Pippin Hill Costa 2018 LIVE

VARIETIES

Pro tip: Use the word "variety" instead of "varietal" when referring to the type of grape in a wine (e.g. Merlot, Chardonnay, etc.).

Varietal refers to a wine that is mostly made up of one grape variety.

This is a VERY common misconception, so don't feel bad. (I'm generally terrible with grammar and spelling, so zero judgment). But it is still misused in a lot of prominent publications, so it can be confusing.

An easy way to remember it is:

Variety is a noun.

Varietal is an adjective.

For example: A wine that is made from 95% Merlot would be a varietal wine made from the Merlot variety.

Producer

Pippin Hill

Wine

Costa

Vintage

2018

State

Virginia, USA

Appellation

Monticello AVA

Chardonnay 100%

SPARKLING METHOD

Méthode classique

Lees Aging

36 Months

Dosage

STRUCTURE

Short answer: Structure includes the elements in a wine that you feel more than taste. Think of it as what you could detect if you had a cold and took a sip.

Acidity: Makes your mouth water after you swallow the wine. Common terms: Bright, crisp, linear.

Tannin: This is responsible for the drying sensation felt on your palate, typically with big reds. Similar to a tea that has been steeped for a long time. Common terms: Grippy, chewy, velvety.

Alcohol: The real reason you're here. Wines are usually somewhere between 7% and 16%.

Sweetness: The amount of sugar left over in the wine after fermentation. Usually referred to as residual sugar or RS for short.

Acidity

Tannin

Alcohol 11.5%

Body

Sweetness

FLAVOR NOTES

This part can be pretty intimidating for newcomers. Someone asks you what you're getting from the wine, but all you smell is...wine?

The fact is, wine contains THOUSANDS of chemical compounds found in other fruits that make up the aromas and flavors in each glass, which can make it difficult to pick out a select few.

The good news is that this not only makes wine complex and interesting, but also means that it's actually pretty difficult to be "wrong" when calling out flavors. As with most things in life, confidence is everything.

Some prompts if you're stuck:

Peach, Apricot, Honeycomb, Lime zest

Pippin Hill 2018 Costa

Wine Style

Elevator Pitch

Introducing Costa Vino 2018: Pippin Hill’s first méthode classique sparkling wine! A nod to our sister property, Costa, in Charleston, SC, this limited release came to life from Chardonnay grapes harvested early for high acidity and 3 years of riddling before disgorgement.

Fans of Pippin Hill’s Blanc de Blanc and Sparkling Rosé might discover a new favorite among Costa Vino’s aromas of lime zest, apricot, and elderflower, and layered, creamy flavors of apricot, white peach, nectarine, and chicory. The lean and bright finish lends these fine bubbles to any occasion!

Wonderfully expressive on the nose with elements of bakery dough, honey, and vibrant citrus throughout. The acidity perfectly balances the soft texture without overpowering your palate.

This wine is elegant and powerful at the same time and can be enjoyed on its own but will pair nicely with a wide range of dishes.

In A Pinch

Lighter fare, creamy cheeses, and fried salty foods.

Deeper Dive

The high acidity and fine bubbles are going to make this a great palate-cleansing wine, able to cut through fried foods and creamy sauces.

Although sparkling wines are able to pair with almost anything, the best use of this bottle will be for things like shellfish, briny seafood, or pasta with white sauces.

Most cheeses are going to be great here, especially the thicker, creamer types.

Stand out features: Elevated acidity and bread dough notes.

Recipe Ideas

Lobster Arancini

Truffle Fries

Wild Mushroom Risotto

Cheeses

Steer Clear

Most red meat is probably not the best bet or anything with too much fat.

Desserts that are too sweet. This wine could probably work with a bit of sugar, especially whipped cream, but anything else should be saved for dessert wines.

Glassware

Flutes/Tulips or All-purpose glasses are going to be best here.

Should I decant this wine?

Explanation

Some sparkling wine can actually benefit from decanting, but this wine is a lighter style and probably best enjoyed right after opening.

Serving Temp

When should I open this?

If a wine has been released by the producer and is available for sale, it means it is ready to drink. Wines don’t necessarily get “better” with age, they just change. Typically, this change involves things like losing fresh fruit flavors in exchange for more savory notes.

The moment you should open the bottle depends on your preference, so it’s more important to understand the evolution and the life span of the bottle than it is to try to time its opening perfectly. (It’s far better to open a bottle too early than too late.)

This bottle should probably be opened between:

2024 – 2032

Our Approach to Winemaking

Crafting the finest Virginia Estate wines is our passion and our purpose. Pippin Hill is delighted to partner with Michael Shaps of Virginia WineWorks to oversee our boutique-scale production. After harvesting at their prime, our grapes go through “custom crush” processing – the initial crush, quality evaluation, stainless and French oak barrel fermentation, blending, filtering, and bottling.

MONTICELLO WINE TRAIL

We at Pippin Hill tip our hat to Thomas Jefferson, “America’s first distinguished viticulturist.” And we are thrilled to have realized the dream that Mr. Jefferson never achieved—producing world-class wines in his native state. Pippin Hill is honored to be among 25 other vineyards and wineries on the Monticello Wine Trail here in the Birthplace of American Wine.

Sustainable Viticulture

Pippin Hill is committed to protecting and preserving the rural agrarian health and beauty of our vineyard and farm environs. We proactively embrace and follow environmentally sound and supportive viticulture practices, minimizing chemical repellents and optimizing natural sprays to keep our vines productive and our land healthy.

Terroir

“Terroir” in French winemaking terminology means the holistic interface of environment and earth. In other words, the elements and conditions in which wine is produced (elevation, sunlight, soil, topography, water, climate). Pippin Hill’s ideal terroir features a stable foundation of granitic pre-Cambrian formation, a deep groundwater aquifer and soils from two ancient and four alluvial fans.

Dean & Lynn

As the CEO and co-founder of Easton Porter Group– Opens in a new tab, Dean Andrews knows the nitty-gritty of five-star hospitality as well as anyone. Before launching EPG, Andrews served as senior operating officer for Orient-Express Hotels, Ltd., overseeing some of the world’s most exclusive properties. He’s acquired, repositioned and operated resorts, small and large luxury hotels and acclaimed restaurants across the globe, helping elevate the standards of hospitality excellence worldwide. Today he loves nothing more than honing the finer points of EPG’s boutique properties, because that’s what three decades in the hospitality industry has taught him:
every detail counts.

As creative director and co-founder of Easton Porter Group, Lynn Easton brings her exceptional design eye and event expertise to complement Dean’s business acumen. All EPG properties bear her signature style imprint. As founder of Easton Events– Opens in a new tab, a leading event planning and design company, Lynn’s classic taste, bespoke events, and weddings have earned her a devoted following as well as a nod as one of Vogue’s Top 5 Event Planners. Her work has been widely published including Martha Stewart, Town & Country, The Knot, Southern Weddings, and Southern Living Weddings.

Contact

5022 Plank Rd North Garden
Virginia 22959 USA

1-434-202-8063

INFO@PIPPINHILLFARM.COM

www.pippinhillfarm.com