Connecticut Magazine

Win the holidays with these sure-to-please wines

By Renée Allen

Kivelstadt Cellars The Family Secret Sauvignon Blanc 2019

Crisp white wines, versatile with a variety of foods, are a smart choice for the hostess who opts to open her vinous gifts sur le champ (right away). Kivelstadt Cellars was founded by Jordan Kivelstadt, whose initiation into the wine industry came when he left a corporate consulting job to pursue harvesting opportunities in several New World regions. Kivelstadt incorporates concepts from both New and Old World regions to create sustainable, and somewhat unconventional, products.

Although Kivelstadt Cellars The Family Secret is produced from 100 percent sauvignon blanc, it is by no means a traditional expression of this grape. In the glass, the wine glistens pale yellow-gold, and the nose is delightfully fruit forward, led by white peach and tropical fruit notes, but this is where any classic resemblance ends. Allowing the wine a few moments to breathe brings forth a faint yet distinct aroma of hops, both unusual and intriguing. Upon sipping, the palate is immediately met with a wave of salinity that rolls over the tongue, then breaks to invite the lime and apple flavors underneath to rise to the surface. The fruit recedes on a faintly oily finish, once again succumbing to the lingering saltiness. The wine delivers crisp acidity, making it a perfect accompaniment to party openers such as soft cheeses and bacon-wrapped scallops, or a first course of rich lobster bisque.