Walla Walla’s Yellowhawk Resort and Sparkling House has unveiled two new bubbly bottles to its lineup: Sparkling Rosé Malbec and Sparkling Chardonnay. The new releases mark the winery’s first traditional method releases made by winemaker George-Anne Robertson.
The new Sparkling Rosé Malbec and Sparkling Chardonnay are sourced from the Gamache vineyard in the eastern part of the Columbia Valley AVA. Gamache Vineyard manager Lacey Lybeck and Robertson, according to the press release, coordinated an early season and very early morning pick to compose a bright, flavorful base wine. Both wines were fermented in stainless steel in cooler temperatures using the Liqueur de Tirage preparation to create bubbles in the bottle and enhance the flavors.
“This wine is the perfect welcome to summer with low alcohol content and aromas of strawberry shortcake,” says Robertson of the Sparkling Rosé Malbec in a press release. “Your palate will get a kick out of this mouthful of rounded bubbles with flavors of fresh berries and flaky fruity hand pies with a hint of vanilla cream on the finish.”
Robertson continues, “The Sparkling Chardonnay is youthful and energetic as it greets you with an aroma of lemon olive oil cake batter. Traditional chardonnay flavors like earthy mushroom and dust flavors arrive on the mid palate and then finish with a taste of tart crabapple jelly.”
Both wines are available exclusively in the Yellowhawk Resort tasting room in Walla Walla as part of a special three-pack purchase with the 2019 Sparkling Sémillon for $150. Members of the Revelers Club program receive discounts and reward dollars when purchasing Yellowhawk wines.