Winemaker Notes
This Brut Rosé complements a wide range of foods, from savory to sweet. Try it with spicy Asian dishes, risotto, BBQ, beef, lamb, duck, chicken, prosciutto, seafood, pizza, soft cheese (like brie or goat), cheesecake, crème brulée, strawberry shortcake, and berry pie. Mix with fresh grapefruit juice for a refreshing brunch beverage, or add a float to a gin-based cocktail.
The Blend: The Chardonnay provides depth and structure, while the Ugni Blanc offers a natural acidity and freshness. The light-bodied Gamay lends vibrant fruit expression and a smooth texture. Grapes are sourced from quality terroirs in France, such as Burgundy and Beaujolais.
Critical Acclaim
All Vintages
American Tawnya Falkner took the leap, gave up her career in San Francisco, and moved to Nuits-Saint-Georges in Burgundy, France to nurture her passion for food, wine and travel. She spent the next year and a half creating sparkling wines which embody the French spirit of joie de vivre (joy of life).
As a child, Tawnya grew up in a 3-street town of 400 people surrounded by farms for miles. Many of her fondest memories are of backyard barbeques and Sunday dinners. That small town awoke a desire to see the world and the more she traveled, the more she realized that the table is the universal place where memories are made, and laughter shared. Le Grand Courtage, meaning ‘the great courtship’, is the culmination of her journey.
Le Grand Courtage sparkling wines express the convergence of old and new world styles, as well as French and Americans working together. Produced in Nuits-Saint-Georges, Burgundy, with grapes sourced from top French regions including Burgundy, Beaujolais and Loire Valley, the wines achieve the desired dryness, yeast, and acidity of traditional French champagne, balanced with a hint of fruit and floral on the finish.
Appreciated worldwide as an iconic token of celebration and luxury, sparkling wines from France come in more forms than just Champagne. In order to bear the label, ‘Champagne’, a sparkling wine must originate from the northeastern region of France—called Champagne—and adhere to strict quality standards. Champagne’s chalky, limestone and soils and cold, continental climate create grapes with ample acidity and concentration. Chardonnay, Pinot Noir, and Pinot Meunier are permitted for use in Champagne.
French sparkling wines made outside of Champagne take the name Crémant. Crémant de Bourgogne, Alsace, Loire and Limoux are the best known. These are made using the same technique as that of Champagne, called méthode traditionelle, but typically are composed of the regional grape variety. Usually dry to off-dry with bright acidity, these are often characterized by qualities of lemon, peach, marzipan and white flowers.
