Then along came little sister, Sweet Rosé, and demanded her own moment in the spotlight.

Showcasing a gorgeous shade of sunset pink and offering a bouquet of tulips, melons, and peaches on the nose, Jo Mamma’s Sweet Rosé is the perfect summer wine. Sweet, yet light bodied, with a refreshing burst of pomegranate on the palate and a clean, sweet berry finish, it appears deceptively demure but don’t let it fool you! Noisy Water blended Black Muscat grapes with Barbera grapes to produce a wine that’s dangerously easy to drink, a welcome respite from warm summer days and making the summer evenings with friends so enjoyable.

Pinot Grigio is the second most popular white wine in America and probably outsells every other wine during the hotter months of the year. Born in France as Pinot Gris (“gris” referring to the grayish-blue color of the grape skins), it migrated north to Switzerland then to northern Italy where it became known as Pinot Grigio. It became the most popular white wine in Italy, then the most popular imported white wine in the US. Thanks to our southern New Mexico climate, we have a domestic Pinot Grigio that can rival any import!

Cabernet Sauvignon is generally a dry red that is rich in tannins and, to a certain extent, a little intimidating to novice wine drinkers. Demigod, however, is true to its namesake and loves to be loved (according to the dictionary, “demigod” is also defined as one “who is greatly admired and respected”) and therefore is a little easier on a wider range of palates.

Semi-dry and medium-bodied, 2018 Demigod is a wine for all times and for all tastes. Not as dry as most Cabernet Sauvignons, it bursts with juicy red sweet cherries and dark fruits with a hint of vanilla and a smooth finish. It makes an excellent wine for the warmer summer months when stronger tannins are not as desirable. Demigod has become one of Noisy Water’s most popular wines and it’s easy to see why!

“Legs” is the term used to describe the streaks of wine that run down the inside of the glass when you swirl the wine. They represent how much alcohol is in the wine. While Big Legs Red doesn’t have an unusually high amount of alcohol for a red wine, it’s a fun take on a common wine term and Big Legs Red is nothing if not fun!

A blend of Cabernet Sauvignon, Zinfandel, and Barbera grapes, at first glance, it would seem that Big Legs would be an extremely dry blend. However, it sidles onto the nose with a dark red fruit bouquet, teasing with a slight spiciness, before stepping into a jammy berry middle with a finish as smooth as silk.

Pinot Noir grapes grow well alongside Chardonnay grapes (they are both grown in our Forbidden Desert Vineyard in Engle, New Mexico), and Pinot Noir can be made into a red, white, rosé, or sparkling wine. And mark your calendar, August 18 is Pinot Noir Day! 

Grown in one of the most inhospitable regions of the US for this particular varietal, Noisy Water’s 2017 Pinot Noir is not your typical Pinot Noir. Fuller bodied with stronger tannins, it has an undertone of warm spice mingling with dark cherries, segueing into a jammy, vanilla tannic finish. Dry, but smooth, it pairs well with aged cheeses and crisp apples or a rich cut of meat.

But then along comes a dry red wine that refuses to be polite, refuses to wait to be asked in. Instead of a well-mannered knock at the door, it comes crashing through a wall like the Kool-Aid man… without the sugary sweetness.

Syrah, also known as Shiraz, is one of the darkest, full-bodied red wines in the world. Depending on the climate where it is grown, it can be full of dark fruit flavors of blackberries and boysenberries with a rich, jammy finish, or it can snap with the spiciness of clove or licorice or pepper. In our 2017 Winemaker’s Select Syrah, Noisy Water has hit a perfect balance between the simplicity of Grandma’s homemade jam and the complexity of rich tannins and a subtle spiciness.

An Old World wine, also known as Primitivo in Italy, Noisy Water’s 2017 Winemaker’s Select Zinfandel has a profile that appeals to dry and not-so-dry drinkers alike. With a nose that boast hints of blueberry and dark cherry with a little bit of cinnamon and clove spiciness, this Zinfandel invites you deeper into the world of dry reds without being overbearing. The tannin structure is smooth, medium to full-bodied, with a dry finish of black currant, soft smoke, and the barest suggestion of cacao. 

“In the mirror-like relationship between wine and human beings, Zinfandel owned more reflective properties than any other grape… capable of expressing almost any philosophical position or psychological function. As a result, its own ‘true’ nature might never be known.”

--David Darlington, author of “Angels Visits: An Inquiry into the Mystery of Zinfandel”
 

In this instance, “green” also refers to “new” and Nuevo Verde is our winemaker’s take on Vinho Verde, a dry white wine that has increased in popularity in the last ten to fifteen years. While the term “Vinho Verde” (“green wine”)  typically refers to wines produced in a certain region in northern Portugal, it also means wine produced from an early harvest and drunk young, with little or no aging. This gives the wine a crisp and refreshing “young” finish. It is typically a blend of white wine grapes, not a particular varietal, a can be enjoyed with a meal or by itself. 

“When green is all there is to be
It could make you wonder why
But, why wonder, why wonder?
I'm green and it'll do fine
It's beautiful and I think it's what I want to be”
--Andrew Bird, sung by Kermit the Frog

Because it is a fairly neutral grape, most of its flavor derives from the terroir in which it is grown and the way in which it is aged, which enables the winemaker to showcase their skills in bringing out the grapes’ full potential. At the peak of its popularity in the late ‘80s, some winemakers got a little carried away with aging Chardonnay in oak, which gave it a characteristic with which it has become synonymous. However, the type and amount of oak aging, or none at all, can be the winemaker’s touch in bringing out the best of Chardonnay.

“Everyone can commit to 20 minutes, especially if there’s a glass of Chardonnay afterwards.” 
—Kate Winslet

At that point, I knew nothing about wine varietals; about acidity or tannins; about blends or bouquets or body; or what made wines sweet or dry. All I knew was that I really, REALLY liked what was in the glass. And I kept coming back.

Eventually, I kept coming back so much that they put me on the payroll. And while I've learned so much about wines in the years since and expanded my palate to enjoy drier wines (red as well as white), there remains a spot in my heart for my first Noisy Water love, Jo Mamma's White.

“Let us have wine and women, mirth and laughter, sermons and soda water the day after.”
 – Lord Byron