Imagine drinking a delicate glass of mildly sparkling strawberries that is semi-dry, and a beautiful shade of pink. This is Bugey Cerdon. It comes from a very remote region in France, and is made from Gamay and a local grape called Poulsard. It is low in alcohol, about 7%, and is delicate and immensely refreshing. We think it is a wonderful aperitif, but it also makes an excellent dessert wine and even goes well with chocolate. If you haven’t figured it out yet, it is the QUINTESSENTIAL Valentine’s Day wine.
Here's another description I found for this most interesting wine:
This lightly sweet, sparkling pink gem from the picturesque French Alps is made from organic Gamay and Poulsard grapes using the methode ancestrale. Unlike the methode champenoise or carbonation method, here the grapes are fermented in chilled vats until the alcohol reaches about 6%. After a light filtration that leaves most of the active yeast in the unfinished wine, it is bottled and continues fermenting, stopping at about 7.5% - 8% alcohol, retaining perceptible sweetness from the grapes and leaving a mouthwatering bouquet of strawberry jam and blueberry compote. The body is a delectable expression of strawberry, pretty rose hip and a touch of blushing peach. Perfect as an aperitif or dessert with red velvet cake.
I tasted this wine today ... actually, I drank 2/3 of the bottle. It is a very pretty and delicate sparkler, which is aptly described above. I would just add that the wine has just a breath of sweetness, not at all overdone. I'll probably buy more of this one to serve to guests. It is very unique and sure to be a crowd pleaser. Oh, I also ate a Chukar milk chocolate covered dried cherry with this wine. It went surprisingly well together.
Note of caution: The moment I loosened the wire cage on this bottle, the cork flew out on its own. This is why I always place a kitchen towel over the top of the bottle before I loosen the cage.
-- Clark