The Spill: Boisset releases a Franco-American wine to commemorate D-Day

A new red blend wine made of grapes from France and California by the Boisset Collection commemorates the 75th anniversary of D-Day, the Boisset family’s French-U.S. connection and its gratitude for the Allied troops.

“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 in announcement about the release. “Our Franco-American family’s spirit underpins our commitment to the appreciation of June 6, 1944. We have wineries on both continents and believe it is our duty to history to venerate this important milestone.”

Jean-Charles Boisset and his sister Nathalie Boisset are proprietors of Boisset Collection, which is releasing the wine named 6.6.44 on June 6, to commemorate the 75th anniversary of D-Day. They are donating $1 from the sale of each bottle to the American Legion.

The siblings feel a personal connection to the project and said that it “encapsulates their French family’s gratitude to the United States.”

In what the company calls “a first-of-its-kind partnership,” the wine was made by Boisset winemakers, Stephanie Putnam, Brian Maloney and Thane Knutson, of California, and Grégory Patriat, Laurent Sauvage, Florent Georger and Jean-Philippe Perrin of France to make the 6.6.44 red blend of grapes grown in France and California.

The varietals used include 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.

Depending on the varietal it was aged between 16 and 30 months in mostly neutral French oak. On the nose the wine releases scents of fresh raspberry, blueberry, currants and dark spices and opens up on the palate with a touch of toasted almonds, balsamic notes, and subtle dark cherry flavors.

June 6, 1944, also known as D-Day, was a significant day in World War II when some 160,000 Allied troops landed along a 50-mile stretch of beaches in Normandy and over the next couple months liberated Northern France. Some say this was the beginning of the end of the war and Nazi control.

The Boissets chose the American Legion as recipient of donations for another family connection. The organization provided support to their grandmother and her sister who were orphaned during World War I.

The suggested retail price is $44 and it can be purchased at the JCB tasting salons.