Discovering this Cote West Counoise from one of Oakland’s most popular wineries was one of my best Whole Foods wine finds this year.
The wine opens with a burst of bright strawberries and raspberries. The fruit is rambunctious and plays on the palate like rowdy school children at recess. The acid makes an abrupt, schoolmarm-like appearance, balancing the excitable energy in the glass. Hints of pepper appear as a secondary tasting note. There’s also an intriguing herbaceous, and subtle floral notes happening.
There is something about this grape that reminds me of fall. While this wine is racy, light-bodied, and a little eager, there’s just enough weight on the palate to make it food-friendly.
Counoise is One of the “Cool” California Grapes
Counoise is popping up everywhere with my favorite winemakers. It kind of reminds of grapes like Trousseau, Gamay, Mission, Charbano, and even Trousseau Gris on the white-pink side of things.
When I see more and more of my favorite winemakers working with a grape, I perk up and take notice. Two other East Bay urban wineries, Donkey and Goat and Broc Cellars, also worked with Counoise. You can also add Groundwork Wines, Benevolent Neglect makes a crazy-good Rosato-style wine, and so does Raft Wines.
How do you pronounce Counoise?
Unless you speak French, on the page, ‘Counoise’ looks a bit tricky to pronounce. For those wondering how to pronounce Counoise, (I sympathize, I had to look this up too), it’s pronounced ‘coon-wahz.’
I had to pronounce this several times (aloud) before it really stuck with me! I rank the pronunciation of this French grape right up there with trying to remember my mourvedre pronunciation! I should have taken a romance language in high school instead of German.
How did Counoise get to California?
We can thank Tablas Creek for bringing Counoise to California. Outside of the Golden State, this dark-skinned Counoise grape is primarily used in Chateauneuf-du-Pape as a blending grape. All (roughly) 60 acres of the grape that exist in California originate from the root-stock imported by Tablas Creek.
In France, Counoise is grown in the southern Rhone, Provence and Languedoc.
Grapes for Cote West’s Counoise are sourced from the Mount’s Family Vineyard in Dry Creek Valley in Sonoma County. Cote West also makes a rosé of Counoise with the Mount’s Family grapes. With all of it’s glorious acidity, it’s easy to see why this grape makes a great rosé.
When summer rolls around again, the Cote West Counoise rosé is definitely getting added to my list of California rosé wines to try.
About Cote West Wines: One of Oakland’s Most Popular Wineries
Cote West Wines is one of Oakland’s most popular wineries, and their tasting room is located just a few minutes from Jack London square. If you’re going wine tasting in Oakland, Cote West should definitely be on your list.
The winery is run by the husband and wife team Bret and Kerri Hogan. With Cote West, winemaker Bret seeks to create Old World-style wines, but with California’s modern touch. Hence the very clever name. The Cote West tasting room is located in Oakland and open weekends between 2pm-6pm.
There’s something to be said for visiting local Bay Area wineries. Not only are we supporting local urban winemakers, it allows us to enjoy a great wine experience, without committing to the hours of driving time it can take to get to Napa, Sonoma, or beyond.
If you’re looking for one of the best wine tasting rooms in Oakland, check out Cote West, judging by the number of Instagram posts tagged there, it’s a local favorite!
If you can’t make it to the Oakland wine tasting room? Cote West has a twice yearly Wine Club.
Where to Buy Cote West Counoise?
This is a tricky one. I picked up this bottle at my local Whole Foods, but it always available through Cote West’s website, or through any obvious online retailers.
After doing some digging, it looks like the Cote West’s Counoise is sometimes part of the winery’s membership allocation. My advice, if you see it in your local shops, just buy it.
FAQs
Is Counoise served cold?
Counoise is a great wine to serve with a little chill on it, especially if you’re sipping on a bottle from a low-intervention-style winemaker that makes lighter-bodied wines like Chillable Reds and Glou-Glou wines.
How to Pair Counoise ?
Locals in Provence pair Counoise with light dishes like Tuna Niçoise. The grape’s bright acidity makes it an excellent wine to pair with lighter grilled meats like lamb chops, savory grilled veggies, or tomato-based pastas.