Sparkling debut: Vara adds Sofian Himeur to winemaking team

Dazzle and shine this holiday season with some beautiful bubbly from Vara Winery & Distillery.

Its flagship sparkling wine, Vara Silverhead Brut NV, pairs well with traditional holiday meals. Its price point makes it possible to grab enough to go around at your festive events.

Famed winemaker Laurent Gruet uses méthod champenoise with chardonnay from California as well as xarel-lo/macabeo from Spain to create the sparkling wine, according to a Vara fact sheet. The traditional technique utilizes a production method where wine undergoes a second fermentation process in the bottle to create carbon dioxide, which produces a soft and bubbly mouthfeel in the sparkling wine.

Vara Silverhead Brut NV features aromas of grapefruit, pears, and almonds, along with chamomile floral notes stemming from the addition of native Spanish grapes, according to its tasting notes. Enduring flavors of this sparkling wine highlight flavors of Granny Smith apples, honeysuckle blossoms and toasty brioche.

It is recommended that Vara Silverhead Brut NV be served with seafood and fried foods due to its bright notes, according to the fact sheet. Food pairing suggestions include lobster mac and cheese, fried oyster po’boy with gremolata, and panzanella salad.

Gruet recently added his nephew Sofian Himeur to the Vara winemaking team that includes Gruet, Bob Lindquist, Louisa Sawyer Lindquist and Djuna Benjamin.

Gruet mentored Himeur over two decades, according to a Vara press release. Himeur has worked in most every aspect of wine production and sales.

Himeur was most recently the winemaker at Iron Horse Vineyards in Sonoma, California.

Himeur will assist Gruet in spearheading Vara’s sparkling wine program to include the Silverhead Brut NV ($25) and Silverhead Brut Rosado NV ($27), as well as the soon-to-be-launched Vara x LG line of wines.

Sparkling debut: Vara adds Sofian Himeur to winemaking team

“With a strong background in New Mexico winemaking, Sofian brings an exciting perspective to our roundtable of experts that reflects his next generation thinking as well as his family’s deeply rooted heritage in the state,” said JP Clement, Vara Winery & Distillery CEO and general manager, in the news release. “Laurent put New Mexico on the winemaking map with his outstanding sparkling wines, and with Sofian in the cellar with him, we’re confident Vara sparkling wine will continue to grow on the national stage.”

Himeur, who was born in Troyes, France, is the grandson of Gruet Winery founder Gilbert Gruet. He moved to New Mexico as an infant. Himeur has an associate degree in business administration and management from Central New Mexico Community College and was mentored by his uncle Laurent Gruet. His career in wine began at Gruet Winery. There he served as a production manager, a sales and marketing specialist, and worked five years as an assistant winemaker. He later expanded his expertise in sparkling winemaking as operations winemaker at Domaine Chandon, followed by two years as head winemaker at Iron Horse in Sonoma’s Russian River Valley.

“It’s wonderful to return to New Mexico and carry on my family’s long history of producing outstanding wine in the Land of Enchantment,” Himeur said. “I am excited to dig into our vineyard partnerships and blending program and continue making excellent wines at Vara.”