Put a Spring in Your (Wine) Step

Spring is here and it’s time to put away the big and hearty red wines of winter and turn to the lighter side of wine. That doesn’t have to mean white wine. There are many great red wines that are perfect companions to the best spring meals. This week we’ve rounded up a few of our favorite springtime sips to help put a spring in your step!

Domaine Carneros Brut Rose – this Napa Valley sparkler has loads of bright strawberry flavors. A blend of 58% Pinot Noir and 42% Chardonnay, this fruity wine is a perfect way to start an evening on the porch or kickoff a springtime dinner with friends. $36

Trefethen Riesling – Riesling is hard to come by in the Napa Valley with just about 130 acres planted in the entire valley (compare that to over 18,000 acres of Cabernet!). The fruit for this dry Riesling comes from their Oak Knoll Vineyard. It’s a surprisingly fragrant wine with bright fruit and good minerality typical in a dry Riesling. This wine would make a perfect accompaniment for Asian stir fry or Sushi. $22

Gundlach Bundschu Gewurztraminer – I think this one has made our list for favorite springtime wines in the past. We’re including it again because Gewurtz is always fun this time of year and there are not that many local Gewurztraminers. Another rarely found varietal in Napa and Sonoma. Gun Bun makes a fun Gewurtz with just enough spice and lots of great flavors of pear and lychee. $25

La Crema Sonoma Coast Pinot Noir – La Crema wines are always good value for the money and this tasty Sonoma Pinot Noir definitely does not disappoint. Loads of bright cherry aromas and flavors make it a perfect springtime wine. $24

Written by Linzi

Turkey Day Wines

How do you find a wine that will take you from appetizers through to dessert on Thanksgiving with the many side dishes and flavors that make their way to the table? There is no perfect pairing for the entire Thanksgiving meal (although we could argue that Riesling comes close). Instead, make it fun by bringing a wide variety of wines to your table. This is the perfect opportunity to open up a little bit of everything. Although there are certain wines that definitely pair better with turkey, the numerous side dishes that go along with your feast make almost any wine a great match for your meal. This week we scouted out our favorite turkey day varietals and some of our favorite wines.

Sparkling Wine – A little bit of bubbly is the perfect way to break the ice on Thanksgiving day. And it goes great with appetizers or a festive cheese plate before sitting down to your meal. We love Domaine Chandon’s Blanc de Noir. It’s made from Pinot Noir and Pinot Meunier and has strong flavors of strawberry, currant and a bit of blackberry ($22).

Gewürztraminer - Gewürztraminer really holds its own on the Thanksgiving table. This highly aromatic varietal is full bodied and flavorful yet versatile enough to pair with many dishes. We love Gundlach Bundschu’s Alsatian-style Gewurtz with loads of peach, pear and lychee aromas and flavors with a hint of spice that is classic for this varietal ($25). Another favorite is Claiborne & Churchill’s Dry Gewürztraminer ($18). A small, family-owned winery in Eden Valley, Claiborne & Churchill focuses on making Alsatian-style wines.

Riesling - As we mentioned before, Riesling may just be the ultimate Thanksgiving wine. It’s an extremely versatile wine with low alcohol and high acidity that can handle everything from salty appetizers to marshmallow topped sweet potatoes. And it makes for a great palate cleanser for all those courses. We recommend Beringer’s Napa Valley Riesling ($16). This is a dry Riesling with lots of citrus flavor and a long, smooth finish.

Rose - Rose is another great option for Thanksgiving dinner. Especially if you want to bridge the gap between red and white wine. Not only is the color festive but the fruity flavors of Rose tend to make a great match with turkey. We recommend one of our favorites - Etude’s Rose of Pinot Noir from Carneros ($20).

Pinot Noir – If you are not a fan of Riesling and prefer red wines on your Thanksgiving table, then the second runner up for best all around Turkey Day wine would be Pinot Noir. With its moderate acidity, lighter body and low tannins, it won’t overpower many of the dishes on your table. Select a Sonoma Pinot Noir from Russian River or Dry Creek Valley.

Merlot - Merlot has gotten a bad rap in recent years, but we love a good bottle of Merlot at Thanksgiving. It’s versatile, easy-drinking and often less expensive than Cabernet. We recommend Hall Winery’s Napa Valley Merlot ($28). The wine is sourced from estate vineyards in the Napa Valley and is outstanding for the price.

Cabernet Sauvignon – No Thanksgiving table would be complete with a bottle of Cab and this is where we usually splurge, either by bringing something special out of the cellar or trying out something new. We recently enjoyed an excellent Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon from Bremer Family Winery located in the Howell Mountain region of the Napa Valley. Their 2003 Cabernet Sauvignon ($60) has great plum, berry and chocolate flavors with an extremely smooth finish. The tannins are not overpowering, making it a great wine for Thanksgiving.

The week before Thanksgiving is a great time to buy wine since many merchants will have specials on top selling wines. Take advantage of these deals and bring some variety to your Thanksgiving Day table, whether you are hosting or just bringing along a bottle for friends and family to enjoy. For more information on any of the wines above, be sure to visit their web sites.

Written by Linzi

Breggo Cellars

Anderson Valley is one of our favorite winegrowing regions and the varietals that come out of this region are perfect additions to the Thanksgiving table (think Pinot Noir, Riesling and Gewürztraminer), making this a great time of year to revisit this small valley in Mendocino County. We’ve written about our travels through the winding roads of Anderson Valley before and on a recent trip, we discovered Breggo Cellars, a relatively new winery in the valley that is making some great Pinot Noir and Gewürztraminer.

Breggo Cellars is located just a few miles north of Boonville on a 203-acre farm. The name literally means “sheep” and the property was once home to one of the oldest sheep ranches in Anderson Valley. The folks at Breggo are currently sourcing their fruit from several renowned vineyards in Anderson Valley with a focus on Pinot Noir, Gewürztraminer and Pinot Gris. They have recently planted their own estate vineyard and eventually the fruit will come from their own farm.

We particularly enjoyed the Ferrington Vineyard Pinot Noir, Anderson Valley Gewürztraminer and Wiley Vineyard Pinot Gris. Any of these wines would make a great pairing with Thanksgiving dinner. Visit www.breggowine.com to learn more.

Written by Linzi

Springtime Sips

The sun is starting to linger in the evening sky and we're counting more warm days than cold. Thoughts of summer start to linger in our minds. With that come lighter meals made from the season’s freshest produce, lazy days snacking in the garden and crisp, bright white wines. Here are a few of our favorite springtime wines to enjoy those relaxed evenings on the back patio.

Honig Vineyard Sauvignon Blanc

One of our favorite Sauvignon Blancs for the price, this one is bright and lively with aromas and flavors of grapefruit and tropical fruits. And we love it even more because Honig has been a pioneer in using sustainable farming methods. $14

Claiborne & Churchill Gewurztraminer

This small, family-owned winery in Edna Valley (outside of San Luis Obispo) makes Alsatian inspired wines including Riesling, Gewürztraminer and Pinot Gris. We love the Dry Gewurtz for its intense aromas and flavors that pair well with almost any springtime meal. $18

Poet’s Leap Riesling

This Washington State gem comes from Long Shadows. It’s crafted by Armin Diel, one of Germany’s most acclaimed Riesling producers. Crisp and flavorful with a vibrant acidity, pair with a spicy Asian stir fry using in-season asparagus. $18

Written by Linzi