I hope that many of you reading this column came out to support the Bar Foundation’s Wine, Beer and Bourbon Tasting on November 3rd.  More than 45 items were raffled off, and a lot of money raised for this year’s Children’s holiday party. I selected nine wines to try, and these were the hits of the night.

 Top Sparkling: NV Dr. Loosen Sparkling Riesling from Mosel, Germany. This wine is 100% Riesling, It’s made from the charmont methode (second fermentation in stainless steel rather than bottle), which keeps the price a friendly $16. Lots of melon and floral notes on the nose. The bubbles are delicate, with flavors of stone fruits. Elegant for this price point.

Top white:  2022 Painted Wolf “The Den” Chenin Blanc from Swartland, South Africa. This wine is somewhere between a Sauvignon Blanc and a Chardonnay: green apple, honeysuckle, crispness; very easy to drink. Proceeds from sales of this wine are donated to the conservation of the highly endangered painted wolf (African wild dog) by donated profits to EWT (www.ewt.org.za) and Tusk (www.tusk.org). Only $11 a bottle.

Top red: 2016 Castellani Sangiovese Toscano. This 100% Sangiovese is an IGT from Tuscany, from a vineyard in Maremma, near the coast. An IGT (Indicazione Geografica Tipica) wine is a wine that falls outside of the requirements of being a DOC or DOCG wine, but it is still a notable wine. (All Super Tuscans are IGT wines because they use French wine varietals.) Bright cherries, spices, leather notes, dark chocolate. Excellent food wine for only $13 a bottle.

Red runner up:  2020 Ruca Malen Capitulo Dos Petite Verdot. This super dark and dry wine is from Mendoza, Argentina. “Ruca Malen” means “House of the Young Girl” and is named after an Indigenous legend of a young girl who fell in love with a god, and he gifted her a house with beautiful views. Plums, blackberries, spices, and oak.  Chocolate and nuts on the long finish. $17 a bottle.

Thank you again to everyone who came out to support our fundraising event this year!