One of the wonderful wineries with a cause, XOBC Cellars is one of the few LBGTQ-owned wineries in the Pacific Northwest. Started by four women, XOBC is named after co-founder and music icon Brandi Carlile. The wines support Brandi’s Looking Out Foundation which raises money for a range of charities. LGBTQ ownership in wine is incredibly under-represented which is a trend that is hopefully changing in the future. The founders are remarkable women who have achieved incredible success in their lives. I have really enjoyed sitting down with the owners, Jeri and Amy, and talking about their brand which is already iconic in the Pacific Northwest. They have created some consistently beautiful wines in their lineup.
At the helm is one of Walla Walla’s finest winemakers, Sean Boyd of Rotie Cellars. Sean provides beautiful finesse and tension, as well as richness in his wines. I adored all of the new wines and was particularly impressed with what he has done with his first ever sparkling wine, the NV XOBC Sparkling Wine (OB, 91) which is fresh with a smooth texture and beautiful red fruit flavors. Learn more about this great new winery project at https://www.xobccellars.com Here is my review of the beautiful new sparkling wine by XOBC.
NV XOBC Sparkling Rose Wine- The NV XOBC Sparkling Rose is a beautifully nuanced new effort by winemaker Sean Boyd that weighs in at a mere 11.8% alcohol. A blend of 90% Syrah with the remainder Grenache and Mourvedre, this unveils a soft mousse upon entry. With more air very pretty red rose petals collide with red currants, wild strawberry and undertones of sourdough bread and bergamot. Delicious to consume now, this has another five to seven years in front of it. Drink 2022-2028- 91