Katherine Power & Cameron Diaz, Founders of Avaline
image courtesy of Avaline
The response from the wine media was fast and furious when actor Cameron Diaz and entrepreneur Katherine Power introduced their Avaline wines to the world last year. Quicker than you could chill a bottle, Avaline’s "clean wine" claims were branded as misleading. It’s true that much of the language surrounding clean wines is cloudy; there is no legal definition of clean wine.
Avaline's website states that “Avaline makes clean, delicious wines with organic grapes. Transparently produced, full of natural goodness, free of unnecessary extras.” It is wonderful that Avaline’s wines are crafted from organic grapes, but that’s not quite revolutionary. Regarding additives, Avaline does filter their wines with bentonite clay, and cream of tartar is added to prevent the formation of crystals. There’s nothing controversial about these additives, but they’re certainly not necessary -- trust me, wine geeks love an unfiltered wine!
I like the charming and talented Cameron Diaz, she actually seems like someone that it would be fun to share a bottle with, but I confess that I always approach celebrity wines with some skepticism. But I finally accepted an invitation to give Avaline a swirl. From all accounts, Avaline is a hit with consumers, so I wanted to taste the wines sent to me with an open mind. No one likes a wine snob.
Avaline White Wine ($24)
The label says Made In Spain, but no region is listed. Vintage and information about the blend are also absent. A search on Avaline's website yielded more info: Avaline White is a combination of Xarel-lo, Macabeo, and Malvasia grapes sourced from Can Ràfols dels Caus, respected producers in Penédes, Catalunya. That’s a delightful surprise -- Xarel-lo and Macabeo are essential to producing the Spanish sparkling wine Cava, so it’s a treat to encounter these varieties in a still wine. The label describes the wine as “dry with a crisp fresh finish”. I must admit, this is a pleasant sip. Fresh with perky acidity, flavors of citrus, green apple, pear, fresh-cut grass, and a hint of salinity, this is a charming summer wine to enjoy as an apéritif or paired with salads and fresh seafood.
Avaline Red Wine ($24)
The label simply states Vin de France with no indication of region or the blend, so once again, I had to do some detective work on Avaline’s website. A blend of Grenache & Syrah from the Southern Rhône, “the winemaking family respectfully asked Avaline to keep their identity confidential." A light-bodied and juicy red with flavors of black cherry, and pops of black pepper and spice, I recommend serving this red slightly chilled. A tasty pairing with barbecue or pizza.
My final thoughts? Fresh, fruit-forward, and tasty, Avaline’s wines aren’t complex, but they are enjoyable everyday wines. I applaud their commitment to using organic grapes and for avoiding some of the more questionable additives often seen in mass-produced wines. The wines are also Vegan Friendly. The debate about clean wine is an important one, but I wish Avaline would devote some space on their labels to detailing the grape varieties. Personally, I want to know more about the grapes, regions, and producers: come clean with those great details and don't bury them on the website!
