Sparkling red wine

At the end of last summer, Sam's Wines in Downers' Grove had on sale Loose End MSM, which is a sparkling red wine from Australia. Not champagne, but fizzy red, with a pop bottle cap instead of a champagne cork. So I bought a bottle for around $14. Didn't have it until yesterday at a cookout. It was delicious. It poured like deep cherry soda, had a nice fizz, but was dry red wine. Served cold, it was very refreshing with hamburgers and hot dogs.

I haven't found it online at either Sam's or Binny's, but I'm hopeful that I can score some more. Really fun summer drink.

I'm not familiar with any other sparkling Merlot Syrah Mourvedre blends. There are a few sparkling Shiraz from down under that might make a decent substitute (5 are available at Binny's). You can find Loose Ends MSM here http://www.internationalcellar.com/1910 ... mpaign=std

but given the current status regarding shipments of wine from out state (which I believe takes effect on June 1), there may not be enough time unless you wanted it sent overnight.

I've never had the Loose Ends, but Wine Discount Center usually carries one or two sparkling (Australian) reds in the summer. It's hit or miss, but they've always got something good there and you can call ahead if you're looking for something specific (they will know if it's there or not, unlike some of the larger stores).

Wine Discount Center
1826 1/2 N Elston Ave
Chicago, IL 60622
(773) 489-3454

I've had a wine called Sangue di Giuda from Italy that is not really sparkling, but fizzy. As the Italians say, it's frizzante. It's also slightly sweet. I've had it at restaurants but I believe I've seen it at Sam's, as well.

I haven't seen one in a while, but I've really enjoyed some of the rotsekts from Germany's Ahr Valley.

I recently purchased The Black Chook sparkling shiraz at In Fine Spirits for about $20.

While you're up there, stop in to their new lounge next door; you may even be able to enjoy a glass there, I'm not sure.

In Fine Spirits
5418 N. Clark Street
Chicago, IL 60640
(773) 506-9463

A fairly new wine shop in Lincoln Park has a few, Black Chook and a dry sparkling shiraz called Naked on Roller Skates.

Vrai Amour
953 W. Webster Ave.
Chicago, IL 60614
(773) 549-9740
www.vraiamour.com

A bottle of Lambrusco at Sabatino's or a similar red sauce restaurant is a beautiful thing!

The method of storing and pumping bulk red wine at a lot of places in Italy actually injects a small amount of carbonation into the wine, particularly noticeable with the first sip. Between the cool temperature of the wine, and the touch of carbonation I really enjoyed the red house wines, particularly the cheap Valpolicella in the Veneto, so I asked at one place if they would tell me what the brand was of the slightly sparkling red, and the server explained that it was not a sparkling wine at all. To my disappointment.

This thread has reminded me of that, and I will work on finding some dry, red sparklers. Unfortunately, when I have found them they tended to be sweeter than I like, so I have made do with chilling some simple reds (Beaujolais and the aforementioned Valpolicella work fine for this) for summer quaffing. I wonder what the result would be if one used a seltzer maker on a Beaujolais?

Thanks for the tips.