Happy St. Patrick’s Day! You don’t have to be Irish (as in fact I’m not) to enjoy the spirit of this festive holiday that’s celebrated more in the U.S. than in Ireland. Want a green beer? Nah! But wait: Is there even such a thing as Irish wine?
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Peaches, pears, and apricots dominate the pleasant aroma of Babylonstoren South Africa Chenin Blanc and carry over on the palate where they join appetizing elements of fresh pineapple and lemon curd. It’s fresh, acidic and dry, with zippy lemon and lime and stony minerality in the long finish.
FIND THIS WINE ONLINE:
Check prices and find vendors for Babylonstoren South Africa Chenin Blanc on Wine-Searcher.com.
Follow this Wine-Searcher link to read more about Simonssberg-Paarl and follow links to vendors for many wines from the region, including a number from Babylonstoren’s portfolio..
Learn more about Chenin Blanc and find many good examples of the variety at this Wine-Searcher link. Read article.
If the producer of a $135 Super Tuscan trophy wine offers a $10 wine from the same grapes and region, is the cheaper version bound to be a bargain?
To be honest, probably not.
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Santa Cristina is a good example of the Toscana IGT style, a modern cousin to Chianti that allows wine makers more freedom in the varieties used in the blend. Dark garnet with a clear reddish-purple edge, it offers pleasant fresh-fruit aromas of cherries, plums, and blueberries.
FIND THIS WINE ONLINE:
Check prices and find vendors for Santa Cristina Toscana on Wine-Searcher.com.
Browse Wine-Searcher.com for the Santa Cristina wine portfolio.
Read about Marchesi Antinori, the producer and its wines, at this Wine-Searcher link.
Follow this Wine-Searcher link for more information about Toscana IGT wines, with listings for dozens of wines from the region and vendors. Read article.
Last time we talked about a Sangiovese-based wine from an ancient walled hilltop Tuscan village named Montepulciano. Today let’s wrap up that story with a wine made from a black grape from Abruzzo called Montepulciano.
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Sustainably farmed, and fermented and aged entirely in stainless steel, dark-purple Masciarelli Montepulciano d’Abruzzo is grown in Abruzzo and made entirely from the indigenous Montepulciano grape. Its aromas and flavors nicely balance delicious tart cherries and dried cherries and a spicy edge.
FIND THIS WINE ONLINE:
Check prices and find vendors for Masciarelli Montepulciano d’Abruzzo on Wine-Searcher.com.
Follow this Wine-Searcher link to find more information about the wines of Montepulciano d’Abruzzo, with listings for dozens of other wines from the region. Read article.
You’ve probably heard me say before that Montepulciano d’Abruzzo is one of my favorite affordable Italian red wines. I like Vino Nobile di Montepulciano, too, and its only slightly less noble sibling, Rosso di Montepulciano. Hey! Is this confusing wine-nerd stuff?
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Predominantly Prugnolo Gentile (the traditional name for Sangiovese in this region) and billed as organically cultivated, Dei Rosso di Montepulciano is full and appealing, showing the typical ripe cherries and plums of Sangiovese with a hint of dried fruit and just a whiff of spicy oak. Bright and dry, juicy cherry flavors are framed by brisk acidity and soft tannins.
FIND THIS WINE ONLINE:
Check prices and find vendors for Dei Rosso di Montepulciano on Wine-Searcher.com.
Learn about Rosso di Montepulciano at this Wine-Searcher link to find listings for dozens of other wines from the region.
Follow this Wine-Searcher link to learn more about the Sangiovese grape (also known in this part of Tuscany as Prugnolo Gentile), and find listings for many more wines of this variety.
Read article.
The Veneto — Venice, the land area just opposite Venice, and the other islands — is an area that has known great wealth and power in past times. Today the Veneto includes some excellent wine producing areas. Neil Duarte’s primer will acquaint you with its wines, including Prosecco, Pinot Grigio, Valpolicella and Amarone. Read article.
When summer heat comes slouching around, you’ll often hear talk of something called a “summer sipper.” These quaffable wines, as the name implies, offer cooling relief in something light and refreshing. It’s January now: Who’d like a winter sipper? I suggest Madeira Sercial.
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