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Mission Codename: True Vintage Love

Operative: Agent Red

Objective: Return to Amorosa Bella and procure their vintage Brut, a sparkling delight from the Russian River Valley, birthplace of some of the component varietals of Chardonnay and Pinot Noir that make up the composition this wine.

Mission Status: Accomplished!

Current Winery: Amorosa Bella

Wine Subject: 2010 Brut – Russian River Valley

Winemaker: Kenneth Juhasz

Backgrounder: The Russian River Valley, in Sonoma County, produces Chardonnay (as well as Pinot Noir and Old Vine Zinfandel) of remarkable distinction. The cooler maritime conditions of the region make the RRV ideal for growing Burgundian varietals. This AVA was officially designated in 1983, but many of the wines in the region used the designation as early as the 1970s (early in California’s wine history) with the many of the vines having been first planted in the early 1900s. The Russian River Valley is ideally suited to Pinot Noir and Chardonnay – which make up today’s sparkling wine.

Wine Spies Tasting Profile:

Look – Bright and lively, with just a hint of copper color, when held up to the light. A steady rush of bubbles wind their way up the glass in a continuous frenzy of energy.

Smell – Crisp and fresh with fresh white peach, pear, yellow grapefruit, pineapple and yeasty vanilla. As the wine warms slightly, it reveals subtler aromas of white flowers, soft toasted oak and a hint of roasted chestnut.

Feel – The soft mousse expands as it enters the mouth. After a moment, it softens, leaving a soft dryness after it leaves the palate.

Taste – White peach and pear mix with pink grapefruit, toasted oak and vanilla. Lemon curd, flint, pineapple, white spice and flint round out the flavors as the wine warms slightly.

Finish – Flavors go on for a long time, enhanced by the texture of the mousse. At the end, the wine remains bright and crisp, with hints of citrus, flint and subtlest white spice that give the finish a slight kick.

Conclusion – Amorosa Bella has nailed it with their lovely 2010 Vintage Brut from the Russian River Valley. This sparkler is pretty, showing off subtle copper hues and an unending rush of fine bubbles. Deliciously crisp and loaded with a bevvy of flavors, this bubbly is also a joy to sample for its complexity on the palate. Enjoy with any occasion that calls for the sort of luxe that a truly great sparkling wine lends!

Mission Report:

WINEMAKER INTEL BRIEFING DOSSIER

Mother’s LOVE sparkling wine!

Dr. Charlyn Belluzzo, internationally recognized health and wellness expert, author, and owner of Amorosa Bella Winery is back with one of her award winning sparkling wines.

Mother’s Day is closely approaching, Sunday, May 8th. It is the perfect time to reignite all of your senses with Dr. Belluzzo’s light and luscious sparkling wine!

In Italian, “Amorosa Bella” means beautiful lover. The love affair is with life!

Literally speaking, Amorosa Bella beautiful bottled sparkling wine is the essence of experiencing the full spectrum of “sensuality” using all six of your sense: sight, smell, sound, taste, touch, and intuition.

SUBJECT: Dr. Charlyn Belluzzo

WINE EDUCATION: Though classically trained in an academic sense, Dr. Belluzzo has made it her mission to expand our path on the road to wellness by living a sensual life. Dr. Belluzzo and talented winemaker, Penelope Gadd-Coster, handcraft uniquely sensual wines exclusively for Amorosa Bella.

WINEMAKING PHILOSOPHY: “Wine is relationship!” True to Amorosa Bella’s Italian family heritage, wine is blended to bring greater pleasure to everyday living. Through a luscious alchemy of elements, wines awaken your senses create intimate personal moments and enliven all gatherings.

WINEMAKER QUOTE: “Living with passion requires igniting the spark. Our sparkling wines flicker, then burst into flame!”

FIRST COMMERCIAL WINE RELEASE: 23 October 2009

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WINEMAKER INTERVIEW

AGENT RED: Greetings, Charlyn. We are thrilled to be showing your 2010 Sparkling Brut today. Thanks so much for taking some time to answer questions for our Operatives today.

CHARLYN BELLUZZO: It’s great to be back with you, Agent Red!

RED: Was there a specific experience in your life that inspired your love of wine?

CHARLYN: As a scientist and a medical researcher, I am fascinated by the science of our senses. Our senses are primal and have been essential to our survival dating back to the dawn of humankind. As we refined our intellect, we lost touch with our ability to “feel”. Rediscovering your senses is exciting! Wine, particularly sparkling wine, triggers all of your senses.

RED: Who do you make wine for?

CHARLYN: The characteristics of Amorosa Bella wines please some of the most sophisticated wine aficionado, yet the romantic sensual nature of our wines and the enjoyable lifestyle we purvey attracts a new class of young wine enthusiasts.

RED: Please tell me a little bit about the wine we are featuring today.

CHARLYN: This sparkler hails from the Russian River, a cool climate area. This area I feel, creates some stunning sparklers. With the cooler climate we can get the grapes to maturity at a lower level of sugar. That translates into some beautiful fruit flavors that you wouldn’t get with a shorter hang time. This is done with a Brut dosage level (1.1%) and ya’ just can’t stop drinking it!

RED: What is your favorite pairing with today’s wine?

CHARLYN: OMG- I love lime crème fraiche on potato chips with Tobiko – I am getting hungry thinking about it!

Chill down Amorosa Bella Sparkling Brut wine as a refreshing drink alone or a perfect match for many dishes from salads to spicy outdoor barbeque dishes! Try sparkling wine with salty foods like potato chips or popcorn.

A bowl of fresh fruit or berries, drizzled with sparkling wine becomes a light appetizer or desert. Place your Sparkling Brut fruit bowls in the freezer and create a fruity wine slush—perfect for an outdoor appetizer on a warm summer evening.

RED: In your opinion, what makes the Russian River Valley so special?

CHARLYN: Amorosa Bella wines are conceived in the heart of Sonoma County, California, nestled along the famed Russian River, where the beauty of lush hillsides laced with delicate rows of grapevines and alluring aromas fill your senses. Temperate weather; warm sunny days and nights cooled by the ocean fog as it rolls in most summer evenings infuses the grapes and the people living in the region with a unique sweetness that is intoxicating making easy conversation with friends and lovers.

RED: What is occupying your time at the winery these days?

CHARLYN: Making more bubbles- yeast cultures, blending, then into bottles for the long rest!

As you all know, the process for producing Amorosa Bella sparkling wines is much different from our still wine portfolio. Wine created from our 2010 harvest is destined to become sparkling wine was just placed in the bottle for the first time!

We will now let these bottles “rest” with their very first corks for six months, waiting their first disgorging. Our sparkling wine is made in the traditional riddle method, periodically hand turning each bottle, disgorging three separate times before the final cork is placed, eighteen to twenty-four months after harvest.

RED: How would you recommend people approach your wines and wine in general?

CHARLYN: Get to know yourself and explore your own tastes and style as you experience wine. Discover your wine preferences using all of your senses. Consider which wines you would select for yourself to enjoy when no one else is watching. There are no wrong wine choices if your senses are pleased.

RED: Is there anything else you’d like to share with our readers?

CHARLYN: Ask your mother, friends, and even yourself what would the best wine be for celebrating this season. We invite you to pop a cork on Amorosa Bella Sparkling Brut and raise a glass to toast your love affair with life!