Some recipes take all afternoon. This one takes about thirty seconds and a cold bottle.
The Kir Royale is a French classic, built on just two ingredients: crème de cassis and a dry sparkling wine. In its simplest form, it is a festive, deeply colored aperitif with a soft berry richness and enough acidity to keep every sip refreshing. In its best form, it starts with a sparkling wine worth drinking on its own.
That is where Etude's 2021 Grace Benoist Ranch Blanc de Noirs comes in.
The Wine: 2021 Etude Grace Benoist Ranch Blanc de Noirs
Blanc de Noirs is sparkling wine made entirely from red-skinned grapes, in this case Pinot Noir from our estate Grace Benoist Ranch in the Carneros AVA. The juice runs pale and bright, but the wine carries the depth, structure, and red fruit character that only Pinot Noir can give it.
Grace Benoist Ranch sits at the far northwest corner of Carneros, bisected by the Rodgers Creek Fault Line at the foot of Sonoma Mountain. The volcanic soils and cooling Pacific-influenced breezes off San Pablo Bay create ideal conditions for the kind of fruit that makes a Blanc de Noirs sing: precise, vibrant, and full of personality.
In a Kir Royale, those qualities matter. The wine's natural red berry notes weave seamlessly with the crème de cassis, while its acidity keeps the drink lively rather than sweet. The result is a cocktail that feels elegant and easy in equal measure.
Why It Works
Crème de cassis brings a concentrated blackcurrant richness that, paired with the wrong sparkling wine, can tip sweet and flat. The 2021 Blanc de Noirs has the structure and brightness to hold its own, lifting the cassis rather than disappearing beneath it. The finish stays clean. The bubbles stay lively. The glass stays full for less time than you would like.
Kir Royale
Serves 1 | Pairs with 2021 Etude Grace Benoist Ranch Blanc de Noirs
Ingredients
- 1/2 oz crème de cassis (blackcurrant liqueur)
- 4 to 5 oz chilled 2021 Etude Grace Benoist Ranch Blanc de Noirs
Garnish (optional)
- Lemon twist
- Fresh blackberries or raspberries
Instructions
- Chill a flute (optional but recommended).
- Pour the crème de cassis into the glass.
- Top gently with Blanc de Noirs to preserve the bubbles.
- Give a very light stir only if needed.
- Garnish with a lemon twist or fresh berries and serve immediately.
A note on the wine: the 2021 Grace Benoist Ranch Blanc de Noirs is estate-grown, sustainably farmed, and worth knowing beyond the cocktail. Pour a glass on its own before you mix. You will understand why we start here.
Shop the 2021 Etude Grace Benoist Ranch Blanc de Noirs at etudewines.com.
Enjoy responsibly. Pour & Protect.
