Have You Tried Albariño? You Really Should!

In recent postings we've explored some of the most common red and white wines and then taken a more in-depth look at other similar wines.  As we walked through the white wines, Pinot Grigio was discussed. It was described as a light-bodied wine with a zesty and thirst quenching appeal.  Then, as other similar white wines were described, Albariño was introduced.  But, you may have asked yourself 'What is Albariño?" and thought "I've never heard of it."  Or, you may have completely passed over this relatively unheard of wine. And that would be a mistake!

Albariño (aha-bar-reen-yo) is a white wine whose grapes originally came from Spain. The wine's name, Alba-Riño literally means white (wine) of the Rhine.  What could be better, right?  This grape is primarily grown in Spain as well as Portugal (where it's called "Alvarihno") but has spread to the U.S. where it is grown in cooler California climates, notably Napa, Sonoma Coast and Paso Robles.

This very refreshing wine is quite dry (i.e., little to no residual sugar) and has aromas of apple, grapefruit, melon and lemon and includes flavors of peach and citrus.  Albariño can have a smooth, creamy, almost oily or waxy mouthfeel and a finish with a hint of saline (yes, salt).  So, if you enjoy a smooth, creamy Chardonnay, you should give this lighter white a try.

And, if you happen to come upon a Vihno Verde (Portuguese), you'll also be enjoying a wine made from Albariño grapes.  This too is a light, refreshing and citrus infused wine that can be produced still or slightly sparkling.

One way or another, keep your eyes out for Albariño.  If you enjoy white wine, you need to give it a try!  Cheers!

What Other Red Wines Should You Try?

Last time we took a quick look across the spectrum of four red wines, looking at Pinot Noir, Zinfandel, Syrah and Cabernet Sauvignon. These are common red wines and broadly known. So now let's take it one-step further into our exploration of reds.  If you find that you tend to like one of these four red wines better than the others, you may want to venture out and try some other red wines that are similar in their characteristics.

So we started on the lighter end of the spectrum with Pinot Noir.  If you find that its delicate flavors and light tannins are something you enjoy, then here a few others that are similar:

• Burgundy - This one's on the top of the list if you are a Pinot Noir lover because it is Pinot Noir!  It's the red wine produced in Burgundy France.
• Cinsault - When you can find this grape made as a varietal, it produces a light, aromatic and refreshing wine. But, unfortunately it is typically used in blends such as the Rhône  Grenache, Syrah and Mourvedre. 
• Gamay - Most notable in the Beaujolais region of France, this grape produces light, fruity wines with flavors of cherry and raspberry that are often referred to as Gamay Beaujolais.  This grape is used most notably in Beaujolais Nouveau.
• St. Laurent - An aromatic black grape variety. Saint-Laurent wines are dark purple in color, silky with a characteristic dark-cherry flavor 
• Zweigelt - The most planted grape in Austria produces a light red wine with flavors of spiced cherry and raspberry.

Next are the medium-bodied wines that include Zinfandel.  If you are a Zin lover, here are few other medium reds that you might want to try:

• Barbera - An Italian grape, from the Piedmont area, known for it depth of color, low tannins and low acidity. This grape produces wine with flavors of blackberry, dark cherry, plum, dried strawberry and raspberry jam.
• Grenache - This is one of the most widely used grapes in the world.  With low acidity, tannin and color, this is often blended with other varieties, most notably Syrah and Mourvedre. As a varietal, it is rich and spicy with strawberry and raspberry flavors.
• Carignan - Although originally used for much of California's jug wine, today it produces varietal wines that are high in tannins and acid, with flavors of dark and black fruits, pepper, licorice, and spicy, savory aromas.
• Rhône Blends - Rhône wines focus on Grenache, Syrah and Mourvedre grapes, producing medium-bodied spicy blends.
• Tempranillo - Native to Spain, this dark black grape produces medium-bodied wines that actually taste a lot like the big and bold Sangiovese and Cabernet Sauvignon varietals but with lighter tannin and acidity.  Fruit flavors include cherry, plum, blueberry and raspberry while oak aging adds leather, tobacco, and vanilla.  
• Valpolicella - Grapes used in this Italian wine include Corvina, Molinari and Rondinella to produce wines flavored of blueberry, herbs, and cocoa that have dense tannin.

And now, we venture into the bigger, bolder reds.  First, here a few reds that are similar to Syrah:

• Malbec - Native to France, this grape produces wine that can be rich and jammy with flavors of blueberry and plum.
• Mouvedre - This grape produces wines high in tannins that can be found as a varietal with flavors of blackberry, blueberry and plum. But it is commonly used for blending with Grenache and Syrah.
• Petite Sirah - This grape produces tannic wines with high acidity and flavors of blackberry, blueberry, plum, and black pepper.
• Pinotage - A signature grape of South Africa, it is a cross of Pinot Noir and Cinsault that produces deep color with smoky and earthy flavors.

And last, but not least, are the biggest and boldest reds. If you enjoy a nice Cabernet Sauvignon then these are also worth a try:

• Bordeaux Blends - Bordeaux produces red blends based on Cabernet Sauvignon or Merlot.
• Cabernet Franc - This grape is used to produce the varietal wine that can have flavors of black cherry, plum, strawberry, and roasted pepper.
• Carménère - A member of the Cabernet family, this grape produces wines that can have flavors of bell pepper, red cherry, raspberry, pomegranate, and green peppercorn.
• Merlot - The Merlot grape produces wines with soft tannins and intense fruit flavors of black cherry, plum and raspberry.  Oak aging can add flavors of mocha, tobacco, and vanilla.
• Sangiovese - The most widely planted Italian grape used as the main component of Chianti (Sangiovese grown in the Chianti region of Italy).  This grape produces wines with medium tannins and high acidity with flavors of cherry, fig, plum, and strawberry. Oak aging can add flavors that include leather, tobacco, and smoke.

So there's a quick run through of red wines. Hope you find a couple in there to try that fit in with your pallet. Cheers! 

What Red Wines Should You Try?

When it comes to getting acquainted with wines, it's common to start with white wines. They can be fruity, zesty, refreshing and easy to drink. And, because they are chilled, they are often more approachable when starting to explore wines.  But then there are the reds with all their wonderful flavors and aromas!

Red wines can range from being light and delicate to big and bold.  So, here are four common red wines that span the spectrum.

Starting with the light-bodied and delicate end of the spectrum is Pinot Noir (Pee-no-nwarh). Wine from the Pinot Noir grape is known as Burgundy in France, since the wines produced in the Burgundy region are made from greater than 80% Pinot Noir grapes.  The flavors of Pinot Noir can be wonderfully delicate and include cherry, raspberry, and cola. Pinot Noir is low in tannin which means that it is very smooth and has a soft finish. This wine has gained tremendous popularity and the prices reflect it.  But once you get ahold of a really nice Pinot Noir, you'll be hooked.

Next is Zinfandel (ZIN-fan-dell) which is considered a medium-bodied red wine that can have medium tannin.  In Italy, Zinfandel is known as Primitivo. The flavors of Zinfandel include blackberry, black plum, black cherry and jammy fruit.  You'll sometimes hear a Zinfandel referred to a 'jammy' which means that it has big, bold fruit flavor, like you might expect from a jar of jam.  Zinfandel can also be spicy with aromas of bell pepper and licorice. And, with oak aging, Zinfandel can take on flavors of vanilla, chocolate, mocha, coffee and burnt sugar.  These may seem like odd flavor combinations, but they really work together well.

Then there's Syrah (Sih-rah) or Shiraz (Shih-Rahz) as it's known in Australia.  This is a full-bodied red wine that has been described as being floral in its youth, and then developing more peppery and herbaceous flavors as it ages. Flavors include leather and smoky scents, blackcurrant and licorice. Syrah is dark in color with big initial flavor, medium tannin and a notable, lasting finish.  Syrah is often blended with other grapes due to its deep color and tannins. In southern France (Rhône) it is common for Syrah to be blended with Grenache and Mourvèdre in the famous Grenache-Syrah-Movrvèdre (GSM) blends.

And finally, Cabernet Sauvignon (cah-bare-ney so-veen-yawn). It is probably the most famous red wine grape variety. It produces a full-bodied wine with bold black-fruit flavors of black cherry, blackberry and black currant. Oak aging produces flavors of vanilla, tobacco, licorice, and black pepper. Cabernet Sauvignon is deep in color with bold tannin.  In France, Cabernet Sauvignon is blended with Merlot and Cabernet Franc in Bordeaux wines of Medoc (Left Bank). DNA testing has proven that Cabernet Sauvignon is actually a cross of Cabernet Franc (a red wine grape) and Sauvignon Blanc (a white wine grape).

All of these red wines should be served at cellar temperatures of 53 degrees F for the lighter red wines to 62 degrees F for the full-bodied reds.  If these are served too cold (i.e., in the kitchen refrigerator) you really won't get the full flavor these red wines have to offer.  And, if you serve them at room-temperature, they are probably too warm.

So, there's a quick run through the spectrum of a few basic red wines.  Next time we'll explore some other red wines that are similar to those discussed here to help expand your red wine drinking options. Until then, cheers!

What Other White Wines Should You Try?

Last time we took a quick look across the spectrum of white wines, looking at Riesling, Pinot Grigio, Sauvignon Blanc and Chardonnay. These are commonly found white wines and broadly known. So now let's take it one-step further.  If you find that you tend to like one of these white wines better than the others, you may want to venture out and try some other white wines that are similar in their characteristics.

So we started on the lighter, fruitier and sweet end of the spectrum with Riesling.  If you find that Riesling has characteristics that are to your liking you might also want to try Gewürztraminer, Moscato, Torrents or Chenin Blanc.

• Gewürztraminer - An aromatic sweet wine with flavors of grapefruit and pineapple and an aroma of sweet rose. 
• Moscato - A sweet, slightly bubbly wine made from the Muscat Blanc grape, commonly known as Moscato d'Asti.  It has flavors of apricot, lemon, orange, nectarine and peach.
• Torrents - Not quite as sweet as the others, with flavors of peach and flowers
• Chenin Blanc - Not as sweet but having flavors of green apples and honey.

Next was Pinot Grigio. This easy drinking wine has similarities with Muscadet, Soave and Albariño.

• Muscadet - Made from the Melon de Bourgogne grape, this wine is has flavors of apple and citrus.
• Soave - Made from the Garganega grape, this Italian wine is crisp and fruity.
• Albariño - Originally from Spain, this wine has flavors of peach and citrus and can have a smooth (almost oily) mouthfeel with a hint of saline (yes, salt)

Moving on to Sauvignon Blanc. If you are a fan then consider Colombard, Grüner Veltliner, Verdejo and Vermentino.

• Colombard - While commonly used in the blending of cognac, this grape makes a light refreshing wine.
• Grüner Veltliner - Just a hint of sweetness with flavors of citrus include lemon, lime and grapefruit along with peach.
• Verdejo - A crisp Spanish wine with herbaceous and nutty characteristics
• Vermentino -This is a refreshing wine with lemon, peach, dried herbs and a bit of saline.

Finally, there's Chardonnay.  This big, bold and rich wine is hard to match, but Sémillon and Viognier have similar characteristics.

• Sémillon - A full-bodied white wine with flavors that include lemon, green apple, pear and even papaya. It too has an oily or waxy mouth-feel and can be rich and creamy like Chardonnay, when aged in oak.
• Viognier - With aromas of thyme, lavender, chamomile and a hint of pine, this full-bodied wine has flavors of apricot, peach and pears.

So now you have a few options to consider if you are stuck on a particular wine and looking to branch out to something different, yet similar.  These are all good choices and definitely worth a try. Cheers!

What White Wines Should You Try?

When it comes to getting acquainted with wines, it's common to start with white wines. They can be fruity, zesty, refreshing and easy to drink. And, because they are chilled, they are often more approachable when starting to explore wines.

White wines can range from being light, sweet and fruity to bold, rich and creamy.  So, here are four common white wines that span the spectrum.

Starting with the lighter and sweeter end of the spectrum you'll find Riesling (REEZ-ling). With Rieslings you'll find that they can be somewhat sweet or they can be dry. And remember, dry refers to the amount of residual sugar in the wine, not the way it feels in your mouth.  So, a slightly sweet, or 'off-dry' Riesling can have bright flavors of green apple, lime and a hint of honey-like flavor.  And, Riesling has high acidity, which means that it gives you a mouth-watering feel when drinking.

Next along the spectrum would be Pinot Grigio (Pee-noh GREE-gee-oh) or Pinot Gris (Pee-noh GREE), as it's known in France. This light-bodied wine is also zesty and thirst quenching. American Pinot Grigio is typically very fruity with flavors of lemon, melon and peach and tend to be mildly sweet. 

Moving up the spectrum of white wine takes us next to Sauvignon Blanc (so-vin-YAWN-Blonk). Again, this is a light-bodied white wine that's zesty with flavors of grapefruit and honeydew melon. In addition to these fruit flavors, Sauvignon Blanc is described by some as having very subtle 'green' flavors of green pepper and grass. This is a fruit-filled wine that can be slightly sweet.

And finally, at the bold and rich end of the white wine spectrum is Chardonnay (Shar-doe-Nay).  But even within Chardonnays, they can range from light and fruity to rich and creamy.  This comes from the fermentation process. The light and fruity Chardonnays are fermented in stainless steel tanks while the richer Chardonnays are fermented and aged in oak. And, when the oaked Chardonnays go through a second process (malolactic fermentation), the malic acid which is tart and tangy is converted to lactic acid (think milk) that can yield a rich, creamy and buttery Chardonnay.

While all of these white wines should be served chilled, they aren't chilled to refrigerator temperatures.  If you do chill your white wine in the refrigerator, just take them out about 30 minutes before you serve them. Or, if you have a wine refrigerator, store and serve them in the 45 to 55 degree F temperature range for optimum flavor.  The lighter, zestier wines should be the coolest with the oaked Chardonnay on the warmer end of the temperature range.

So, there's a quick run through the spectrum of a few basic white wines.  Next time we'll explore some other white wines that are similar to those discussed here to help expand your white wine drinking options. Until then, cheers!