Bubbles Make the World A Happier Place

It is a well known fact that we have an affinity for bubbles.  A light, zippy style sparkling with fresh local oysters, a rich full bodied Champagne with a big juicy steak, a tasty cremant added to a cocktail, a celebratory toast - bubbles are one of the few wines we enjoy with or without food.  And our selection reflects our passion - with 45+bottles to choose from ranging in price from $10 to $200, we truly have something for everyone!

Cava, Prosecco, Cremant, Franciacorta, Champagne -how do you choose?  Here's my quick primer on what to buy depending on your purpose and your budget!  We have great bottles representing all of these and more...

Champagne - The big dog of the sparkling wine world, you can only call it Champagne if it comes from this
unique region of France located 100 miles east of Paris.  Chardonnay, Pinot Noir and Pinot Meunire are the classic Champagne grapes with vintage, non vintage, blanc de blanc (white wine from white grapes), blanc de noir (white wine from red grapes) and rose' produced.  The production method requires that the secondary fermentation, the one that gives it the bubbles, takes place within the bottle over very defined periods of time.  It is these regulations and requirements that make Champagne expensive and delicious!  The wines can range from bright and zippy to rich and toasty depending on the house style.  Big house Champagnes like Roederer, Moet, Bollinger and Veuve Cliquot  use mainly purchased grapes from small growers to create a house style that is consistent with each bottle you open.  Estate grown and produced wines are called Grower Champagnes and are much smaller volume wines, often with more individuality, made by the growers themselves. How can you tell what's what? It is easy to spot the source of a Champagne from its label. Virtually all of them carry a numerical code prefixed by two letters - NM stands for négociant-manipulant, one of the big houses. RM stands for récoltant-manipulant, a grower.  Prices for true Champagne starts around $40 and really should not be used for mimosas or cocktails.  The addition of bitters, fruit juice, other spirits mask the unique qualities of Champagne and make it one very expensive mixer! Staff Fav's - De Sousa, 2005 Taittinger Comte de Champagne, Doquet Blanc de Blanc

Cremant - Basically French sparkling wine that is not from the Champagne region but from other designated areas.  The best known are from Alsace, Loire, Limoux and Burgundy and use the same classic method of secondary fermentation in the bottle with their local grapes but still with strict regulations on how they are made.  This is where you find some of the best values in French sparkling wine!  Starting at around $18 per bottle these are tasty, less expensive alternatives to Champagne.  Staff Fav's - Dopf & Irion Rose', Langlois, Gerard Bertrand Rose'

Franciacorta - Italy's best kept secret has been my current obsession!  From Lombardia in north central Italy, Franciacorta can rival some of the best Champagnes of France.  Using the same grapes, with the exception of a little added Pinot Bianco, and same classic method of production, this tiny region in Lombardy (north east of Milan) is where the highest quality Italian sparkling comes from.  Franciacorta is also similar to Champagne in that it produces vintage, non vintage, blanc de blanc (called Saten) and rose' with like aging requirements and styles based on amounts of residual sugar. However production here is very limited so exports are scarce with only the larger producers making their way into the US market.  Prices range from $24 to $75+ and offer a high quality alternative to Champagne for Italian wine lovers! Staff fav's:  Monterossa Rose', Ferghettina 2009 Saten, Contadi Castaldi Brut

Cava -Cava is Spain's beloved sparkling.  While made in the same method of Champagne, Cava is produced with some of Spain's most important grapes.  Macabeo adds a floraly, citrus note with a slight bitterness while Xarello is richer with more melon and pear and Paralleda gives Cava its zesty acidity.  It is usually fruity, but not sweet and doesn't have the yeasty, leesy notes of Champagne. It is also made as a rose' with Pinot Noir and while most is produced to drink young and fresh, aged and vintage Cava are also made but not something we see much of in the US.  It is usually priced between $10-$25 per bottle and offers good quality for the money. Staff fav's: Mont Charell, Florinda

Prosecco - Italy's most well known bubbly comes from a specific area of the Veneto and Friuli regions in the northeast part of the country.  The main grape used is called Glera and it is produced using the "charmat" method where the secondary fermentation takes place in a tank instead of the bottle.  This type of fermentation usually results in a softer style wine with a fruity taste that is meant to be drunk young and fresh.  The highest quality or DOCG Prosecco comes specifically from the Conegliano Valdobbiadene zone.  While the styles of Prosecco range from Brut, Extra Dry and Dry (depending on levels of residual sugar), there is a perception that all Prosecco is sweet.  Not so!  Brut Prosecco has from 0-12grams of sugar the same level as Brut Champagne.  Prosecco is my bubbly of choice for a good Mimosa! Usually priced between $13 - $27 per bottle depending on DOC or DOCG designations. Staff fav's: Furlan, Terriero,

These are not your only options as California, South America and many other regions produce great sparkling wines.  Once you get into bubbles there is a whole new world out there to explore!  Have fun, experiment with different styles and different foods like a Lambrusco or Gragnano with Pizza, a Brachetto d'Acqui with a fruit tart, a Bugey Cerdon as an aperitif, a sparkling dry Shiraz with lamb - endless possibilities!

Cheers and Happy New Year!

5 Thoughtful Gift Ideas for the Holiday Season

Need a little help figuring out what to buy for your friends, family and favorite wine drinkers?  Stop by and check out the local art on the walls, wine related gifts, chocolates, cheeses, and the ultimate gift, a wonderful bottle or two or three of their favorite beverage, beautifully presented in our elegant gift boxes!

But we are not a grab and go store where hundreds of pre-shrink wrapped gift baskets are lined up filled with processed cheeses that don't need refrigeration and generic bottles of wine all dressed in pre-tied red and green bows.  At Swirl, we're about thoughtful gift giving, nice wine and local products that we ourselves like to eat and drink. So give us just a few minutes of your time, we will help you pick the perfect gift and wrap it in something unique; we're here to make you look good! Here are some thoughtful gift ideas to consider and feel free to call us up - we'll figure out what you need, wrap it up and have ready when you arrive!

Original Prints by Shaun Aleman

1. Artfully Local - Nothing captures the uniqueness of New Orleans like locally created and themed paintings, sculptures and works of art.  Mass produced items by an anonymous person or machine can't come close to the energy and creativity of an original piece.  Painted pieces by Shaun Aleman, paper mache sculptures by Brian Bush, glass tiles by Paulette Lizano, handmade leather masks by Julie Stefanski, and colorful "glam" okra art pieces by Jeanne Vidrine all line the walls of the store and start at just $12.

2. Gifts that Tell a Story - While we can make any bottle of wine look good in our black and gold carriers and boxes, we love putting together wines and items that have a theme and tell a story.  One of my favorites is the "Passionate Sicilian"  package that I created on Friday: highly acclaimed red & white wine from Tenuta Della Terre Nere plus a bottle of their delicious, small production extra virgin olive oil.  Or maybe my "Drink Local" pack with wines by our two favorite local producers, James Moises and Vending Machine wines paired with a New Orleans Drink Deck containing discounts at 50 of the city's best bars and hangouts.  My latest is the "Ratings Junkie" a 94 rated Washington State Red with a 95 rated Oregon Pinot, boxed and pretty for under $120... just tell us your budget and let us build you a beautiful gift!

4 pack of Truffles - Photo by imanolagirl

3. "You're So Fine" Chocolate and Wine - Our relationship with local chocolatier Cheryl Scripter of Bittersweet Confections has been a long and tasty one!  We were her very first retail account way back when and have been loyal devotees ever since, making a decision to not carry any other chocolates in the shop.  Let us pair up a bottle of Niner Cabernet, a ruby Port or maybe a Bugey Cerdon with a box of her handmade truffles. Or we can pack up nice gift with an assortment of her smaller items like chocolate dipped salted caramels, peppermint bark or coconut clusters with a wine pairing or two!

4. A Day in the Life of Faubourg St. John - Pick up gift certificates at our favorite neighborhood spots and combine them for a truly unique experience!  Start their day with tickets to an exhibit in the New Orleans Museum of Art or maybe a morning of kayaking on the bayou with Bayou Kayaks, then coffee and pastries at Pagoda Cafe or Fair Grinds.  Next hop over to Lux Salon for a spa day of massage, mani, pedi or even a new 'do!  Then to Swirl for a few glasses of wine and a cheese plate before dinner at one of our wonderful restaurants like 1000 Figs,  Cafe Degas, Santa Fe, Lola's, The Half Shell and more.  It's a great way to treat someone to all of the wonderful things our neighborhood has to offer!

5. It's the Little Things that Count - Sometimes you just need something special and small for a colleague or friend or maybe a little stocking stuffer for a family member.  Our beautiful wood corkscrews, flour sack bar towels, vacuum pumps, wood cheese boards, Drink Decks and specialty olive oils are the perfect answer for $20 and under gifts!

Happy Holiday from the Swirl Elves ;)