2020 Carboniste Sparkling Albariño

This 2020 Gomes Vineyard Sparkling Albariño is a light and fresh sparkling wine with notes of gooseberry, kumquat, and stonefruit blossom. It is a fantastic aperitif wine and is guaranteed to pair so many favorite recipes including a grilled octopus!

Vineyard

The Gomes family has been farming on Andrus Island since the 1800s when they immigrated from Portugal, where Albariño (Alvarinho) is grown extensively in Vinho Verde near the Atlantic Ocean. This site has deep, rich soil, well-fed from the Sacramento River. It is dry-farmed without cultivation and is transitioning to organic farming certification.

Winemaking (Traditional + Modern)

After harvest, grapes were pressed in whole clusters and settled for 2 days as juice. Clear juice helps to retain the purity and focus of this wine. The juice was fermented in a tank with native yeast at 60-65°F for 3 weeks. The fermentation sediment was kept with the wine until bottling without the addition of sulfur dioxide or the presence of malolactic fermentation. The wine was bottled with fresh yeast and a small amount of sugar. After 4 months in the bottle, the yeast had consumed the sugar, the sediment was removed, and we added back a small amount of wine and sugar. After a light dosage, the bottles were capped again in order to preserve the natural youth and freshness of the wine. We prefer crown caps as a final closure. They are safe and easy to open, and they are trusted across the world to age wines before disgorging (including Champagne!)