The new Véro is here: Austrian winemakers Alex and Maria Koppitsch pay tribute to the Quebec sommelier and collaborator of The Press Véronique Rivest, the time of a vintage in her name and her image.
It is a blend of three wines (white, red and rosé) made from eight grape varieties, which produces a summer red wine, to be drunk chilled.
“It’s a wine that can be confusing,” warns Alexandre Boily, of the Ward et associés agency, which represents the winemakers here.
That’s to say ?
“People are prepared for a white wine,” he says. “They’ll have an idea of the style. Rosé or red, same thing. But here, there are no benchmarks. There’s just as much mineral acidity that comes from the white; the lively, fruity side comes from the rosé and, mixed with that, there’s a bit of tannin and an earthy side.”
Intriguing, indeed…
This is the third time that the Koppitsch family has made a wine specifically in the image of a local personality, for the Quebec market. First there was the Rocket and the Mado. The idea, explains Alexandre Boily, is to pay tribute to people who have made things happen, who have been bold. This is the case of Véronique Rivest, who won second place in the Best Sommelier in the World competition in 2013 and who has just received the title of Chevalier de l’Ordre du Mérite Agricole from France.
Alex and Maria Koppitsch’s natural wines are well-loved by Quebecers. This winemaking couple cultivates their grapes according to the principles of biodynamics and places the quality of the soil at the heart of their work.
The Véro vintage can be purchased in cases of six 1-litre bottles, as a private import through the Ward et associés agency, or you can run to Gatineau to Soif, the sommelier’s wine bar where, according to the latest news, there were a few bottles left.
Visit the Ward and Associates website