Everything Old is New Again!
Join us on Wednesday, July 14 at 7 p.m.
Evergreen Community Center
The June wine tasting was a blast as we welcomed back those who we haven't seen for over a year, along with a few new faces. Adam Knoerzer delighted us with his knowledge of Bargain Bordeaux and we learned how to enjoy this wine without spending much.
On July 14 at 7 p.m., we are happy to welcome Deb Mortillaro of Dreadnought Wines to the Evergreen Community Center to help us to understand the ancient wine making art of Pet-nats (an abbreviation for “pétillant naturel”—a French term that roughly translates to “naturally sparkling.”) and Piquettes. The summer issue of the AWS Wine Journal has an exceptional article about Piquettes and they compare it to the "White Claw of Wine." If you have not yet read your issue, it is on pages 31-32.
Here is an excerpt from the article for those who are on our mailing list, but haven't made the full commitment of becoming a member. (Being an AWS member does have its perks!)
According to the Wine Enthusiast, “Derived from the French word for “prick” or “prickle,” which describes the drink’s slight fizz, piquette dates to ancient Greek and Roman times, when it was known as lora. Considered a meager, cheap-to-produce drink made from the scraps of winemaking, it was given to slaves and field workers.” And as wine prices have continued to climb over the years, where wine has become more of a luxury good and collector’s item that so often signifies status and exclusivity, Piquette could be the drink that breaks through all those barriers. Consider it The People’s Wine.
Like so many wine things, everything old is new again. So, while this production style has been around for ages, it’s seeing something of a revival as the market becomes more educated and demands more and different products. Especially among millennials and “natural wine” drinkers. There is a big interest right now in lower-alcohol beverages, so Piquette seems to satisfy the mid-point between wine and say, hard seltzer. And for people with a soft spot in their heart for products that reduce environmental impact, who also want something light and easy-drinking, but with a more legible ingredient composition than hard seltzer, Piquette is perfection.
If this has piqued your interest, please join us!
Please RSVP to kedred2006@gmail.com
Mail your check, payable toAWS Pittsburgh to: