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| 2010 Fortissimo | February 2013 | |
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Salve,
 | | Lake Osoyoos in January |
It's hard to believe that we are already a month into 2013. After the furies of fall harvest and the holiday season we've all caught our breath here and we're ready to get going on a very exciting new year.
To kick off the year we're delighted to release our 2010 Fortissimo Super Tuscan blend. This wine is a mainstay here at LaStella and represents the core of what we are trying to accomplish here in the South Okanagan.
When we created LaStella in 2006 we dreamt of a vignette of Tuscany in our own back yard. Fortissimo is a key element of this vision: an Italian inspired wine created here in the South Okanagan Valley.
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The Maestoso block in January and in June
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The inclusion of Sangiovese (and in particular the Sangiovese Grosso of Brunello di Montalcino fame) is a clear indication of our commitment to this Italian style. Beyond merely blending in Sangiovese, it is the details during winemaking that bring the vision to life.
We hope when you visit us at the winery that you'll feel some of that Italian magic in the decor of the tasting room along with the flavours and aromas in the glass.
In this issue:
Salute!
Lastly, if you're looking at venues for events and weddings this summer, our schedule is filling up quickly. Contact our concierge soon if you're interested.
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LaStella Fortissimo 2010 is now available on our website for ordering.
LaStella Vivace is the perfect white wine to accompany the Fortissimo for an evening of BC-wine-goes-Italian.
Remember: we offer a 10% discount on orders of 12 bottles or more.
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2010 Fortissimo
 We celebrate the fact that we make wine in a region where vintage variations play an important role. Atypical growing seasons are a nightmare for commercial wineries interested in making consistent but boring wines. For us, however, it defines our interest in wine. We look forward to seeing what Mother Nature gives us to work with each year. It is the effects of each vintage on the finished wine that urges us to start verticals of our favorite wines and then follow their evolution and discuss their merits at tastings with friends.
Fortissimo is our way of paying respect to the pioneers of Tuscany who challenged the traditions of wine making to gain recognition for their wines.
The 2010 growing season was challenging with cool weather and record rainfall during the spring and late summer. Fortunately warm fall weather arrived in mid-September and continued throughout October. This warm fall allowed harvest to take place under excellent conditions. Low yield in the vineyards, starting from the time of bud break, was essential to achieving good physiological ripeness in 2010. Ongoing vineyard management and rigorous sorting were the key words in the vineyard and winery. When executed correctly the result was vibrant and elegant wines. Red wines are lower in alcohol with higher acidity level and have firm structured tannins. 2010 is a vin de garde vintage. The 2010 Fortissimo is as outstanding as we thought it would be; all the components are married seamlessly together. The large format puncheons and Hungarian oak ensure that the oak's presentation is subtle in the finished wine. Overall the wine has fantastic and nuanced layers of flavour. Food Pairing: Veal osso bucco or Tuscan roast lamb with rosemary crust. John Szabo, Master Sommelier: "The Fortissimo is a blend of mainly Merlot (41%) with proportionately less Cabernet Franc, Cabernet Sauvignon and 8% Sangiovese. The nose shows more lift and elegance than its more expensive stablemates, a prime example of a 'lesser' wine delivering more of what makes wine pleasurable: balance, freshness, florality, drinkability. Tannins are firm and grippy and dusty in the Italian style, which I presume is the goal of the estate, nicely delivered in this wine. Tasted December 2012." (91 points) David Lawrason: "This blend of Merlot, Cab Franc, Cab Sauvignon and 8% Sangiovese presents a quite fine, lifted nose of sage, rosemary with raspberry, currant fruit and background oak. It's medium-full bodied, dry, dusty earthy and quite refined. The length is very good to excellent. Best 2014 to 2018." (90 points) |
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Pinot Gris or Pinot Grigio?
 | | Pinot Grigio (right) along with Merlot (left) and Sangiovese Grosso (centre) |
Pinot Gris or Pinot Grigio is a grape variety named after the colour of its skin. This white grape variety, a mutation of pinot noir, has a distinctive copper colour when it's ripe. The question is, "If it's the same grape why are some wines called Pinot Gris while others are Pinot Grigio?" The answer is rather simple: grape variety is just one factor hinting at the ultimate style of a wine. Climate, geology, vineyard and winemaking practices all leave their mark on the final wine. Alsace is the home of Pinot Gris in France. Here the tradition is to make big rich wines using Pinot Gris grapes that are harvested late. Instead of immediately pressing the grapes and separating the skin and the juice, they encourage the juice to macerate on the skins for a couple days, extracting texture and a little colour. Think of this like a tea bag and water: a one minute brew versus a 5 minute brew while dunking the teabag. In Italy's Alto Adige and Friuli regions Pinot Grigio is grown in cooler, high altitude sites and picked earlier. The grapes are pressed immediately and there is no skin contact. The fermentation takes place with a controlled, low, temperature so the aromatic compounds that are created and sustained are different. Here the resulting style is a light bodied, fresh, aromatic wine with a very pale lemon yellow colour. With our Vivace LaStella has always aimed for the Italian style of light, zesty Pinot Grigio. |
LaStella Fortissimo 2010 is now available on our website for ordering.
LaStella Vivace is the perfect white wine to accompany the Fortissimo for an evening of BC-wine-goes-Italian.
Keep in mind that we offer a 10% discount on orders of 12 bottles or more.
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Introducing the Piccolo Club! The LaStella Piccolo Club is the perfect way to make sure you never miss LaStella's new wine releases. In spring and fall each year when LaStella releases its new wines you will be the first to hear about it! Twice a year we will ship you a specially selected six-bottle pack of wines straight to your door. On top of being the first to receive our new release wines you will also receive a great package of membership benefits. For more details please visit our website. To join our close knit family of food, wine and music lovers please email us at piccoloclub@lastella.ca or call us at 250-495-8180 and ask to speak with your concierge Jeff Stewart. |
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 Weddings at LaStella
Rolling hills, Tuscan inspired villa, manicured vineyards and views of Osoyoos Lake - LaStella is your perfect romantic venue for an unforgettable day. Contact us to begin your planning. |
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Women United in Philanthropy
La Stella donates 2% of all website proceeds to the United Way's Women United in Philanthropy. The WUIP strives to ensure our community's most vulnerable children enter kindergarten ready to succeed in school. By bringing together the knowledge, compassion and financial resources of women, we are helping change the future for children in the Lower Mainland. Donations raised by WUIP go towards programs that help parents and caregivers access the information and support services they need to nurture their children.
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 Join us on Twitter for all the latest news and announcements! Keep your eyes open for contests and giveaways too!
 Check us out on Facebook for news, information and the latest photographs from the Okanagan Valley! |
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| Save 10% |
Order online and save 10% when you order a case of 12 bottles (excludes library releases and special release wines)! Wines are shipped directly from the winery by DHL. On top of that 2% of online sales are donated to the United Way's Women United in Philanthropy.
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