Virginia Wine Showcase Weekend

At the Virginia Wine Showcase last weekend, I only bought two wines. I am selective about the wines I buy from expos and fesitvals.

Petit Verdot
www.willowcroftwine.com
Personal Observation: This limited production red is wonderful with your red meats and weighty whites. This is an easy drinking wine. Wonderful flavors and a good sip for your cheeses and dried meats.

This classic Bordeaux varietal displays smooth berry flavors and a creamy finish with a wonderful dark grapey color. Great with all of your red meat dishes, hearty lasagna, and any full-bodied meal.

Kluge Estate Cru
www.klugeestateonline.com
Personal Observation: All I can say is, the journey this apertif traveled was quite an experience. The description below is exactly what you should expect, however, the palate was wooed by this sexy dessert wine. I would suggest serving very cold in the summer or with the Kluge Champagne or room temperature in the fall and definitely following the meal with dessert or in place of dessert. Absolutely dreamy!

This 100% Chardonnay, fortified apéritif is an original! Naturally sweet Chardonnay grapes are fortified with Virginia-distilled brandy, and then aged for six months in Jack Daniel’s® barrels to develop complex and unique spicy aromas that are truly all-American.

There are deep, fresh aromas and flavors of pear, white peach, and citrus, with notes of licorice, vanilla, and roasted almonds.

This refreshing and full-bodied apéritif is a wonderful match for rich appetizers such as foie gras, or paired with desserts such as chocolate fondue, ice cream, or sweet fruit pie. Best when served very cold or on the rocks.

Rosé for Labor Day...or the weekend after

I would suggest a Rosé, a fruity Viognier, or a nice Gewurztraminer. Rosés are very versatile wines. They can be heavy or light, dry or full of fruit and a little sweeter (which carries more alcohol). I would say a light, fruity choice would be the best as it can pair with various grilled food as well as salads today...yes and steak too!

A Viognier is normally not as heavy as Chardonnay and has the tropical fruit that you can enjoy. Great with chicken and moderate levels meals.
One of my favorite whites is Gewurztraminer. A little sweet, a little spice...nice! Spicy foods welcome it and it is also great with hotdogs!

Light and Sparkly for the Summer

The summertime is the best time for light and sparkly sips.

I would recommend a sparkling pink Prosecco, a fun and frothy Italian sparkling wine, as an ideal quaff to greet the season. This fun rose-colored sparkler makes an even better solution for those steamy evenings when you need a salad for dinner because even with air-conditioning, you really don't want to see a flame on top of the stove or fire up the grill.

Some that may work for you are:

Cantine Riondo "Pink" Prosecco Raboso
De Faveri Spumante Rosé Extra Dry
Anime Pink Prosecco
Bartolomeo Prosecco Marzemino Vino Spumante Rosato Extra Dry

The pink bubbly adds a little special feeling to a normal summer day and we still have a few more of them left. Pair with salads, cheeses, vegetarian dishes, meatless pastas, or simply sipping.