The last few days have been warm and breezy, and both the blossoming trees and extended dusk announce that spring is (finally!) here. With the arrival of the season comes the craving for lighter, fresher meals. As for wine, a lot of us tend to “like what we like”, and stick to the same bottles throughout the year. But it’s always worth trying those seasonal wines – leave your full-bodied reds aside for a little while, and try the rosés, whites and lighter reds that will resonate so beautifully with the flavors of spring!
Rosés
Rosé delightful freshness and fruitiness make it the spring wine par excellence. A case in point is the amount of bottles of rosé invading the wine stores’ shelves getting ready for BBQ season. At this time of year, think lighter, less full-on styles; think Provence or Rioja. Get started with the short selection below, and try pairing with light Provençal-style dishes – it won’t disappoint.
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2014 Château d’Esclans Garrus Rosé
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2015 Edmunds St. John El Dorado County Witters Vineyard Bone-Jolly Rosé Gamay Noir
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2015 Jolie Folle Rosé
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2015 Bodega Chacra Patagonia Mainqué Pinot Noir Rosé
Whites
When it comes to spring wines, bright, juicy acidity is a must. Anything crisp and mineral with floral notes will do the trick, the perfect refreshment on a hot spring/early summer day. What better than a glass of white wine? The white wine world offers a lot to choose from: a dry Riesling, Albariño, Grüner, Pinot Grigio? Or maybe a Sauvignon Blanc or even a lightly oaked Chardonnay… Check out the wonderfully crisp whites below:
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2013 Bernreiter Gemister Satz
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2014 Ravines Finger Lakes Dry Riesling
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2014 Arca Nova Vinho Verde
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2015 Domaine de la Pepiere Muscadet Sevre-et-Maine Sur Lie
Reds
The arrival of spring isn’t a reason to push all your reds to the back of the cellar; your light reds can be the perfect companions to your spring nights. Stay away from big, full-bodied wines, and pick fruit-forward, fresh, spicy light reds instead. What about one of these wines:
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2012 Domaine Marcel Lapierre Raisins Gaulois, Vin de France
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2012 Domaine Zafeirakis Tyrnavos Limniona
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2014 Jean-Marc Burgaud Morgon Les Charmes
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2014 Evelyne & Pascal Clairet Domaine de La Tournelle Arbois L’Uva Arbosiana
Bonus: if you’re not quite in the mood for white, red or rosé, there’s the perfect wine for that: orange wine. It’s not made from oranges, but it’s still a great spring wine. Read more about it on the blog and you’ll understand why.
Cheers to spring sipping!