Springtime Wines To Enjoy This Season!
1.Sauvignon Blanc and Sauvignon blends
What more is there to say about Sauvignon Blanc? Only that there is much more variety than ever before and that quality seems on an unstoppable upward curve. Try those from South Africa if you’re not familiar with them. And revisit white Bordeaux and other Sauvignon-Semillon blends.
Best food pairings: goats’ cheese, asparagus, grilled fish and other seafood, dishes flavoured with coriander and dill
*One to try:
Mat Kearny's Verse & Chorus 2013 Sauvignon Blanc
Napa Valley, USA ($15)
((Taste: A riper style of Sauv Blanc, showing mango and melon notes and a tangy lemongrass character, bright and refreshing.))
Factoid: Musician Mat Kearney, whose “Nothing Left to Lose” put him on the map, lives in Nashville and known for his use of the “spoken word” in his songs. So let this wine speak to you. This particular vintage is sold out online, but available at most Whole Foods Markets.
2.Dry Riesling
Like Marmite Riesling tends to polarise wine drinkers - some love it, some hate it. There’s no denying though that its crisp, fresh flavours and modest levels of alcohol it makes perfect spring sipping. If it’s the sweetness you’re not sure about stick to Alsace Riesling, German kabinett Riesling or Clare Valley Riesling from Australia. If it’s the typical kerosene flavours it can acquire with age, stick to younger wines.
Best food pairings: Smoked fish especially smoked salmon, crab, trout, smoked chicken, salads,Cantonese and lightly spiced south-east Asian food
*One to try:
Ravines Finger Lakes Dry Riesling 2014, $17.99
Riesling has been a great success story in the Finger Lakes, and though it’s not the only winner in the region, it’s been by far the dominant grape there. Year in and year out, Ravines’s riesling has been one of my favorites. It’s absolutely refreshing, with earthy, citrus and wet stone flavors. If you like this, try the Ravines Argetsinger Vineyard riesling, a firmer, deeper single-vineyard version.
3.Prosecco
The Veneto’s utterly charming sparkling wine, softer and more rounded than Champagne. It mixes fabulously well with fresh summer fruits such as peaches and raspberries as in the famous Bellini
Best food pairings:stuffed mushrooms, creamy sauces, almonds, seafood, fried fare, spicy Asian entrees and even potato chips or buttered popcorn
*One to try:
Nino Franco Rustico Prosecco has been described as bone dry but balanced with fresh, lively fruit notes leaving the palate refreshed and wanting more. This would be perfect for drinking chilled from the bottle or making a delicious Prosecco cocktail!
Nino Franco's non-vintage sparkling Rustico Prosecco is unquestionably the world's finest value in a high quality, Champagne look-alike. The non-vintage, light-bodied Prosecco di Valdobiaddene Rustico offers gorgeously elegant, fresh, lively fruit, notes of bread dough and citrus, and persistent effervescence.
4.Chardonnay
Chardonnay is one of those wines that come in a wide variety of types. From rich and buttery, to smooth, and light, there are a lot of choices out there and each one, pairs differently with different flavor expectancies and foods. For Springtime, you'll ideally want an unbaked Chardonnay. Barrels are credited with giving wine a richer texture, adding to the belief that oak adds complexity. An unoaked wine is more likely to be lighter-bodied than its oaked counterpart, with more fresh fruit flavors and less of any cedary, toasty, vanilla character.
*One to try:
Oro Bello 2013 Chardonnay
California, USA ($20)
Taste: Creamy and lush mouthfeel, lemon citrus on the nose, toasty oak and tropical fruit, mango and kiwi, on a clean finish.
Best food pairings: crab, goats cheese, pears, watermelon, seabass
Factoid: Winemaker Alexandre Remy has a name for Burgundy: “Drops of Gold” and that inspiration led him to produce this wine, a blend of Chardonnay from Monterey and Napa counties. If you’re uncertain about how to enjoy it, he’s produced this video to give you some ideas.
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Bonus drink: Lavender Sapphire Collins
If you’re not much of a wine drinker but still love a good, light spritzer during the warm months of the year, this is the one for you to try ASAP!
Come spring, a lavender syrup should become a staple in any bar. You will be hard-pressed to find another herb that can evoke the revitalizing feeling of the season as this one.
In this simple variation on the Tom Collins, we pair the syrup with Bombay Sapphire Gin and lemon juice, topping it off with club soda. The result is the lavender sapphire collins, a tall spritzer with an intriguing depth of botanical flavors and one that everyone will love.
**Get the recipe:
https://www....ollins-760096
If you love wine, a class that combines painting and wine is the perfect match for you! Join us for one of our 2-3 hour classes where you’ll hang out with loved ones in a fun and creative environment, sipping wine and listening to music. You’ll be surprised at how you can go from a blank canvas to a handpainted masterpiece with little to no experience. We have a large variety of wines and beer including some of the mentioned types of wine, above.
Enjoy the Spring weather, getting together with friends, and sipping that wine! We hope you’ll try some of the suggested wines and food pairings at your next get-together.
***OR for Mother's Day! Be on the lookout for info about the classes we'll be offering for Mom's special day, soon!
Remember to keep our studio in mind if you’re looking for a fun place for a girls’ night out, the perfect idea for a date night, or just a place to come and unleash your inner-artist! When you view our classes on our website, you’ll be viewing our schedule for our public classes, but you can also book a painting party with the guest list of your choice! Come in to celebrate a birthday, bridal shower, reunion, retirement, and more with friends and family, sharing their artistic sides, together. Make memories that will last a lifetime with a souvenir to treasure forever with one our classes.
*Learn more about our private parties, here:
https://www....ivate-parties
We also play host to tons of corporate events, too! Why not book your next work party or team building event with us? We offer several styles of paintings that incorporate team building strategies, encouraging the whole office to work together, creating a stunning world of art!
*Read more about corporate events, here:
https://www....ivate-parties
Finally, in addition to out studio parties, we offer virtual painting parties that you can utilize from anywhere! You choose the location and we’ll come to you with all of the supplies!
*Learn more about our virtual events, here:
https://www....ivate-parties