakes International Wine Competition, meaning all of the judges on the panel unanimously agreed that it was worthy of a gold medal. There are only a ha...

My favorite fall appetizer pairing - baked Brie and sparkling 🍁🍾⠀
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Learn how to make this super simple, easy recipe today on the blog! ⠀
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Brie is a creamy, nutty, soft-ripened cheese and it pairs perfectly with sparkling wine. The high acid, cleansing bubbles of the wine help cut the rich, high fat complexity of the Brie and compliment the nutty flavors! 🧀 ⠀
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There are many other wines, such as a semi-dry Riesling or Chardonnay that would pair well with this dish. I am a big believer in pairing what YOU think tastes good. If you like something else, try it! Experimenting with flavors is fun and you have to remember that there is no right or wrong answer! 😋

https://emmadozengrapes.com/blog/baked-brie-recipe-pairing/

Baked Brie Recipe & Pairing - Emma Dozen Grapes Baked brie, wrapped in a crescent with fig jam and candied pecans, served with crisp apples is the perfect appetizer or fall afternoon snack. It tastes every bit as good as it looks, and it is so easy to make! Brie is a soft, rich and gooey cheese with a high fat content. Combined with the fig jam,....

Need an excuse to drink wine? 🥂

One of the best ways to gain confidence in your wine palate is to practice tasting! 😋

Check out the key things to look for with my systematic tasting guide! ✨

https://emmadozengrapes.com/blog/how-get-most-out-your-wine/

emma dozen grapes - Emma Dozen Grapes Would you be able to describe, in detail, the last wine you had? What did it smell and taste like? How would you differentiate it from other wines you have had? Tasting with a systematic intention will help you develop your senses and better understand how to pair wine with food. To really get the m...

⁣If you like Gewürztraminer you need to try Traminette. 😍 ⠀
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Traminette is a child of Gewürztraminer and has a lower intensity of spicy/floral aromas. 🍇⠀
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This wine had melon, honey and mineral flavors wrapped in a creamy, medium weight body with a medium acid. It was well balanced, bright, smooth and had a long finish. It is a perfect example of an excellently made wine. 🥂⠀
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The winemaker from Fox Run came and spoke about the importance of balance in wine in one of my classes this past spring. This is a beautiful representation of his craft and I’m so glad I picked it up. 👏🏻⠀

https://emmadozengrapes.com/blog/fox-run-vineyards-traminette/

emma dozen grapes - Emma Dozen Grapes While I was in line to check out at the liquor store a couple of weeks ago, I saw this wine on the shelf. Traminette (tra-man-et) is a varietal I had never heard of before, however, I had heard of Seneca Lake’s Fox Run Vineyards during one of my wine classes. I decided to give it a try! The winema...

Riesling flights, vineyards and lakefront... what more could you ask for? 🚤

Sheldrake Point Winery has all 3 and so much more. I tasted their Double Gold Award Winning 2018 Dry Riesling and let me tell you 😍 it is worthy.

See what else I bought on my blog post! ✨

https://emmadozengrapes.com/blog/sheldrake-point-winery/

Sheldrake Point Winery - Emma Dozen Grapes After enjoying a tasting and lunch at Knapp Winery, we drove 10 minutes south along Cayuga Lake, surrounded by scenic views, to Sheldrake Point. The tasting room and vineyards are located a stone’s throw away from the shoreline of the lake between two deep ravines. Sheldrake is also accessible by ...

⁣It is harvest season here in the Finger Lakes! ⠀
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Today on the blog I’m talking about our trip to Knapp Winery on the west side of Cayuga Lake. They have the oldest Cabernet Franc vines in the Finger Lakes! 🍇⠀
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In addition to an outstanding selection of dry to semi dry wines, they have sweet wines and spirits, too. ⠀
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We finished our visit with a great lunch on the restaurant patio before we headed to Sheldrake Point. 🍴

https://emmadozengrapes.com/blog/knapp-winery/

Knapp Winery - Emma Dozen Grapes Knapp Winery is one of many excellent stops on the Cayuga Lake Wine Trail. The vineyards, tasting room and restaurant on the estate are tucked behind a valley away from the shores of the lake. When we visited a couple weeks ago, this was our first stop and we were impressed with the entire experienc...

Sabrage is a ~fancy~ way to open a bottle of bubbly and it is so satisfying! 🍾⠀
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I broke it down into 7 easy steps on today’s blog post. ⠀
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A Buffalo Bills season opener win is definitely an excuse to saber some sparkling, but making it through another day is a good reason, too! 🏈

https://emmadozengrapes.com/blog/its-saber-time/

It’s Saber Time! - Emma Dozen Grapes The next time you have to open a bottle of bubbly and want to be a little extra, try the Sabrage method! This is an alternate, ~fancy~ technique to open sparkling wine and you can easily do it in 7 steps! All you need is a chilled bottle of sparkling and a flat, metal object.

Over Labor Day, we visited a couple wineries on the west side of Cayuga Lake! The Rieslings and views were outstanding. 👏🏻⠀⠀
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We also stopped at Ithaca Beer Co. to try a couple local brews. 🍺⠀
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On the blog is a brief overview of my experience, my top 3 wines of the day and a little bit about the Cayuga White hybrid grape! 🍇 ⠀⠀
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Have you ever tried a wine made with Cayuga White before? 🥂⠀⠀

https://emmadozengrapes.com/blog/cayuga-lake-wine-tour-overview/

Cayuga Lake Wine Tour Overview - Emma Dozen Grapes Over Labor Day weekend, my family and I visited the west side of Cayuga Lake for a wine and beer tasting. When I was planning the trip, I knew that I wanted to visit the award winning, popular and scenic Sheldrake Point Winery located directly on the shores of the lake. Knapp Winery is located 10 mi...

All trails lead to Oregon. 🛤⠀
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This Pinot Noir from Oregon Trails Wine Co. is just what you need to help transition your cellar from summer to fall. 🍁⠀
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The medium (+) acid is layered with tart cherry and cooking spice flavors to make the perfect compliment for this time of year here in Upstate New York. ⠀
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What have you been drinking recently? 🥂

https://emmadozengrapes.com/blog/oregon-trails-wine-co-pinot-noir/

Oregon Trails Wine Co. Pinot Noir - Emma Dozen Grapes One of my favorite things about the transition from summer to fall is drinking more red wine. In the summer, I tend to stick to refreshing, acidic, light wines such as Sauvignon Blanc, dry Riesling or a crisp rosé. Here in New York, it is starting to feel like fall. In addition to the occasional co...

Currently wishing summer would never end 🌞 ⠀
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This week on the blog, I traveled to Greece through wine and food. The homemade falafels and stuffed grape leaves paired so well with the Roditis Dry White!⠀
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What are your favorite wines from Greece? 🇬🇷

https://emmadozengrapes.com/blog/night-greece/

A Night in Greece - Emma Dozen Grapes Okay, so we didn’t actually go to Greece! One of the countless things I love about wine and food is their ability to take you to new places without having to physically travel. Recently, Kyle’s aunt and uncle invited us to a Greek inspired wine and food night. They made stuffed grape leaves and ...

Shopping local and saving the bees? Count me in! We love the honey, Kutik's Everything Bees! 🍯 It will 🐝 the best addition to our charcuterie boards!

Check out Emma's notes on all things wine: https://www.facebook.com/emmadozengrapes

Inspired. And of course we love her taste in honey. Thanks for that great shot, Emma.

We ended our Seneca Lake tour at Standing Stone Vineyards and the views were almost as incredible as the wine. 😍⠀
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I tried a red blend made with Saperavi grapes! This high acid, high tannin varietal is native to the country of Georgia, but there are a handful of vines in the Finger Lakes.

https://emmadozengrapes.com/blog/part-4-standing-stone-vineyards/

part 4 // Standing Stone Vineyards - Emma Dozen Grapes To end our day on Seneca Lake, we stopped at Standing Stone Vineyards. Before visiting, I had done little research on their history and was not familiar with their wines, but I am always willing to try something new! It is right down the road from Wagner Vineyards and Lamoreaux Landing, so I added i...

Happy National Red Wine Day!🍷⠀
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Our incredible tasting experience at the highly recommend Lamoreaux Landing Wine Cellars is live on emmadozengrapes.com! 🥂⠀⠀
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I tasted and compared the 2015 and 2018 T23 Unoaked Cabernet Franc. The mellow red jam and savory spice flavors in the 2015 were giving me all the autumn vibes. 🍁 ⠀⠀
Spoiler - they were both aging so well that we brought both vintages home to taste them again in a couple years. 😍

https://emmadozengrapes.com/blog/part-3-lamoreaux-landing-wine-cellars/

part 3 // Lamoreaux Landing Wine Cellars - Emma Dozen Grapes Several of the wine enthusiasts I am connected with on Instagram recommended wines from Lamoreaux Landing and I was so happy to see that it was right down the road from Wagner! Let me tell you, the tasting experience at Lamoreaux was truly VIP. Due to Covid-19, the normal operation of the vineyard h...

Have you ever travelled to France for only $7? 🇫🇷⠀
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With this affordable, easy drinking wine from Côtes-du-Rhône everyone can! Made with the power trio of Grenache, Mourvèdre and Syrah, this blend is a good introduction to wines from this region! ⠀
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Aromas include a faint intensity of cherry jam, clove and vanilla. There’s a good amount of tannin and a medium body. More serious wines from Côtes-du-Rhône have a fuller body and longer finish, but for $7 you can’t go wrong with this one. 😋

https://emmadozengrapes.com/blog/laurent-dublanc-tradition-et-terroir-c%C3%B4tes-du-rh%C3%B4ne/

Laurent Deblanc Tradition et Terroir Côtes-du-Rhône - Emma Dozen Grapes Don’t be intimidated by the label! This $7 French red is a steal and an affordable, introductory option for wines from Côtes-du-Rhône. French wines are labelled according to the region in which they are grown, not the grapes used to make the wine. In the future, I will make a cheat sheet for you...

From an extensive list of wines to a brewery, Wagner Vineyards has something for everyone! Today on the blog, I talk about our fantastic experience, all the wines I tasted and which ones I brought home. ⠀
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The 2019 Dry Rosé of Cabernet Franc made the list. It is crisp and earthy with just the right amount of tart red fruit. You need to try it if you are a fan of French Rosé! 🌸⠀

https://emmadozengrapes.com/blog/part-2-wagner-vineyards-estate-winery/

part 2 // Wagner Vineyards Estate Winery - Emma Dozen Grapes During one of my wine classes this past spring, I was introduced to the best Dry Riesling I have ever tasted. No surprise that it was from the Finger Lakes! Thankfully, I am currently living within a couple hours of Wagner Vineyards, the producer of this 2017 award winning Dry Riesling. After that f...

Part 1 of my 4 part Seneca Lake wine tour series is live on the blog! I talk about my overall experience, why the Finger Lakes are the most underrated wine region in the world and my top 3 wines of the day. 🏅⠀
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The next articles in the series highlight each one of the wineries we visited. Don’t worry, I include all the deets on the wines and most of them are under $20. 😋⠀
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Have you visited the Finger Lakes? I am so thankful to live near here! ⠀

https://emmadozengrapes.com/blog/seneca-lake-wine-tour/

Seneca Lake Wine Tour - Emma Dozen Grapes Earlier this week, I went on my first wine tasting since the beginning of March, when Covid-19 changed almost everything in America. While I was originally hesitant to visit tasting rooms because we are in the middle of a seemingly never-ending, global pandemic, I am extremely pleased to say I felt....

When your scrunchie matches your wine >>> 😍

You really can’t go wrong with any Charles Smith wine! Band of Roses rosé is super approachable and easy to drink. The mellow body and vibrant ripe red fruit flavors make this wine perfect for lakeside charcuterie!

PS – my scrunchie is from ! There are so many cute colors to pair your wine with! 🧶

https://emmadozengrapes.com/blog/charles-smith-band-of-roses-ros%C3%A9/

Charles Smith Band of Roses Rosé Another dry rosé that I am adding to my summer essential wine list is Band of Roses! This wine is mellow in the most exciting way possible and it is super easy to drink. Baby pink in color, I smelled notes of strawberry and raspberry that followed through into the flavor. As you can see on my tasti...

⁣Look at how cute this lil bulldog is! 🥺⠀
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If you like light bodied, dry, red wines – this one is for you! This is the perfect complement to a green salad with fresh cracked black pepper and Italian dressing. Check out the full review on my blog!✨⠀
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Bully Hill will always have a special place in my heart – it is where my parents had their first date! And the wines are really good too. 😋⠀
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Have you had a baco noir? What do you think?

https://emmadozengrapes.com/blog/bully-hill-vineyards-bulldog-baco-noir/

Bully Hill Vineyards Bulldog Baco Noir Last fall, I stopped at Bully Hill Vineyards in the heart of the Finger Lakes on my way back to college for a tasting. I was just getting into wine and I had to stop when I realized that it was on my route! My parents had their first date here and I am a huge fan of many of their wines, especially t...

sipping on sunshine 🍋

For less than $15, this Sauvignon Blanc will quench your thirst on any hot summer day! It has high acid and a mouth watering finish. The tart lemon flavors and mild creaminess would go perfectly with a summer seafood cookout. 🦞

https://emmadozengrapes.com/blog/chateau-ste-michelle-heaven-horse-vineyard-sauvignon-blanc/

Chateau Ste. Michelle Horse Heaven Vineyard Sauvignon Blanc I’m convinced that this is the wine equivalent to lemonade. It is tart, bursting with lemon and it is the perfect companion on any hot summer day. When I tasted this wine, there were strong aromas of citrus and subtle notes of green grass. It has a medium body, high acid and dances off your tongue...

⁣Crackin’ a cold one is taking on a whole new meaning! 🍷⠀
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A couple my favorite canned wines so far have been Underwood Pinot Noir and Una Lou Rosé. Both are perfect for on the go summer activities! My full reviews and a list of ones I want to try are on the blog! I'm really looking forward to trying and ! 🤩⠀
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Food for thought⠀
-Cans are more environmentally friendly to ship than traditional glass bottles! 🌿⠀
-Each can is ½ a bottle of wine. 😱⠀
-The industry has grown 70% in the past year. 📈⠀
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Have you had a canned wine? What are your favorites?

https://emmadozengrapes.com/blog/tell-tradition-take-hike/

Tell Tradition to Take a Hike Over the last couple years, canned wine has become increasingly popular for a number of reasons. It is easier to take with you on outdoor adventures, more approachable than bottled wine, is more friendly for the environment than glass bottles and it can be really good! Many people are apprehensive t...

⁣The perfect vegan certified wine companion for all the ‘beef’ fillets. 🐮🌱⠀
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This tannic red from Spain was outstanding and bursting with dark red fruit flavors. Read the full review on my blog! ✨

https://emmadozengrapes.com/blog/parcelica-grande-red-blend/