Holiday Wine Suggestions

From sommelier Jill Mott:

Our Twin Cities market has been inundated with great wines as of late and we’re so thankful for it. Sometimes, this makes it hard to decide which vinous elixirs to grace our tables with, especially around the holidays. These wines just arrived and will only be found here at Henry & Son and Bar Brava, Minneapolis’ first natural wine bar. We’ve worked with them to be the sole retail establishment to carry these wines from Cataluña; dear bottles that won’t break the bank and that are perfect for this celebratory time of year.

They’re all made from a husband & wife team in Conca de Barberà, a small village just 1.5 hours northwest of Barcelona that call themselves CARLANIA CELLER. Carlania tend to sheep, practice biodynamic, dry farming, grow their own grapes (especially their native TREPAT!), and vinify all wines sans additions of any kind including sulphur. These are joyous bottles that have a singular profile you’ll find unique in a world filled with good wine. Enjoy them now, we don’t know when or if, they’ll come around again.

CARLANIA CELLER PETITE CARLANIA 2017

This will likely be your first exposure to the red Trepat grape and it may ruin you forever in the best way! Trepat is a sprightly varietal that’s indubitably refreshing and carries transparency of soil, vessel and the hand that ushers thus, whomever is growing/vinifying it must tread lightly. Sonia & Jordi do just that with a light, ten-day skin maceration in stainless steel, delicate pressing, and no sulphur additions. This was THE value wine during my entire trip to Spain last summer with acute notes of wild flowers, wet, dark minerals and blackberries. It’s light to medium-bodied and possess a color I just couldn’t take my eyes off of. This pairs incredibly well with braised meat but also myriad types of salty foods from cheeses to charcuterie (read: great. starter. wine!) that are usually quite difficult to pair with red wine. 4 cases available.

CARLANIA CELLER EL PLANTARGA 2018

El Plantarga (a 1.5 hectare parcel) grows some of the most pristine and beautiful Trepat in the entire region. The grapes were pressed directly after arriving from the vineyard hence the marvelous watermelon punch color & vivacious acidity. Grapey, fermenty and playful with just a hint of bubbles makes this as serious as you want to make it (and treacherously drinkable). It’s quite high-pitched which keeps Trepat’s fruity profile in check. A knock out that won’t last long. 4 cases available.

Originally aired on Wednesday, Nov. 27, 2019 on the Morning Show with Emily Reese.


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