{#WineWednesday} Looking for a Sparkling #Wine to start your #FourthofJuly2018 with a pop of apple crisp goodness that will carry you into fall? Check out @drinksauvage

Happy Fourth of July Butterflies!

Compensated Post Sponsored By: Sauvage Comsi Comsa Apple Crisp Sparkling Wine

June was a BIG month at Ascending Butterfly, it marked the 10 year anniversary of this blog. I normally do a 'it's our birthday, you get the gifts' month of giveaways, but things got super busy so I will sprinkle some giveaway goodness into your life throughout the summer.

Something about Independence day and the expression "As American as Apple Pie" made me want to work on this post today. And while I am not presenting actual Apple Pie, I am talking about 'Apple Crisp', of a LIQUID variety.

Above: Sauvage Comsi Comsa 'Apple Crisp' Sparkling Wine

You guys have no idea just how long it took to get this flat overlay shot to work, then I used Ribbet (my fave online Photo Editing Software) to get this matte effect!

For some odd reason my wine tasting experiences have leaned heavily on the international side, and when I got to cover the Tropicana Winter Wine Fest in Atlantic City, New Jersey, it was the first time I had a chance to try wines produced closer to home.

Today I am proud to share a wine that is produced in Oneonta, New York and has only TWO ingredients - apples and champagne yeast. This wine is natural, gluten-free and kosher and made with dozens of apple varieties sourced from local farms surrounding the distillery.

Sauvage's distillery and tasting room is in Oneonta, New York in the foothills of the Catskill Mountains along the banks of the Susquehanna River and has direct access to 24 varieties of apple's growing in the nearby region's orchards.

It is 12% alcohol by volume with an Amber-Caramel color and a 'full-bodied nose' and is that intersection where bubbly meets cider (cider is only 6% alcohol by volume, Comsi Comsa 'Apple Crisp' is 12%).

It has the refreshing taste of a crisp green apple, not a sweet, crumbly dessert, I tend to lean toward brut and dry palate wines and love that this is crisp, surprisingly full-bodied and well-balanced.

Above: I was so inspired I even started exploring fun filters - this filter is called "True Vintage" and I love everything about it, I want to enlarge this one and put it in my kitchen!

MY TAKE:

Sauvage Comsi Comsa Sparkling Wine is affordable luxury at $14.99 per bottle and pairs so perfectly with cheeses that you will want to make it the star of your summer and fall. I'm a Brie Cheese lover and the pairing of this wine with Brie is literally a match made in heaven.

If an 'Apple A Day Keeps The Doctor Away' surely stocking my bar with Comsi Comsa Apple Crisp will help me live forever right?

So be sure to pick up a bottle to go along with your backyard barbecues and fireworks today!

Please drink responsibly butterflies, do NOT drink and drive!

Readers Sound Off: What is your favorite way to enjoy Apples?

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FTC Disclosure:  This is both a compensated and a sponsored Post, but the love is real. Ascending Butterfly is not just my passion project, it's my business/brand. All opinions are 100% my own! I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission 16 CFR, Part 255 - Guides Concerning the use of endorsements and testimonials in advertising, you may check our Giveaway and Disclosure Page for additional information regarding Ascending Butterfly Disclosure.

Not your mama's #WordlessWednesday a #WineWednesday with @VivancoWines - today YOU play #sommelier! #spon

Decisions. Decisions. Decisions.

Delicious Decisions!

You know I am never quite capable of going completely Wordless on Wordless Wednesday, so I thought today I would come strong with a Wine Wednesday sponsored by Vivanco Wines and let YOU play Sommelier.

Which wine would YOU select?

The Vivanco Viura Tempranillo Blanco Maturana Blanca Rioja - (Much like me) Tempranillo, thrive with cool nights and slow ripening. Pale-yellow with green hues; clean and bright. Expressive, intense and complex (again much like me!) with aromas of citrus fruit, green apples and white peaches, underscored by elegant floral hints.

OR

The Vivanco Crianza 2013 Rioja - Bright cherry-red in color. Intense aromas of fresh, ripe red fruit, with spicy and licorice notes, accompanied by elegant toasty and smoky hints. (Being obsessed with Bourbon's as of late so I can definitely appreciate smoky notes!)

I LOVE their motto:

"Wine Sustains Us. It Empowers Us. It is Who We Are. " ~Vivanco Family Vineyards

Above: Left: Vivanco Viura Tempranillo Blanco Maturana Blanca Rioja and Right: Vivanco Crianza 2013 Rioja - Don't you just love my bling-blingy Wine Glasses?

My Take:

I hope someday soon to be able to take a tour of the vineyards and do a tasting as well as visit The Vivanco Cultural Museum! The Museum houses modern and functional collections that the family has acquired over the years. The collection includes everything from wine labels, to tools, manifestos and fine works of art by masters like Juan Gris and Pablo Picasso. The museum is an enterprising and ambitious initiative, and has become an international point of reference about wine, its history, production techniques, research and all cultural and artistic events that revolve around it.

The weather here in New York City has been sweltering! A nice glass of wine and a spot under the Air Conditioner where I can write in peace sounds perfect for Wine Wednesday!

So tell me butterfly which wine would you select the red or the white, and what would you pair it with?

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FTC Disclosure: Wines were provided to Ascending Butterfly for Editorial Consideration, and all opinions are 100% my own!  I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission 16 CFR, Part 255 - Guides Concerning the use of endorsements and testimonials in advertising, you may check our Giveaway and Disclosure Page for additional information regarding Ascending Butterfly Disclosure.

{#WineWednesday} Fundraiser for @BHFFNYC Bosnian-Herzegovinian Film Festival with Wines of Illyria @indira_bayer @GalleryMCNYC

My blogging experiences have certainly afforded me some unique opportunities and event experiences.

BOSNIAN-HERZEGOVINIAN WINE TASING FUNDRAISER NYC

I attended a Fundraiser for the Bosnian-Herzegovinian Film Festival. The Bosnian-Herzegovinian Film Festival (BHFF) is an annual event, featuring contemporary Bosnian-Herzegovinian cinematography and films with Bosnia and Herzegovina as their theme.

Since its founding in 2003, the BHFF has gained a reputation as an important showcase that provides a platform for the exposure of up-and-coming and internationally-renowned filmmakers, thus contributing to a greater understanding of this country, its diverse culture and history.

The event was held at Gallery MC in New York City and was sponsored by Wines of Illyria.

As this is both 'Wordless Wednesday' and 'Wine Wednesday' on the wonderful world of the interwebs and I can never really go 'wordless', I thought I'd combine both, here is my event journey in pictures:

Wines of Illyria - I spy a Cuvee!

Authentic Bosnian-Herzegovinian hors d'oeuvres prepared by Zlata Ramic

Founder of Wines of Illyria, Indira Bayer

Left: Emir Bander, Bosnian-Herzegovinian Film Festival with Right: Founder of Wines of Illyria, Indira Bayer

MY TAKE:

I love sampling wines from different regions as it expands my palate!

Turns out because of the climate, Bosnian Wines are a bit more 'dry', and since my palate leans more toward drier wines - this turned out to be a match made in wine heaven!

I actually enjoyed them all equally which for me at any tasting is pretty rare.

Readers Sound Off: Have you tried a Bosnian Wine before? What Wine Region is Your Personal Favorite?

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FTC Disclosure: This is NOT a Compensated Post (while perhaps it should be) and all thoughts and opinions are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission 16 CFR, Part 255 - Guides Concerning the use of endorsements and testimonials in advertising, you may check our Giveaway and Disclosure Page for additional information regarding Ascending Butterfly Disclosure.

Things that lure Ascending Butterfly out of her butterfly cocoon of fabulosity: Electronics/Technology (yes I am a Gadget Geek first!), Fashion, Jewelry, Bubbly/Spirits, Foodie/Restaurants, Photography and Travel. And remember Ascending Butterfly does NOT have children, please do not pitch her toys (at least not those that are intended for children).

If a campaign doesn't pay, this butterfly won't want to play.

Smile if you got this far, twirl around twice and sing Mariah Carey's Butterfly.

Still here? Now go make someone happy today.

{#WineWednesday} Let's discuss the White Table #Wine 'Julia-Marie' from @SalemOakWinery & my blinged out Glass too!

When I cover Wine Tastings sometimes individual glimpses can get lost as I try to present an event as a whole. I feel with Wine Events actual *feedback* or at least my perceptions on the wines I was introduced to was getting lost in covering the magnitude of an event.

I thought with the interwebs offering two choices for Wednesday - #WordlessWednesday or #WineWednesday I would try to use my Wednesdays for Wine Wednesdays as we all know I am NOT good at going totally Wordless.

Here is this week's 'Wine Wednesday' -  Salem Oak's Winery 'Julia-Marie' White Table Wine:

MY TAKE:

I first met 'Julia-Marie' during Tropicana's Winter Wine Festival which in case you missed it I covered HERE. Local Wineries were featured prominently at this Tasting Event and I really enjoyed learning more about Local Wines and Wineries. I hope to visit Salem Oak Winery in person and I greatly appreciated getting a sample of what they have to offer.

I am all about trying out a wide variety and when I attend a wine tasting event I 'taste through' starting with Whites and moving to Reds. (And needless to say Sparkling Wines which are my personal favorite). While I am open to trying out as many as I can to develop my palate and learn, I do tend to lean toward Sparkling Wine like Champagne and Prosecco, then White Wine, Rosé, Moscato then Reds. I also seem to have a 'dry palate' and am attracted to slightly drier wines (which is why my affinity for Moscato surprises even me) - Julia-Marie leans slightly dry to me which is probably why I found myself so drawn to this particular white during my Salem Oak Winery 'taste through'. The wines are actually named after real people - employees in fact, which I found fun! (I want a Champagne named after my blog - just think about that for a minute - Ascending Butterfly the Bubbly! YAS!!!!)

I think all wines take on extra flair when consumed from my favorite animal print painted blinged out to the max wine glass, don't you agree?

I like this one for a Seafood Meal, Shellfish Dishes etc (I tend to prefer a white that is not overly fruity when I am using it for a Seafood Pairing). Remember butterflies - it is not about how much the wine costs, learn your palate and buy what makes you happy!

Readers Sound Off: Have you visited any local wineries recently? Which one?

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FTC Disclosure:  Wine was provided for Editorial Consideration and my pure enjoyment, and as always ALL opinions are 100% my own! I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission 16 CFR, Part 255 - Guides Concerning the use of endorsements and testimonials in advertising, you may check our Giveaway and Disclosure Page for additional information regarding Ascending Butterfly Disclosure.