Great wines for spring sipping

By David Setley

Spring has sprung! As daylight hours increase and the weather gets warmer, porch-sitting, grilling, and tending to the yard are likely on the docket. With the change of weather comes changes in what we eat, and of course, the wine we drink. Time to restock that wine rack with Spring wines! Here are some choices for your spring enjoyment, many of which you may not have tried yet.

portugal continues to be incredibly interesting to me, and those i ’ve chosen as spring wines are no exception. The Mariposa Vinho Branco 2020 from Dão is a wonderful example of this wine region’s terroir. i t is a dry white blend of Malvasia Fina, Cerceal Branco, and Encruzado with a beautiful floral aroma and the taste of tree fruits, honey, and lemon zest. This wine pairs wonderfully with seafood, chicken dishes, and with salads and appetizers. For a red, try the Chamine’ Tinto 2019 from the Alentejano region. This blend of indigenous grapes, including Aragonez, Syrah, Touriga Nacional, Tricadeira and, Alicante Bouschet, provides a well-balanced, medium-bodied wine with an intense red color. With the aroma and flavors of dark red berries and fruit, vanilla, and oak, this wine is great with grilled meat or vegetables. Additionally, this wine is certified organic.

Spain also has some wonderful wines perfect for the season. The Shaya 2020 Verdejo from the rueda region is a light, easy-drinking white that is great on its own or with shellfish or vegetarian fare. You may know Albariño from the rias Baixas region as Spain’s most popular white, but the Verdejo is equally enjoyable and worth a try. Verdejo features a mildly tropical and citrus aroma and flavor with a minerality representative of this central wine region of Spain. Or, go for a Garnacha, a dry red wine from the Castilla region. The Galerna Garnacha is an awesome example of this wine. perfect for grilled meat, especially gamier meats such as lamb or venison, or with grilled or roasted vegetables. The aroma and flavor are of dark cherries and blackberries, with wonderful notes of baking spices and a touch of tobacco and smoke that must be experienced with your next grilled meal. Both of these wines are certified organic as well.

Although italy is famous for prosecco, pinot Grigio, and Sangiovese, please allow me to suggest wine varietals you may not have discovered. From the Tuscan region of San Gimignano comes the Sauvis Vernaccia de San Gimignano 2020, one of my all-time favorite italian white wines. The fruit is light with notes of white peaches and apricots, but the dominant flavor characteristic is the minerality. There are notes of river stones, salinity, honey, and vanilla that demonstrate the Central italian terroir. perfect for pesto pasta dishes, appetizers, seafood, vegetables, and cheese platters. For a wonderfully full-bodied, yet light, red option that would pair well with your next pizza night or evening on the porch, reach for the rocca del Dragone Aglianico. Aglianico wine is soft and medium dry, with smooth soft tannins and a wonderfully bold flavor. in classic italian red wine fashion, this wine has more earthiness than fruit with the aroma and leather, smoke, tobacco, and oak with just a touch of dark cherries.

What about France? The languedoc- roussillon region in Southern France is among the fastest growing wine regions in the country. One of the “grapes unknown” from this region is the picpoul, from the picpoul de pinet subregion. if you have not tried this wonderful, dry, white wine, now is your chance. it has a distinctive acidity, making for a uniquely refreshing wine with flavors of green apple with a light citrus note and a prominent minerality of wet stones and salinity. The Domaine Guillaume Cabrol picpoul de pinet 2021 is an outstanding example of this wine. if you are a fan of oysters, the picpoul might be your new best friend. it also pairs well with many appetizers or salads. For a red, France offers the Gamay from the Beaujolais region. For Spring grilling, this medium-bodied red is the perfect choice. it has an acidity comparable to pinot Noir and a flavor of red raspberries and currents. For grilled chicken or grilled portobello mushrooms, this is a winner. Try the l . Tramier & Fils Beaujolais-Villages Gamay 2020. Not to be outdone, the USA has great options as well. The pine ridge Chenin Blanc and Viognier Blend from California is a must try. This sophisticated white blend marries Chenin Blanc’s lovely honey notes and Viognier’s crisp green apple flavor. if grilling fish, such as Halibut, is your seasonal choice, invite this wine to the party. Or, try the Montinore Borealis pinot Noir 2020 from Oregon. Oregon is becoming known for their pinot Noirs, and you can’t go wrong with this one. it is light-bodied with flavors of cranberry and a clean lingering acidy that pairs perfectly with grilled chicken or vegetables. i hope these wine options make your next spring evening on the porch or at the grill even more enjoyable. As always, if you have questions or comments, contact me at dsetley@ passionvines.com or stop the Somers point store. Until next time, Happy Wining!

David Setley is enjoying his retirement from higher education as a wine educator and certified sommelier at Passion Vines in Somers Point, New Jersey.

There are some really fun happenings this weekend so make sure to support your local venues and get your tickets in advance so you don’t miss out on any fun! Oh and feel free to tag me in your photos and videos.

What: Back to the 80s

Where: Borgata’s The Music Box

When: April 23 and 30

Time: 4 p.m.

Tickets: $20.99 + applicable fees

Website: borgata.mgmresorts. com

Every Sunday in April, take a trip back in time to hear your favorite jams from the 80s with the Back to the 80s tribute show at The Music Box featuring songs from your favorite artists of the decade.