Spring is here, but there are no rules when you can enjoy any type of wine | Dining Leave a comment
If a region experiences a particularly stellar growing season, winemakers may decide to produce a vintage sparkling wine. These bottles will be more expensive because there are fewer to go around, and they will offer more distinctive and unique flavor profiles.
For an excellent example of NV Champagne, try Nicolas Feuillatte Brut (Champagne, France; on sale $32.99). If you’re seeking something even more special, Pol Roger Brut Rosé 2015 (Champagne, France; $141.99) is one of my favorite vintage Champagnes of the moment. For a NV Champagne flavor profile without the price tag, check out Dibon Cava Brut (Catalunya, Spain; $12.99). Spanish Cava is made using the same method as Champagne, so you will find lots of similarities between the two.
Q: Jack M. from Ventnor asks, “I took your Wine Foundations class at Seafood Fest and I loved it! I learned that I like reds with low acid. Can you recommend some?”
A: Hi Jack! I’m so happy to hear that you enjoyed our Wine Foundations class. For those who are unfamiliar, this is an exercise in which we add several ingredients to a neutral “base wine” in order to identify the main structural components of acidity, tannin, alcohol and residual sugar. We’ve found this to be an incredibly useful practice in determining the wine flavor profiles that we enjoy, and we’re very grateful that you found it to be helpful, too!
When searching for wines with a lower level of acidity, be mindful of growing region. In cooler areas, grapes will not overripen and they will maintain a strong structure of acidity. For this reason, I’d recommend avoiding reds from northern Italy (think Barbera and Nebbiolo-based wines like Barolo and Barbaresco) and Pinot Noirs from Oregon and New Zealand. If you focus on warmer growing regions (think Argentina, Australia, and France’s Bordeaux and Rhône regions), you’re likely to find a delicious red that suits your palate. Check out Altos Las Hormigas Malbec 2019 (Mendoza, Argentina; $11.99), Château Sainte-Marie Bordeaux Supérieur 2018 (Bordeaux, France; $14.99), Isle Saint Pierre Rhône Rouge 2020 (Rhône, France; $11.49), and Grant Burge Barossa Ink Shiraz 2019 (Barossa, Australia; $20.99).
