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Elevator Pitch – Marina Cvetic Montepulciano d’Aburzzo Riserva

Gianni Masciarelli one day suprised his wife by presenting her with this wine, from the grape he made famous from the region, named after her. Croatian in origin, her first reaction was that no one would be able to pronounce the wine. Because of the outstanding sites used to produce the wine and the serious winemaking care it undergoes, Marina Cvetic Montepulciano d’Abruzzo soon became the most widespread example of serious Montepluciano in the world.

Elevator Pitch – Villa Gemma Colline Teatine Bianco

While the Villa Gemma Montepulciano was the wine that announced Abruzzo to the world, the Bianco, created just a year later, further defined what the region and grapes of Abruzzo could produce. This wine, first released in 1985, speaks to the white grape varieties specific to the region and has become on of the most exciting wines produced at the estate.

Elevator Pitch – Marina Cvetic Montepulciano d’Aburzzo ISKRA

ISKRA is a true outlier, representing a single vineyard handled in a particular way to create a wine of extraordinary distinction and depth.

Elevator Pitch – Villa Gemma Montepulciano d’Abruzzo Riserva

Started in Gianni Masciarelli’s grandfather’s basement, Villa Gemma is the wine that announced Abruzzo to the world, showcasing what the region and grapes of Abruzzo could produce. Villa Gemma Montepulciano Riserva is the only Italian wine with 14 consecutive Tre Bicchieri awards and, more importantly, was the wine that established Abruzzo as capable of making truly distinct, extraordinary wines.

Elevator Pitch – Villa Gemma Cerasuolo d’Abruzzo

Perhaps the finest rosé production area in Italy, and one of the few appellations dedicated only to rosé, Cerasuolo has a long history of producing serious rosé, and showcasing how well the Montepulciano grape is adapted to rosé. Masciarelli first produced this wine in 1986, only 5 years after the winery was founded.

Elevator Pitch – Special Cuvée

From vineyard to bottling, Special Cuvée sees such an extraordinary level of care and attention, it is difficult to place within the non-vintage or, really, any Champagne category. It is a Champagne that stands apart. Within one bottle, all the complexity of flavor, texture and pleasure that Champagne can offer. Special Cuvée is truly a journey of devotion from Bollinger.

Elevator Pitch – Rosé

In the same way that Special Cuvée stands apart from non-vintage Champagnes, Bollinger Rosé is an exception for Rosé Champagnes. What is more, it is a relative secret, as Bollinger did not release a non-vintage Rosé until 2008 and the quantity produced is quite limited. The wine begins as Special Cuvée and then Bollinger’s specialty as the Pinot Noir producer in Champagne takes center stage, as the red fruits that join the conversation dance vibrantly, the finish has just a hint of perfectly ripe tannin, and the deep complexity of the wine shines through transparently.

Elevator Pitch – PN

PN, made entirely from Pinot Noir to underscore the very essence and DNA of the House style, is the first new cuvée added to Bollinger’s permanent range since rosé in 2008. Each release of PN, developed as a series to bring Bollinger’s unique vision of Pinot Noir to light, will showcase a different cru from the base year that highlights its distinctive terroir and taste.

Elevator Pitch – La Grande Année

La Grande Année: The Great Year. This Champagne is the embodiment of everything that makes Bollinger the producer that stands apart in Champagne. La Grande Année, or LGA, preserves the traditions of the past and symbolizes the word “hand-crafted” so strongly that an overused word suddenly becomes the only appropriate definition.

Elevator Pitch – La Grande Année Rosé

Lily Bollinger agreed to a Bollinger rosé under one condition, it had to be extraordinary, and that is how La Grande Année Rosé was born. A blend like no other, the wine is as an extension to the House’s prestige cuvée, La Grande Année, as is the subtle marriage between this great vintage Champagne and the addition of red wine from a unique plot, the legendary Côte aux Enfants.

Elevator Pitch – RD

A small revolution in the world of Champagne. In 1967, Bollinger releases R.D. 1952. There is no comparable Champagne on the market at the time. This bold and brilliant Champagne takes the pillars of what makes Champagne Bollinger so unique, and pushes them to their ultimate level. It is, very simply, a masterpiece.

The Back Label E10 – Laurent Onillon, Langlois-Chateau

Laurent Onillon is a Loire Valley native and has worked at the Langlois-Chateau estate for nearly 20 years.

Elevator Pitch – Crémant de Loire Brut

Crémant de Loire Brut NV is a blend of 60% Chenin Blanc (including 10% reserve wine) 20% Chardonnay and 20% Cabernet Franc. This polished and fresh Crémant is hand crafted with the same process and attention to detail as the best Champagne, with only the “cuvée” juice used and extended 36-month aging on the lees.

Elevator Pitch – Crémant de Loire Brut Rosé

For their Crémants, Langlois-Chateau has an intensely terroir-focused approach of drawing the best characteristics from 6 distinct vineyard areas and soil types in order to create complex and refined wines. Langlois’ Crémant Rosé is hand-picked from 2 specific terroirs with chalky-clay soils perfectly suited to Cabernet Franc and Pinot Noir.

Elevator Pitch – Sancerre

Langlois-Chateau’s Sancerres are serious and complex but also delicate and approachable. They’re benchmarks for the appellation. The grapes are from a selection of the best vineyard plots. They undergo a gentle pressing to extract the purest juice and are handled exclusively in stainless steel.

Elevator Pitch – Château de Fontaine-Audon Sancerre

The crown jewel of Langlois’ Sancerre holdings is at Château de Fontaine-Audon, a 37-acre vineyard from which they produce a single-vineyard Sancerre of the same name. 100% Sauvignon Blanc grown entirely on silex (flint) terroir, Langlois-Chateau’s single-vineyard Sancerre undergoes a gentle pressing, is fermented in stainless steel and then is kept on its lees for 6 months.

The Back Label E12 – Joy Sterling, Iron Horse Vineyards

In 1985, Joy left a career in journalism to join her family’s business and made news headlines for the winery with her first achievement at Iron Horse: in November, 1985, the White House selected Iron Horse Sparkling Wine for Ronald Reagan’s toast to peace at the first summit meeting with Mikhail Gorbachev in Geneva. Joy served on the Board of Trustees of the Leakey Foundation for ten years and is a member of National Geographic’s Grosvenor Council. She is the author of A Cultivated Life, published by Random House.

Elevator Pitch – Classic Vintage Brut

The flagship cuvée of Iron Horse, this wine broadcasts memories of Champagne sipped in the California sun. Classic in every way, aromas of Gala apples and white flowers lead to a crisp palate of Asian pear, mandarin orange, white licorice, and hazelnut.

Elevator Pitch – Wedding Cuvée

Wedding Cuvée has become famous, served at countless engagements, weddings, anniversaries, and Valentine’s Day celebrations since its inception in 1980. A romantic tinge of pink in the glass hints at the fruity character of the Pinot Noir in this cuvée. Raspberry and nutmeg aromas on the nose are followed by juicy stone fruit and lively blood orange, held seamlessly together with very delicate bubbles. The magnificent elegance of Wedding Cuvée makes it dangerously easy to drink.

Elevator Pitch – Ocean Reserve Blanc de Blancs

Ocean Reserve is a special, limited edition, vintage Blanc de Blancs, created in partnership with National Geographic. Iron Horse gives $4 per bottle sold to National Geographic’s Ocean Initiative, establishing marine protected areas and supporting sustainable fishing practices around the globe.