Corner 103 North Coast Sparkling Rosé: Delicious Pink Bubbles on #PinkSociety
Hello Friends,
I recently had the pleasure of joining a very fun virtual chat hosted by the rosé-loving bunch at The Pink Society (Twitter hashtag #PinkSociety). The group welcomed special guest Lloyd Davis, founder of Corner 103, a tasting room named for its location on the corner of West Napa Street and First Street West, on the historic Sonoma Plaza in the heart of the Sonoma Valley.
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| Corner 103 NV Sparkling Rosé |
A New York City native, Mr. Davis enjoyed a successful career in the banking and finance industry, which spanned more than three decades. His appreciation and interest in wine deepened years ago while working as a financial advisor for a major New York wine retailer, and a business trip to Sonoma County in 2008 proved to be fortuitous. Mr. Davis was called upon to help a struggling winery get back on its feet, which he did—operationally and financially—and in the process, he fell in love with the area, the wine industry, and winemaking.
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| Lloyd Davis, founder of Corner 103 Image by Corner 103 |
Uncorking a new chapter in life, Mr. Davis opened Corner 103 in April 2015, and never looked back. His goals were three-fold: 1) create a fun and unique environment where guests would feel comfortable; 2) continue crafting approachable, high-quality wines; and 3) demonstrate the proper way to pair wine with food. From Wall Street to the Wine Trail, success, it turns out, followed Mr. Davis, as Corner 103 was ranked as one of the 10 best tasting rooms in the country by USA Today. It’s definitely on my list of tasting rooms to visit the next time I’m on the left coast. It looks elegant yet cozy and inviting—the perfect place to enjoy wine, small bites, conversation, and laughter. And if food writer Sarah Stierch, who was also part of the virtual chat, is in the house, there’s sure to be an eclectic mix of good background music setting the mood.
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| Corner 103 Sparkling Rosé paired well with my pecan-crusted tilapia and sautéed greens dinner. |
During the chat, I had a chance to try the winery’s North Coast sparkling rosé. His winemaking team, led by Ron Goss, did a fantastic job with this bottling. It’s a perfect candidate for spring and summer picnicking, backyard cookouts, and more. As you can see, I enjoyed it on its own (yes, I cook with wine!) and later out back with pecan-crusted tilapia and sautéed greens. For further information and where you can find this delicious, traditional method sparkling wine, please see my tasting notes below.
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| A steady stream of tiny bubbles rising to the surface … |
Corner 103 NV Sparkling Rosé (SRP $45): Made in the traditional method, the same process used in the Champagne region of France where secondary fermentation occurs in the bottle, this sparkler is crafted from 84% Pinot Noir, 12% Chardonnay, and 4% Pinot Meunier—the three main grapes for champagne. It pours a vibrant shade of orange-pink, with a persistent bead of fine bubbles. The nose is dominated by fresh red berries that extend to the palate with crisp, citrusy acidity, trailed by shy rose petal notes and a hint of fresh baked bread on the mouthwatering finish. Perfect for weekend brunch, picnics, or any time you feel the need to have delicious pink bubbles in your life. Only 176 cases were produced. Region: North Coast, Sonoma County, California. Other info: ABV 12.6%, méthode champenoise, natural cork enclosure. Click here to find this wine.
