Wines That Are Perfect For Spring
So, without further adieu, here is a list of our top, recommended Springtime wines, that AREN’T Rosé:
1.CK Mondavi Family Vineyards Willow Springs Blonde Five
California, USA ($6.99)
((Taste: White flowers and tropical fruit notes. Touch of sweetness in the end.))
Factoid: Know thy Mondavis! Cesare and Rosa Mondavi moved to the Napa Valley and purchased the Charles Krug Winery in 1943. Their sons, Robert and Peter, created CK Mondavi Family Vineyards and day-to-day operations are handled by Marc Mondavi, son of legendary Napa Valley wine icon Peter Mondavi Sr. Got it?
Best Food Pairings: Coconut Crusted Shrimp , Chicken Quesadillas, Boiled Lobster
We LOVE These Wines!
*Pinot’s Palette, Tustin, is a huge supporter of Mondavi wines because they’re so delicious and there's a rich history behind this special vino!
Read more:
https://www....letteintustin
2.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.
3.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.
4.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.
5.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.
****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
Why not combine some of your favorite wines with painting in one of our classes?! We will walk you through a 2-3 hour painting, leaving you amazed with the masterpiece you made, at the end of class! You’ll go from ‘blank canvas to ‘handmade work of art’, in a fun and creative environment, making memories with the ones you love! We offer our standard public classes, private parties, corporate events, mobile events, gift certificates, and more!
Private Events: https://www....ivate-parties
Corporate Events: https://www....porate-events
Gift Certificates: https://www....-certificates
Enjoy drinking your delicious wines this season and be sure to try one of these new ones on the list, as well as some of the food pairings, at your next gathering!
Cheers!