Now that the snow has melted and the temperatures are rising, our thoughts veer towards next Tuesday and the arrival of spring! To celebrate the season of new growth, here’s a trio of fresh, lively wines for you to enjoy.
Bubblies are the perfect wine for celebrations. And the Sommariva Prosecco Brut Superiore DOCG ($22.99) is a wonderful choice. Just read what the prestigious Decanter Magazine that gave it 91 points rating had to say: “This is a fantastically complex prosecco: tart Granny Smith apples and ripe and creamy Meyer lemons move into tropical fruits like lychee and pineapple. The palate is rich but dry, with just a tease of toastiness that draws favourable comparisons with Champagne.”
Regular proseccos are very enjoyable but this Superiore is among the finest prosecco wines made in the Conegliano Valdobbiadene hills, 50 km from Venice. As a result, it is an elegant dry wine to sip and admire instead of just a thirst quencher.
I loved the apple and lemon meringue cream flavour, with a hint of toasted bread. The bubbles are persistent and the gentle mineral and citrus flavour, with the cleansing acidity makes it a wine for food. Think tuna poke and sushi.
Next up to bat is the Monte del Fra 2016 Bardolino ($16.99). Like the Sommariva Prosecco, this ruby red with the fresh fruit flavour is produced in Veneto in northern Italy. It’s made from 55-year-old vines, Corvina and Rondinella grapes, the two major components of Valpolicella and Amarone, with a splash of Sangiovese.
The result? Italy’s answer to Beaujolais. Its nose is generous with fresh cherries and raspberries plus a grinding of white pepper. The flavour is full of red fruit and smooth tannins. If you aren’t a red wine lover or if you don’t know whether to have a white or a red, chill the Bardolino, unscrew and enjoy! A good choice with veal, swordfish, charcuterie and soft cheeses like mozzarella, asiago and provolone.
My final recommendation is Argentina’s most popular red, Malbec. The 2013 Acequias Malbec Oak ($23.99) is from the Luis Segundo Correas winery operated by the fourth generation of the family in the famous Mendoza region.
Produced from 85-year-old vines and aged in French oak for 10 months, it displays a deep red garnet colour in the glass. The bouquet has ripe cassis and black cherries scents with hints of vanilla a toasted oak.
I was also impressed with its red and black fruit flavours, full body and medium tannins. Rich, round and ready to drink. And its soft, silky and seductive!
You may not be a gaucho on the Argentine Pampas, but you could easily pretend you were one of those South American cowboys when you have rib eye steak barbecued over a wood fire with chimichurri sauce and a glass of the Acequias Malbec Oak. Ole!
Eric Hanson is a retired Richmond teacher and a wine educator.
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