Four Brix Baubles Brut
Just the name of Four Brix Winery’s Baubles Brut causes Must Be 21ers to smile, according to Karen Stewart, the Ventura winery’s co-owner.
A bubbly to be shared with friends and loved ones, Baubles Brut is crafted from 53% Chardonnay grapes, 39% Pinot Noir and 8% Pinot Meunier. Stewart describes it as offering a soft mouthfeel with bright notes of red raspberry, strawberry and green apple. The nose has hints of citrus flower and the finish is light and crisp.
It is made in the style of methode champenoise, or the “traditional method,” considered by many to be the best method to make sparkling wine. The technique involves making the wine, and then adding yeast and sugar to the bottle, allowing it to slowly ferment. It’s then sealed and left to rest until ready.
“The process takes patience, but the end reward is worth the wait,” says Stewart. “Tiny, delicate bubbles in your flute!”
An ideal summer beverage, the sparkling wine pairs well with lighter foods like cheeses, fruit and shellfish, including oysters and mussels, she says.
Four Brix Winery will also begin offering Brut Rosé this summer, a rosé version of the sparkling wine with hints of rose petal and berry in the nose, and flavors of strawberry and watermelon.
“Consumers tend to think of bubbly for the holidays or special occasions. I think that is because Champagne, the bubbly [from the Champagne region of France] that is held in highest regard, can be quite expensive,” says Stewart. “However, today, sparkling wines can be affordable to enjoy any time of year—no occasion required.”
Asked to personify Baubles, Stewart says the sparking wine’s label was inspired by Audrey Hepburn, so naturally it’d be this beloved actress.
But there’s more to the story: Winemaker Gary Stewart’s mom, Sandra, was a “classy, classic lady” and huge Hepburn fan. In some ways, Baubles is a tribute to her, says Karen Stewart. “She loved a glass of bubbly, nice jewelry and, also like Audrey, was truly a wonderful lady.”
For more info, visit FourBrixWine.com.
