Boisset Collection has released 6.6.44, a wine that is a blend of red grapes from California and France, to commemorate the 75th anniversary of D-Day on June 6, 2019, and is donating a portion of the proceeds to a veterans’ charity.

For Jean-Charles and Nathalie Boisset, sibling proprietors of Boisset Collection, the wine is an intensely personal project that encapsulates their French family’s gratitude to the United States and pride in the shared values and close relationship between the two countries.

“Our grandparents served in the Resistance in France on the side of freedom and felt a close connection to the American soldiers that came to their aid. Seventy-five years later, with this magical international blend from French and California grapes, we begin another chapter of celebration, commemoration, peace, and commitment to our common culture and values!” said Jean-Charles Boisset. “Our Franco-American family’s spirit underpins our commitment to the appreciation of 6.6.44. We have wineries on both continents and believe it is our duty to history to venerate this important milestone.” Watch a video from Jean-Charles here.

6.6.44 was crafted in honor of June 6, 1944, when 160,000 Allied troops landed along a 50-mile stretch of heavily fortified coastline in Normandy in northwest France. The operation, the largest seaborne invasion in history, began the liberation of German-occupied France (and later Europe) from Nazi control and laid the foundations of the Allied victory on the Western Front.

The wine (SRP: $44) is a first-of-its-kind partnership between Boisset winemakers in California (Stephanie Putnam, Brian Maloney, and Thane Knutson) and France (Grégory Patriat, Laurent Sauvage, Florent Georges, and Jean-Philippe Perrin) that combines notable grape varieties from both France and California. It features Gamay, Pinot Noir, Syrah, Grenache, Mourvèdre and Petit Verdot from the French regions of Languedoc, Rhône, Beaujolais, and Burgundy blended with Zinfandel, Cabernet Sauvignon, Syrah, Petit Verdot, Cabernet Franc, Petite Sirah and Malbec from the Russian River Valley and Napa Valley in California. Aged in mostly neutral French oak between 16 to 30 months depending on the variety, the wine has aromas of fresh raspberry and blueberry as well as currants and dark spices. The palate opens with a touch of toasted almonds and balsamic notes and also includes subtle dark cherry flavors.

6.6.44 is available at BevMo! locations in California, Arizona, and Washington; Safeway; the New Hampshire Liquor & Wine Outlets; and Boisset’s own Oakville Grocery locations. In addition it can be purchased online through the websites for each of the Boisset Collection’s California wineries: Raymond Vineyards in St. Helena (raymondvineyards.com), Buena Vista Winery in Sonoma (buenavistawinery.com), DeLoach Vineyards in Santa Rosa (deloachvineyards.com ) and the JCB tasting salons and lounges in San Francisco, Yountville, St. Helena and Healdsburg (jcbcollection.com).

Boisset Collection will donate $1 from the sale of each bottle to the American Legion. BevMo will make a matching donation for the bottles sold out of its stores. American Legion is also linked to the Boisset family’s history, as a precursor to the nation’s largest veterans’ service organization provided support to Jean-Charles’ orphaned grandmother and her sister during World War I. American Legion is committed to mentoring youth and sponsorship of youth programs, supporting recovering wounded warriors and their families and raising millions of dollars at the local, state and national levels to help veterans and their families during times of need and to provide college scholarship opportunities.

About Boisset Collection

Boisset is a family-owned collection of historic and unique wineries and lifestyle destinations led by Jean-Charles Boisset and bound together by a common vision: authentic, terroir-driven wines in harmony with their history, their future and the land and people essential to their existence. With more than 25 historical and prestigious still and sparkling wineries in the world’s preeminent terroirs, including Burgundy, Beaujolais, Jura, the Rhône Valley, the south of France and California’s Russian River Valley and the Napa Valley. Its California wineries include Raymond Vineyards, Buena Vista Winery, DeLoach Vineyards, and JCB by Jean-Charles Boisset; its French properties feature Domaine de la Vougeraie, Jean-Claude Boisset, Bouchard Aîné et Fils, J. Moreau et Fils, Louis Bouillot, Domaine Henri Maire, Fortant and Bonpas. Each house retains its unique history, identity, and style, and all are united in the pursuit of fine wines expressive of their terroir. Wine is at the center of Boisset’s mission and is complemented by spirits, beer, cider, gourmet foods, and luxury goods, both of its own design and from partnerships with historic companies such as Baccarat, Lalique, St. Louis, Riedel, Christofle, and Bernardaud. To learn more about the Boisset Collection, please visit www.boissetcollection.com.

About The American Legion 

The American Legion is the largest wartime veterans’ service organization with nearly 2 million members in 12,875 posts across the nation. Chartered by Congress in 1919, The American Legion is committed to mentoring youth and sponsoring wholesome community programs, advocating patriotism and honor, promoting strong national security, and continued devotion to service members and veterans. Learn more at www.legion.org.

Read More at source: Wine Industry Advisor

Image Source: Wine Industry Advisor