Monthly Archives: May 2013

Memorial Day weekend is here and the air around western New York will be full of smoky, aromatic goodness from a variety of foods grilling away in thousands of backyards. Of course plenty of beer will be consumed, but for us wine folk there are terrific choices to be made for grilled food.

What if you had to choose one wine that could fit the bill for a vast amount of grilled foods? If you factor in the most popular foods over the weekend you’d probably find steak, ribs, burgers, hot dogs, sausage, ka-bobs, and BBQ chicken. So what could possibly pair well with any of these favorites?

The weather is breezy but beautiful and we are all rejoicing that Spring is definitely here and Summer close behind. Picnics, BBQs and trips to the beach are crying out for lighter wines. Many whites will be consumed in the next few months, but don’t forget the dry Roses. These wines are undervalued and often mistaken for their sweeter and unimaginative “cousins”.

The Tavel wines are some of the best of their kind in the world. This has a lot to do with the fact that this is all they do. You won’t find white or red wines in this region. The wines are usually made form classic Rhone style grapes like Grenache, Syrah, Cinsault and Mourvedre to name a few. The wine of Tavel is often referred to as the wine of kings because of its rich history. Ernest Hemingway considered it his favorite wines.

The 2012 Tavel Cuvee Du Roy is exceptionally good. It is made up of Grenache Noir, Cinsault, Clairette, Syrah and Picpoul. It has a beautiful deep pink, almost vermillion

Mother’s Day weekend is here and unfortunately the weather is cold and dreary. Many moms all over Western New York will be going to brunches and dinners, while others will be home having a lovely (hopefully) meal made for them.

If you fall into the second category or are making a meal for your mom, think about wine. Don’t let the weather ruin your plans. If you were planning on a white wine because May is usually warmer, fear not. We have a perfect wine for warm or cool weather.

From the Loire Valley in France comes this seductive, crisp and dry white that is surprisingly inexpensive for such a great wine from this region. This is a very different animal from a New Zealand style Sauvignon Blanc. Although there is an obvious presence of citrus, it is mainly lime rather than grapefruit. But fear not, there are still plenty of other interesting notes.

The color of this 100% Sauvignon is pale gold that dazzles in sunlight (Really – I don’t make this stuff up) as if on cue to welcome May. On the nose there is a faint, yet lovely scent of grass that is followed by a fair amount of lime citrus, subtle pineapple and lichee. There is a good bit of minerality in the finish. The wine is very well balanced and pairs well with a variety of summer salads, cheeses and seafood dishes. I suggest a shrimp, asparagus, and gruyere quiche with a bit of lemon zest.

Right now this wine is a terrific bargain at $9.99. Spring is here and Summer is coming so stock