Whispering Horse: Ancestral Method Sparkling Wines

Ancestral method sparkling wine is produced by halting a wine’s fermentation and allowing it to finish fermenting in the bottle. While the yeast feast on the remaining sugar in the fermenting wine, they produce carbon dioxide, which creates bubbles in the finished wine.

In the fall, Whispering Horse Winery released three ancestral method sparkling wines. I am shocked to discover that the La Crescent and L’Acadie are not yet sold out. These beautiful wines are still available direct from the winery while they last.

I recently paired the 2021 La Crescent with crispy shrimp tacos and kimchi mayo as well as fish tacos served with pico de gallo and chipotle mayo. The La Crescent went particularly well with the kimchi mayo and crispy shrimp and I think coconut shrimp would make another fantastic pairing.

2021 La Crescent $28.95

This ancestral method sparkling wine was made from estate grown La Crescent planted in 2018. Grapes were hand harvested, gently destemmed and crushed prior to fermentation. This wine was disgorged on November 7th, 2021 and bottled with no dosage.

Aromas of yellow grapefruit, pineapple, peach pits and orange rind. This is an off-dry sparkling wine with a pleasant, foamy mousse and medium+ acidity. The palate offers flavours of ripe pear, pineapple, white pepper, yellow grapefruit and orange oil with a medium finish.

2021 L’Acadie $28.95

This ancestral method sparkling wine was made from estate grown L’Acadie planted in 2016. Grapes were hand harvested, gently destemmed and crushed prior to fermentation. This wine was disgorged on November 8th, 2021 and bottled with no dosage.

Aromas of crushed gravel, yellow grapefruit pith, peach pits, grassy notes and nettle. This is a dry sparkling wine with lively bubbles and medium+ acidity. The palate offers yellow grapefruit, peach pits, and lemon with saline and nettle notes on the medium+ finish.

2021 Adorn $28.95

This ancestral method sparkling wine was made from estate grown Dornfelder which was planted in 2017. Grapes were gently crushed, destemmed and then left on the skins for 36 hours prior to fermentation. This wine was disgorged on November 13th, 2021 and bottled with no dosage.

Aromas begin slightly floral, then notes of cranberry, cherry and red plum with hints of white pepper. This sparkling wine is slightly off-dry with a soft mousse, medium+ acidity and low tannins. The juicy palate offers pomegranate, cranberries, cherries, and black plums with a medium finish.

The next release from Whispering Horse is currently slated for May, so keep your eyes peeled. The release will included three new still wines: 2020 L’Acadie, 2021 Epicure and 2021 La Crescent. There will also be a very limited release of a WILD L’Acadie/La Crescent orange wine with carbonic maceration and approximately three months on the skins.

To be amongst the first to learn about this release, subscribe to the Whispering Horse newsletter here.