Sparkling wine brand Aphrodise is as dazzling as it is delicious. Here, co-founder Frank Schilling dishes the wine’s famous flavor profile and buzzes his soon-to-be sip, Aphrodise Blanc.
Talk to us about the inspiration behind Aphrodise.
Everyone on our team suffered from a similar dilemma. We love the idea and glamour of Champagne, but the yeast and grape varietals and production method of most Champagne left us feeling lethargic, refluxed and bloated. We discovered Greece’s fabled and noble xinomavro grape in sparkling format and were completely swept away by how well we felt after day drinking. There was something to it and it made us feel 21 again.
How does Aphrodise stand out from other wines?
Firstly, it’s delicious. It has a wonderful mouthfeel, a clean and delightful finish, and is very easy on the stomach. The grape varietal and production technique make Aphrodise very forgiving to consume (even lavishly), and in the sun and heat. It really is an ideal product.
How would you describe the taste of the rosé, and what are some summer snacks that are good to pair with it?
Cherry and apple are frequent reactions to its taste notes. Aphrodise gives the impression it is low in alcohol, although its content is in keeping with other rosé and Champagne. I enjoy Aphrodise with red meat, although fish and poultry are more typical. It’s very easy to consume in warm weather and goes well with anything you would eat in that setting. It’s nice with dessert. I enjoy it as a party and after-party libation. We suggest that Aphrodise be consumed ice cold, in a white wine glass, just as you would a glass of rosé. Never serve in a Champagne flute. It’s still good but you lose some of the finish satisfaction.
What has been the most surprising lesson you’ve learned since launching the brand last year?
Truthfully, it’s been interesting for me because I was drinking a lot of Bordeaux and built quite a cellar. I went through a tequila phase, cognac and white wines in the past. But since starting to drink Aphrodise, I’ve gotten to the point where I literally cannot drink anything else because I just love the way I feel after I drink it.
I started to think maybe I was losing it, but then other people started to have the same experience and it was a giant relief (I wasn’t losing my mind) and incredibly rewarding to see other people attracted to the product for the same reasons. I suppose the lesson is great products can take on a life of their own and those qualities can’t be faked.
Do you have any summer news you would like to buzz?
We launched Aphrodise as a single-varietal, single-category product. Its unique qualities leave us thinking about Aphrodise as a category unto itself. That said, we do have friends who love the inert finish of a blanc brut, so we started to experiment with filtering this incredibly black grape to a point of crystalline clarity. This spring, we tasted the first bottles. The final version is outrageously good and shares the unique characteristics of its rosé sister. Aphrodise Blanc is made using the same grape as Aphrodise. It tasted so well that it gave us pause about over-ordering our rosé. Then we re-tasted the rosé and fell in love all over again! The first bottles of Aphrodise Blanc will arrive on the Eastern Seaboard in late August. We want to roll it out at some of the big white parties at the end of the season before Labor Day. Aphrodise Blanc will be quite rare, but we think discerning palates will once again share our experience. Whether it’s our foundational rosé or its blanc sibling, Aphrodise is something truly special.
Photography by: PHOTOS COURTESY OF BRAND
