Spring forward with Impressive Spring Wines

Spring is the perfect time of year to start anew. Whether it’s new adventures, projects or food, Spring offers a great opportunity to explore something new. This month we have found exceptional wines that are fresh and flavorful and pair extremely well with springtime menus.

Our first wine is one of the most popular wines of the past few years. Sparkling wines have become increasingly popular, not just because they are really good, but because people, like myself, have decided that sparkling wines have been under-served and mainly reserved for brunches or celebrations. But some of us wine lovers are enjoying these wines for meals and beyond. Bellussi Prosecco Extra Dry is a pleasantly round wine made from 100% Glera grapes that are grown on the hillside of Treviso, Italy. Bellussi Prosecco exudes notes of pear and apple with a hint of peach making it a delicate yet refreshing wine. Using the traditional Charmat method, this elegant wine has earned its place on the dinner table and complements any light fare, pastas, cheese, seafood or poultry. Many wine lists are including sparkling wines on their menus and since it usually comes in a split, you’re always ensured a fresh glass of wine.

If you’re in the mood for a great still white wine, well then you’re in for a treat. Our white wine for Spring that is quite flavorful and bright is Villa Gemma Bianco Colline Teatrine  IGT. Wow...that’s a lot to remember! Villa Gemma is the flagship brand for the ever impressive Masciarelli Wines. We have enjoyed and written about many wines produced or offered by Masciarelli Wines and this is one to add to our repertoire. Villa Gemma Bianco (for short) is a slightly straw colored wine with a fairly intense aroma. Its palate is fruity and flowery with notes of apple, banana and jasmine. Made of 80% Trebbiano d’Abruzzo, 15% Cococciola and 5 % Chardonnay and fermented and aged in stainless steel, this wine is meant to be consumed at a young age. Serve it with Ahi Tuna or raw or cooked seafood, Great for marinating scallops or paired with pasta and vegetable dishes and the is a great wine to balance the richness of alfredo sauces.

What about the reds? Hold on now, you can’t jump from whites to reds without dipping into rosés. Rosé wine has been grossly under-rated since the California creation of White Zin in the 1960’s. Although I have been on a mission for the past 8 years to educate the wine consumer about the difference between real rosés and California White Zin, it’s only been recently that the consumer is understanding the whole concept. Rosés were meant to be red wines that could be enjoyed in warmer weather when full bodied reds were too heavy to drink in the summertime. Having said that, springtime weather can still be cool, but there are more robust rosés to enjoy before the weather gets too hot.

Chateau Saint-Sernin produces a deep colored rosé made of 100% Malbec. Mirliflore Rosé is a hearty rosé wine as the skins are left to macerate for 12 hours before fermentation. This is a much longer maceration time than other rosés and it’s what gives it its rich color and flavor. It is then fermented in stainless steel vats and is bottled in the spring. Making this a real spring wine! This rosé complements hearty cheese dishes, heavier poultry, roasted meats and spicy foods. I like it paired with a palm tree, sunshine and an ocean.

Now on to our red wine selection for Spring! Drum roll, please! Yes, I’m actually going to say something nice about California. One word says it all….LOLA. Who is Lola? I don’t know, but I do know it’s one heck of a Pinot Noir from the North Coast! Smartly done, a blend of multiple vineyards in Mendocino, Russian River and the Sonoma Coast each contributing its unique flavors to the wine. Its smooth texture and bright flavors of cherries, blackberries and sweet vanilla make this a wine with distractive layers, soft tannins and lingering finish. There are many different styles of Pinot Noirs and this one tends to have its perfect spot. The grapes from the Russian River definitely give this wine a richer flavor without being overly heavy as is the characteristic of many Pinot Noirs from that region . This has become a local favorite and its one to try this Spring. Pair this with cheese, pastas, salmon, tuna, pork loin, veal, duck, chicken and steak. Yes, a wine that seems to pair with just about everything! A great wine from a young man that used to be a waiter in our town….so the story goes.

So, put your computer down and run to your local wine shop, and pick up a few bottles of these Spring wines and taste them with your friends.

Or, bring them home, drink them yourself while you finishing reading all the great articles on this website! Either way, do it outdoors and enjoy the Spring! Salute!

Siesta Key Wines
5138C Ocean Blvd.
Siesta Key, FL 34242

941-552-9105
http://www.siestakeywines.com/

Siesta Key Wines is located in the Siesta Key Village. Email us at drinkwine@siestakeywines.com or give a ring at 941-552-9105. Remember…we ship!