2021 Bel Lago Auxerrois Sparkling Brut Leelanau Peninsula

Winemaker Notes: One of our favorite varietals at Bel Lago, our Auxerrois brut sparkling wine is a savory combination of bright acidity and a creamy texture. Akin to Chardonnay, Auxerrois (pronounced Awk - Sair - Wah) produces an aromatic sparkling wine with scents of bananas, dried figs, cloves and Golden Delicious apples on the nose. Notes of star fruit, redcurrant, gooseberry and jasmine meld with the velvety lees features of sourdough and anise. With plenty of fruit, acidity and structure, this dry sparkling wine is elegant and regal.

Production Notes: We picked our Auxerrois for this wine earlier in the harvest season to retain its acidity and fruit profile, as well as to control its ripeness and final alcohol content. The juice is immediately inoculated with yeast – QA23 in this vintage – and the wine undergoes a secondary fermentation in the traditional method.