Domaine South
Armenian & Lebanese Wine Tasting
Friday, February 27th, 4 pm - 6pm
Special Guest, Allaina Nielsen
$20 per person
256-759-9952 to Reserve
These delicious wines of Lebanon & Armenia are comparable to the wines of France's Rhone Valley and Provence. Both new and exciting but also ancient and historical, high elevation vineyards (some of the highest in the world!) reflect their mountainous regions through richness, elegance and complexity.
The Wines
NV Keush Origins Brut, Armenia $27.99
Origins sparkling wine represents the perfect storm of limestone soil and volcanic rock growing idyllic crisp white grapes, ripened by sunlight from high elevation vineyards. A product born from a 6,000 – year- old viticulture history, Origins embodies the bold Armenian soul and its wine loving spirit.
Tasting Notes
Invigorating and fresh, the palate resonates with citrus and apple flavors. Finish is fresh apple flavors alongside a lingering note of toasted almond.
Varietals: Voskehat 60% and Khatouni 40%
Minimum 22 months on the lees aging.
2023 Ixsir Grande Reserve Blanc, Lebanon $32.99
A blend of viognier and sauvignon blanc gives this wine a full body with plenty of exotic aromas Grape Variety: Viognier, Sauvignon and Chardonnay Aging: In French oak barrels 5 months
"This is a perfumed white that has aromas and flavors of lemon, grapefruit, orange blossom and rose petals. It’s medium- to full-bodied with excellent freshness and persistency. Viognier, sauvignon and chardonnay. Drink now." - James Suckling
2024 Ixsir Altitudes Rose, Lebanon $24.99
Our newest obsession. The silky hills of Lebanon meets the strawberry fields of Provence and they fall madly in love. Variety: Cinsault, Syrah and Caladoc
This lively wine boasts a marble pink color with peony-colored reflections. The aromatic bouquet reveals an intense array of gooseberry and vine leaf aromas. On the palate, it is fruity, crisp, and delicate. Made in a classic Provencal style, it will be a delight for anyone passionate about authentic rose wines
The name IXSIR derives from Iksir, the original Arabic word for Elixir, a word common to many languages, referring to the purest form of all substances, a secret potion that grants eternal youth and love. Guided by the vision of Gabriel Rivero and Hubert de Bouard of Chateau Angelus, the team at IXSIR seeks to cultivate environmentally sustainable wines that reveal the best and diverse terroirs of Lebanon, some forgotten long ago. - Ixsir
2021 Ixsir Altitudes Rouge, Lebanon $24.99
GRAPES VARIETIES: Cabernet Sauvignon, Syrah, Caladoc and Tempranillo. AGING: Part in French oak barrels 6 months. SOIL: Clay and limestone. A refined Lebanese red wine from high-altitude vineyards. .
Soft, mellow, velvety texture of a Rhône Valley wine, with similar complex herbal nuances and Syrah's distinctive perfume. This bold red wine boasts a vibrant ruby color, tantalizing aromas of ripe red berries, and subtle notes of spicy oak. The flavor profile is rich and complex, featuring a perfect balance of luscious fruit flavors and well-integrated tannins.
Ixsir was launched in Lebanon in 2008 when a group of friends, including French-Lebanese tycoon Carlos Ghosn, invested in a winery that would shake up the local wine scene. Located in the Batroun region in the north of the country, the building has won several awards, including Green Good design in 2011. But it's the winemaking strategy that has won this challenger the hearts of the Lebanese and foreign publics alike (40% of its sales are abroad): the team has chosen vineyard plots from all over the country, so that its wines can express all the rich diversity and complexity of the Lebanese terroir.
2020 Shofer Areni Red, Armenia $18.99
Shofer Areni showcases the classic traits of this variety; deep notes of cherry and plum alongside some peppery spice.
Tasting Notes
Shofer Areni is medium bodied, with flavors of plum, cherry and black pepper.
Shofer Areni is made with Areni grapes sourced from centuryold mountainside vineyards in Vayots Dzor. It’s made using the direct press method. Shofer Areni is medium bodied, with flavors of plum, cherry and black pepper. Shofer Areni showcases the classic traits of this variety; deep notes of cherry and plum alongside some peppery spice. This wine pairs well with barbecue and stews. Shofer, the Armenian word for “chauffeur,” features the emblematic Soviet-era Lada car, used near-exclusively by the country’s cabbies. Like in many countries, these drivers are a lively bunch: equal parts welcoming, efficient, boisterous, and opinionated. They take pride in showing newcomers the richness of their homeland, and in facilitating everyday life in Armenia’s towns and cities. Like the Shofers, our wines are made to transport adventurous spirits to regions unknown and to celebrate the new and memorable.
2019 Zulal Areni Red, Armenia $24.99
Areni is an ancient red grape variety indigenous to Armenia. Zulal, meaning ‘pure’ in Armenian, was created to express the purest characteristics of Armenia’s indigenous grape varieties such as Areni. The barrel aging of the 2018 Areni Reserve adds a round mouthfeel and deep spice note to the expressive red berry flavors of the Areni grape.
Concentrated red fruit flavors are balanced by notes of spice in this mature red wine. The flavors are framed by refreshing acidity and silky tannins.
Zulal was founded in 2017 by Aimee Keushguerian, who learned enology while working for her father at Keush. Fascinated with the viticultural diversity in Armenia, Aimee created Zulal with the goal of showcasing her country’s indigenous varieties through monovarietal bottlings unadorned by excessive winemak