8 years: Anniversary Wines!
This month we commemorate our 8 year anniversary in DC's historic Shaw neighborhood. Our cofounder's Julio and Pedro have picked four wines to commemorate this special occasion and celebrate the continuous success of Grand Cata with you. As you know we love wine and it's hard to just pick our favorites. But we narrowed it down to some signature styles that they love. The wines we picked exemplifies our identity as wine lovers but also shows our origins in the wine business. Wines that we always seek year in year out to enjoy with friends, family and of course you. Here are our picks:
Julio's Picks
Aupa Pipeño, Tinto $19
Julio being from Chile, he grew up enjoying the historic style of Chile's first table wine made by farmers back in the early 1500's. The almighty Pipeño, a fresh, chuggable style that comes in many styles; white, orange and reds. Mostly using Chile's historic variety, Pais from the regions of Maule, Itata and Bio-Bio. Pipeño means the wine from the "pipa", this vessel to ferment the wine is traditionally made from the native oak tree raulli. This wine is made with native-indegenous yeast using open fermentation for a short period of time in the most humble and honest way. The finished product when bottled goes by the name of Pipeño. The revival of Pipeño as a serious elegant wine started to take force in the late 1990's and now is a category that we are proud to represent. Nowadays most of the Pipeño's are made of old vines using the Pais, Cinsault, Carignan and for white, skin contact using Torontel, Moscatel, Semillon and Corinto. Here's Julio’s Pipeño pick, the delicious AUPA Pipeño by David Marcel. A co fermented field blend of Pais and Carignan from the Maule Valley. Wild berries, minerals with refreshing acidity, drink chilled and enjoy.
Aniello Blanc de Noir, Pinot Noir, Patagonia, Argentina $ 24
We head to the southernmost wine region in Argentina, La Patagonia. The transition of high-elevation mountain wines towards the southeastern part of the country we enter the Province of Rio Negro, where the Argentine "Burgundy" continues to shine. Every year this cold climate region exemplifies elegance and vibrancy with every sip. Famous for world class wines made of Pinot Noir, Chardonnay, Merlot, Malbec, Cabernet Franc and Trousseau all unique expressions with identity, balance and sense of place. Julio loves the Aniello Blanc de Blanc which we featured in our wine club over 6 years ago. This delicious free running juice (Pinot Noir without the skins) evokes fresh pears, lemon peel with hints of minerals and fresh herbs. Drink chilled and enjoy al fresco.
Pedro's Picks
Estelado Sparkling País, Chile $26
The first sparkling Pais ever made in Chile. The producer Miguel Torres has been modernizing Chile's wine industry since 1979 with innovative winemaking techniques and technology to produce cleaner-fresher wines. This traditional method of sparkling wine goes through its second fermentation in the bottle. This 100% Pais was love at first sight for Pedro with enticing mineral concentration, fresh green strawberries and a mouthwatering acidity. Pedro first discovered this sparkler in 2009 during his first retail job in the District of Columbia. Now a staple in Grand Cata's three locations. Have you tried it? Best value-quality sparkling rose for the spring season.
Onix Priorat, Spain $29
Pedro's favorite wine region in Spain. Priorat is one of the only two wine regions with DOQ status alongside Rioja. Priorat famous llicorella "black slate" soils produce elegant silky terroir driven wines. This region produces some of the best expressions of Grenache and Carignan in the world alongside French varieties such as Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot and Syrah are also present in some blends. The Onix Priorat is an introductory expression of the identity of the region. Silky, bright, elegant, with grippy tannins that mellow out once it breaths. Priorat located 2 and half hours southwest of Barcelona where Pedro attended grad-school brings fond memories of his time living in Spain hence why he loves to drink it and sell it!