Written By Lisa Breslin
Italy, Spain, Austria, Argentina, Greece; your summer vacation may not have taken you to those beautiful places, but more and more people are decanting spectacular wines from those countries without draining their bank accounts.
Tastings at local liquor stores and in private homes often feature wines from around the world to heighten one’s wine sense. Locally, Maryland’s finest wines will be featured at the Maryland Wine Festival. The tastings may help to dispel three wine myths: Older is better, price matters and you can often judge a wine by its label.
Just in case everything but the name of the great wine you tasted or heard about comes to mind when it’s time to buy, here are a few tips to keep in mind, as well as a few great wines to consider, compliments of two of the county’s most notable wine connoisseurs, located right here in Carroll County: Nancy Slick (NS), wine manager for Cranberry Liquors and Michael Bareford (MB), general manager of College Square Liquors.
According to Slick and Bareford, whether you are sipping wines from other parts of the world or from your home state, you should consider their clarity, color, smell and taste.
“Clear is good, even if you are considering a dark red. You want to be able to read something through the wine,” said Slick.
Ultimately, what often matters the most during the selection process is the pairing, or the food with which you will be serving the wine. Like Ginger Rogers and Fred Astaire, Lucille Ball and Ricky Ricardo, wines complement food and bring out certain nuances in their pairings.
There are a lot of food-friendly wines on the list that follows. Some of those suggested pair well with grilled burgers; others go with fish. They can also complement vegetables, salads, steaks, or even a breakfast dish.
Have fun. Heighten your wine sense; raise your glasses high, make a toast and savor the season.
Wines from Around the World for $15 or Less
ARGENTINA // Zolo Malbec // $11.99 This intense, spicy wine features and attractive dark berry and raspberry flavors. Put on any table with anything off the grill, especially burgers, it will complement the chef’s talents. – MB
AUSTRIA // Zwygelt Huber // $12.99 The Gruner Veltiner grape used for this wine is great because it pairs well with all those hard-to-pair foods – broccoli, asparagus, salads. This wine has a crisp taste with notes of lime, melon, grapefruit and florals. – NS
ITALY // Prosecco // $11.99 A light Bolter with a dry finish, this wine is flavored with Granny Smith apples and the prosecco grape. It’s great for any time on the deck or at an inexpensive wedding reception. – NS
ITALY // Riondo Prosecco // $12.99 A fun and refreshing wine with persistent effervescence. An excellent starter wine in an informal setting. The Riondo Prosecco features delicate white peach and tropical notes that will keep you returning for another sip. – MB
ITALY // Cusumano Nero D’Avola // $12.99 This fleshy, spicy wine shows excellent black fruit flavors. It pairs well with grilled meats or red sauce pasta. – NS
FRANCE // Montirius Cotes du Rhone // $10.99 This red wine from Spain is earth-friendly, organic wine with beautiful structure and nice tannins. It pairs well with game, pheasant, duck, lamb and a big old juicy steak. – NS
GREECE // Akakies by Kir-Yianni Rose // $11.99 This wine is a bruiser with big cherries, strawberry seeds, and a healthy sprinkling of rose petals. It pairs well with grilled tuna, a big Greek salad with loads of feta and olives. – NS
SPAIN // Albet Noya Xarel-lo // $11.99 Light and herby with lemon rind notes and a zingy finish, this wine is from Spain and pairs well with light cheeses or fish dishes. – NS
SPAIN // Marton Codax Albarino // $11.99 Hailing from the northwest corner of Spain, this excellent white wine shows copious quantity of citrus, pear and peach flavors. It pairs perfectly with summer salads or any light fish dish. – MB
UNITED STATES // Stevenot Zinfandel // $10.99 A California wine that rivals most wines around the world in this price range, this zinfandel has intense flavors of black raspberry and dark cherry. Nuances of vanilla and black pepper lend to the wine’s complexity. It compliments any barbecue dish, especially grilled meats.
Mike’s Top Five Maryland Wines
Boordy Vineyard // Seyval Vidal – Chardonnay // $9.99 Displays spicy melon citrus flavors with a lively mineral finish.
Linganore Wine Cellars // Abisso // $25.99 Sweet port-style red, loaded with richly textured plum and inviting spice.
Basignani // Marisa // $10.99 Reminiscent of a French Beaujolais, filled to the brim with bright raspberry and cherry notes.
Elk Run // Gewrztraminer // $16.99 Shows off an elegant textured taste with notes of citrus and a hint of sweetness.
Boordy Vineyards // Syrah // $12.99 Rich and smoky with intense raspberry and subtle earth nuances.
Nancy’s Maryland Picks
Boordy Vineyard // Rockfish Seyval/Vidal/Chardonnay // $9.99 Like Spring in a glass with peaches, apples and a lovely mineral note.
Fiore // Cabernet Franc // $13.99 A little slice of Bordeaux featuring black raspberries, roses and violet.
Basignani // Riesling // $13.99 Wonderful fruit and floral notes here, with a semi dry finish.
Boordy Vineyard // Vidal // $9.99 Crispy apples and sweet herby grasses in the mouth and nose – serve with fish or chicken dishes.
Loew // Blueberry // $13.99 A wine not made from grapes is called a “fruit wine.” This is a pleasant example of an earthy blueberry – right in your glass.?
