What to drink, from Georgia wine to inexpensive bubbly Leave a comment
Chances are high that your wine supply took a beating during the holidays and needs some TLC.
Now is the time to restock.
Rather than purchasing the same old things, hit reset. Refresh your wine fridge with something new for the new year. Explore a new wine region or grape variety. Take a new winery or blend for a ride.
From coast to coast and around the world, these 10 refreshing finds will fill your glass with flavor and adventure.
MORE:Damp January? Dry January? How to cut alcohol without sacrificing flavor
AND:At Dru’s West-Indian Roti Shop, a thrilling taste of Guyana
Wines from Georgia
As in the country, not the state, Georgia is the oldest winemaking region in the world and has become a darling for wine geeks. Silk Road Wines, headquartered in Orlando, specializes in Georgian wines such as MaNavi, a dry white made from Mtsvane, a grape native to the Eastern European country. It’s round, with white flower blossoms, peach and minerals. $16
A complex yet approachable cab
The 2019 Iron Corral cabernet sauvignon is the first new estate wine from California’s Hess Collection in two decades. It embodies the classic aspects of a Napa cab, such as bold fruit, dark cherry and dark chocolate. Even with all its mouthwatering complexity, it is still an approachable wine. Buy two, one to enjoy now and one to put away for a few years. $60
Wines that warm
To balance the cool weather, try warm wines from the Rhone Valley. The French region is famous for full-bodied red blends headlined by grenache, syrah and mourvedre grapes. Maison Tardieu-Laurent Vieilles Vignes Rouge 2018 is 100% old vine syrah. It’s peppery and savory with a hint of sweet tobacco. $34
A luxurious blend
Saldo is the new luxury brand from The Prisoner Wine Co., another California vintner. The most recent release is a red blend of petite sirah, syrah, cabernet sauvignon and zinfandel. The result is a rich wine sporting dark fruit and warm spices. And it’s just the start, more selections are being added to Saldo’s lineup in the coming months. $32
A celebrated riesling
Spicy food lovers can find balance with Clean Slate riesling. The grapes for this one are grown in the steep hills above Germany’s Moselle River, the most celebrated region in the world for riesling. Only slightly sweet, it’s fresh, even effervescent, with flavors of peach and a subtle spice. It finishes on the dry side. $12
Motor City takes on wine
Detroit Vineyards sources grapes from farmers across Michigan who grow everything from hybrids to so-called “noble grapes,” such as chardonnay and riesling, to those more commonly found in Austria and Hungary, such as blaufrankisch. The 2020 sauvignon blanc is juicy with tropical flavors like guava and a citrusy pith on the finish. $28
A bargain for French bubbly
You can look outside of Champagne for sparkling wines from France. The Albert Bichot cremant is from the country’s Burgundy region but made using the same methods as in Champagne. It has finesse and is well balanced with fresh citrus. A great value, it’s perfect with salty foods, seafood and for sipping. $20
A Russian River Valley pinot noir
With grape yields down in Burgundy and prices increasing steadily over the last few years, many pinot noir lovers have turned stateside. Try DuMOL 2019 Wester Reach pinot noir, from California’s Russian River Valley. It’s full of wild berries, dried herbs and rich spices with a silky finish. $60
This Sicilian rose
From Sicily comes Poggio Anima’s Raphael rose. Raphael is known as the patron saint of travelers and happy meetings. This organic wine does indeed make meetings happier. It’s a unique blend of zibibbo and syrah that has a rosy quality in color and flavor, along with notes of fresh strawberries. $15
Wines for the times from Grovedale Winery in Pennsylvania
The idea began as a joke, but when the winery released Shi!show wines in 2020, the timing could not have been more perfect. On the other side of the pendulum, Grovedale has released a second label: Gratitude. Different labels but same wines: a cab/merlot blend with notes of chocolate and cherry cola; a rose full of fresh strawberries; a floral white blend — all are $20.
Gina Birch writes about food, wine and spirits for The News-Press and at thebirchbeat.blogspot.com. Follow her as @ginabirch on Twitter and find her on Facebook.
