A Toast to International Women’s Day, from Grosset Clare Valley Riesling Alea to Ferragamo’s Borro Pian De Nova

As entrepreneurs who happen to be female, we’re doubly excited this year to celebrate women all over the world in a toast to International Women’s Day on March 8th. From our mothers to our mentors to the wonderful global community of hardworking, caring and dedicated women in Hong Kong stretching to our circles back home in the States, we couldn’t be more proud to be a part of a very special tribe called women. During this month, we’ll be featuring a women in wine series on Instagram dedicated to women in the winemaking industry, make sure you follow us to check for the latest updates.

During these extraordinary times, many of us are engaging in more social activities and celebrations at home and we encourage you to find creative uses of your Toasst box. Perhaps it’s a guided tasting journey for cocktail hour or global blind tasting during game night - we would love to hear your ideas for how you have used your Toasst box with friends for a fun evening in either at info@toasst.co or on Instagram and Facebook.

For red lovers, we’re pleased to feature the Il Borro Pian De Nova 2016, an exclusive for our members, not available at retail. This unusual blend of Syrah and Sangiovese hails from a unique corner in Tuscany at the foot of the Pratomagno Mountains. We dig the wines not necessarily because the winery is owned by the Ferragamo family of luxury fashion fame but because owner Ferruccio Ferragamo has been focused on a winemaking revival with the objective of producing complex wines reflective of rare terroir. We can't get enough of the layers of dark cherry, bramble and blackberry mixed with a tinge of smoke and wood, slight herbal notes, hint of vanilla and velvety tannins. This wine's plush, soft tannins make us crave roast meats such as juicy duck breast, tender baked pork chops, peppery lamb or even spaghetti bolognese and spicy pepperoni pizza. For more recipe ideas to pair your reds with such as delicious pan-fried lamb chops or juicy duck breast, check out toasst.co.

As a highlight in this month’s white wines, the Grosset Clare Valley Riesling Off-Dry Alea 2013 is not one for the timid., An unusual bottle for us to feature given the bottle age, we wholeheartedly agree that it's a quality Riesing that's amazingly accessible for members to help educate the palate and uncover food pairing breadth. This medium-bodied Riesling is now showing its true color with floral notes, petrol and rubber tire with a long, wonderfully acidic finish combined with power and aging potential. High acidity helps to cut through the elements of a wide range of dishes, from rich soups to a multi-course Chinese banquet meal.  

Lastly, we couldn’t help but mention the Neudorf Pinot Noir Rosé 2019. For us, rosé days are year round, if you know what to look for.  We couldn’t help including this fun, easy drinking wine to inject a bit of versatility to our box in rounding out a multi-course meal you may be serving at home. Made from Pinot Noir fruit with super-gentle pressing, light extraction, natural yeasts and a small portion softened in old oak, this organic, medium-bodied wine is aromatic with super crisp acidity that’s dry on the palette yet with fruit that keeps on giving. Not complicated, in the best rosé way. 

Note: For Mixed and Red subscribers, please note an update to this  month’s tasting notes. We are happy to be sharing the 2014 vintage of Chateau Brown from Pessoc Leognon, a Bordeaux drinking wonderfully now. 

Ending here on a lighter note till next month as we look forward to warmer months ahead. As always, send questions, comments and feedback to info@toasst.co and share your Toasst experience on Instagram, Facebook, and Twitter. 

Thank you for being a part of Toasst. #livebetter #winebetter

Amy & Christina 

p.s. If you haven’t already, remember to sign up for our mailing list at toasst.co for the latest news, offers and wine tips.