Bacchanal Red Blend
Bacchanal Wine was one of the tasting tables at this year’s Atlanta Food & Wine Festival. It was there that I learned about the Bacchanal Blend, created by Bacchanal co-founder Chris Rudge. Rudge was a lover of wines from southern France, and with the help of Hope & Grace Winery in California, he attempted to recreate a Languedoc (southern France) wine, and yes, he nailed it! 50% Syrah, 25% Cabernet Sauvignon, 13% Grenache, and 12% Mourvedre. This red blend is so tasty. Ripe berry fruits, nice complexity, well balanced, and an attractive finish. It’s a rare occasion when both old world and new world palates are equally pleased. But I took this bottle to a resident event in my building recently and we all raved about this wine. The label itself is eye catching. After reading about the creators, I discovered that the bottle label is a photo collage of the events, including meals cooked by pop-up chefs that helped shaped the business.
Sadly, what makes this wine even more special is that Rudge never got to experience this beautiful wine upon its release, as he passed away unexpectedly in the spring of 2015 at his home in New Orleans only at the young age of 40. The wine was released just last August of 2016. A wine release party was held to mark this first and only vintage and featured a film and photo timeline of Bacchanal Blend journey from vineyard to glass.
Rudge started the wine shop in 2002 at a time when the prospect of a fine wine retailer at the far end of the Bywater might have seemed farfetched, as the entire block around his shop was deserted. Later, he started inviting an occasional guest chef or some musician friends to jam in the fenced yard outside the shop. This ´routine´ eventually started to create a venue with the ambiance of a New Orleans backyard party. Today, Bacchanal Wine continues to carry out the tradition of food, wine, music and culture making it a premier destination for locals and visitors in New Orleans´ Ninth ward.
So far, this particular red blend is only sold in New Orleans, as they don’t have the license to sell out of state. So next time you’re in NOLA, be sure to stop by. There is live music nightly, an appetizing menu, and I hear a cool crowd!
Bacchanal Wine
Mediterranean Living/ New Orleans Style
600 Poland Ave
New Orleans, LA 70117
