Ryan Patrick Wines, Milbrandt Vineyards, winemaker Kendall Mix and marketing maven Stacy Bellew developed this non-profit bubbles project — named Coeur Cause: A Sparkling of Higher Purpose — as a deliciously worthy fundraising partnership to benefit Friends of the Lower Grand Coulee based in Soap Lake, Wash. As a result, each bottle of this inviting sparkling blend of Syrah (73%) and Tempranillo (27%) from three vineyards on the Wahluke Slope — including Butch Milbrandt’s picturesque Ravenscliff — supports youth art and education programs in the Columbia Basin region where Milbrandt grew up. Rather than methode champenoise, Mix skillfully used forced carbonation for this. The pinkish salmon color and ebullient bubbles push out crowd-pleasing tropical hints of POG juice and cherry amid a fun mousse that’s fruity yet dry with more passion fruit and guava in the finish. The collaboration, which included donations from Labels West, Inc., Tricor Braun WinePak and Cork Supply USA — as well as an auction of bronze artwork by Kevin Pettelle — helped generate in proceeds $28,869 for Friends of Lower Grand Coulee.
Rating: Excellent
Production: 200 cases
Alcohol: 12%
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