| Producer | Gruet |
| Country | United States |
| Region | New Mexico |
| Varietal | Chardonnay |
| Sku | 08513 |
| Size | 750ml |
Made entirely from Chardonnay, this is Blanc de Blancs in the dry Brut style with a classic palate of Granny Smith apples, citrus zest, floral and tropical notes with a finish of yeasty buttery brioche. We like this with fried foods, shellfish, white fish, cheeses, and caviar.
Why would anyone buy sparkling wine from a state known for deserts? Monks tended vineyards in New Mexico nearly 400 years ago, so wine is integral to southwest history. Now, the state has over five dozen wineries spread across three AVAs, producing almost one million gallons of wine. However, the Gruet story begins more recently, not in Albuquerque's environs but back in Bethon, Marne, a subregion of Champagne where Gilbert Gruet cultivated his first vineyards in 1952; by 1967, Champagne G. Gruet & Fils was born. After a trip to the southwest United States in the early 1980s, they found a climatically diverse state with snow at the southern tip of the Rocky Mountains, lush forests, river valleys, and sunny hot days contrasted by cold nights. The family decided to experiment with Champagne varietals Chardonnay and Pinot Noir, and the first cuvee of Gruet was released in 1989. As Gruet in New Mexico flourished, Gilbert left the winery under the supervision of his children and returned to France to focus on his other brand, Champagne Paul Laurent. Gruet continues its long family tradition with some of the most exceptional yet affordable Méthode Champenoise bubbly made anywhere in America.
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