goes with everything : The Vino Volo Butcher Board , Pizzetas , and Chopped Salad are among my favorite pairings .”

– Larissa C . Dubose , national director of beverages for Vino Volo parent company Paradies Lagardère

tor of beverages for parent company Paradies Lagardère . This is mainly driven by Mimosas : “ Nothing quite says ‘ early morning vacation flight ’ like a Mimosa or Bloody Mary ,” she notes .

Sparkling wine flights , which vary in number from six to eight , also do well at Vino Volo .

PHOTO CREDIT : © KRYS ALEX

“ We have had great feedback from our Behind the Vines flight , which highlights producers from historically marginalized groups ,” says Dubose .

SPOILED FOR CHOICE

Champagne from the eponymous region in France may still be the gold standard for many , but options abound for sparkling wines from all over the world . For instance , Langlois specializes in Crémant de Loire wines from France , while Berlucchi makes Franciacorta from Italy , to name just a few . Aphrodise is a new sparkling rosé from Greece made from the xinamavro grape .

Singer Bebe Rexha in March launched Provocativo , a brut sparkling cava from Spain . Also in March , Mumm Napa announced a revamp of its domestic sparkling wine portfolio with the launch of the Mumm Sparkling line and the introduction of super-premium cuvees Mumm Sparkling Brut Prestige , Mumm Sparkling Brut Rosé and Mumm Sparkling Cuvée M .

What styles of sparkling wine are trending now ? Drier expressions , such as brut nature , have grown in popularity , as well as unique grape varieties , Dubose says . “ We recently featured a sparkling pais from Chile and it was really popular .” Other Vino Volo guest favorites include the 2018 Argyle Brut from Oregon ’ s Willamette Valley and Oddbird NA Blanc de Blancs sparkling

A Vino Volo wine bar .

PHOTO CREDIT : © BRANDON AMATO wine from France .

Pet nat ( petillant naturel ) “ is still having its day ” at Le Crocodile in the Williamsburg , NY-based Wythe Hotel , says service and beverage director Gabriella Borg Costanzi . Champagne and cremants are the top sellers at Le Crocodile and the hotel ’ s Bar Blondeau . “ About 12 % of our wine sales are sparkling — with more during the holiday season ,” she says .

Daisies restaurant in Chicago currently offers “ a super interesting red pét nat from Tenuta di Carleone in Tuscany called ‘ Tinto ’ ($ 67 ), using Alicante Bouschet grapes ,” says wine director Leah Matthews . “ They make wines in the Italian tradition while also employing current organic and biodynamic farming practices . This sparkling red is inky , expressing spicy baked blueberry , spring leaves and blackberry .”

The Daisies menu also has a few refreshing pét nats from Illinois Sparkling Co . available by the bottle . These include the winery ’ s Illnatic ($ 50 a bottle ) and Pét Nat Rosé ($ 54 a bottle ).

Because Daisies focuses on sustainability and locality , “ all of our current U . S . sparkling selections are from right here in the Midwest ,” Matthews adds . “ We particularly love Illinois Sparkling Co ., and they grow their grapes just down the road in Peru , IL .”

Daisies ’ by-the-glass sparkling rosé is the brand ’ s Champagne-method dry rosé “ Ombré ,” priced at $ 14 a glass or $ 50 a bottle . “ For their Ombré wine , Illinois Sparkling Co . uses a hardy French-American hybrid varietal called chamborcin , which has proven to stand the test of the Midwest climate ,” she says .

Guests have shown more interest in Daisies ’ lambrusco selection in recent months , says Matthews . “ We have a few different dry lambrusco options and styles available .”

Theses range from the light , bright La Divina Lambrusco di Sorbara Pét Nat ($ 42 a bottle ), “ with tart raspberry , salinity and violet florals to denser , richer expressions like our current lambrusco offered by the glass ,

10 Cheers • Summer 2024 www . cheersonline . com