The WineMadeEasy Blog

Until now, we have basically ignored sparkling wines this summer (or I should say I have) which is really not fair. After all, summer is a simple, casual, easy going yet celebratory time when the informal becomes more appealing. Case in point is the Babarosa Prosecco, an Italian sparkling wine that is not sophisticated like Champagne, but is easy to drink, pleases many palates, and pairs well with many dishes.

This Prosecco is an extra dry wine (which in the sparkling wine world means semi-dry) so it has a hint of sweetness. The color is bright golden, yellow like the summer sun. Peaches and pear with a faint citrus aroma draw you in as the fizz tickles your nose ever so gently. The taste is fresh and bright like ripe, crisp apples complemented by more citrus and stone fruit. I enjoyed this Prosecco with Swiss cheese and crackers and also tried it with chocolate. It pairs very well with Linguine and White Clam sauce.

The Fair is nearly over, summer is coming to an end, so

If you did not know chef, author, and probably the earliest television celebrity cook, Julia Child, would have been 100 years old today. Julia was an early supporter of wine and food pairings in her cookbooks. Even if you are "culinary challenged" stop in and grab a bottle of wine for a toast to Julia this evening. Something old world like Burgundy, Bordeaux, or Rioja is probably appropriate.

If you need some inspiration and don't own one of her books, check out this link: http://jc100.tumblr.com/

Or for a list of her Top 100 recipes: http://www.foodrepublic.com/2012/06/01/julia-child’s-100-favorite-recipes-revealed.

And if you need a laugh today, search on YouTube for her appearance on an early David Letterman show. Bon Appétit!

In the summertime many wine drinkers naturally flock toward Pinot Grigio because of its light, fruity, easy drinking characteristics. It makes sense because summer itself should be easy and uncomplicated. But there are some of us who want something that is perhaps a wee bit more complex without becoming too extravagant. The answer is actually in the very same grape, but grown and produced in different areas such as Alsace in France, northern California and Oregon. Pinot Grigio and Pinot Gris may be the same grape but they are significantly different animals. Pinot Gris is slightly heavier and more intricate than Pinot Grigio.

The 2011 Underwood Pinot Gris from Oregon is definitely a bargain at $9.99. This golden –straw colored beauty smells of honey dew melon and pear. Lemon –lime with more pear and faint apple are complemented by spice on the palate. This Pinot Gris will also be a great summer to fall transition wine.

Try this wine with crab sushi and pickled

On Wednesday night nearly thirty students showed up for our “Summer value wines” class. There was a wide variety of wines to please hot weather palates, but the most popular was the Domaine L’Enclos Gros Manseng. This is fascinating because it happens to be the most obscure of the wines poured. Nevertheless, the “oohs” and “ aahs” nearly reached a crescendo in the classroom.

The Gros Manseng grape is practically unheard of beyond its home in Southwest France. Soft pear, peach, and a good dose of citrus flavors with balanced acidity make this a terrific summer wine. It is comparable to a Vouvray and will please off-dry Riesling drinkers as well.

This wine is delicious on its own, but is a great pairing wine as well. Try it with apple slices and soft cheeses or for a nearly perfect wine–food experience, try it with a spicy Thai soup with coconut milk, followed by a spring roll.

How about a wine that will work for you rain or shine? Because- let’s face it. The sun is out as I write this, but hey, this is Buffalo and it could pour at any moment. If you need to be flexible in this magical land of quick change weather, try the Ringside Zinfandel. This dark purple beauty has plenty of black berry and cherry flavor, enhanced by clove and other baking spices. It’s somewhat jammy but finishes nicely with a smidgen of black pepper.

If it rains this zinfandel pairs wonderfully with quesadillas from your kitchen or if the sun is out and you are into the grilling mode, try this wine with grilled veggie burgers topped off with sharp cheddar, smoked gouda or bleu cheese.
Right now you can enjoy the Ringside Zinfandel for $7.00 a bottle with our “ Double up for a Buck “ sale.

The drought is subsiding a bit, but we know it will return. This lively French Rosé will make a substantial dent in your thirst. The Château Lamothe Bordeaux Rosé is a fascinating Rosé made up of Cabernet Sauvignon and Cabernet Franc. It has a darker color than the Rosés of Provence, but for my money, has considerable complexity with strawberries and a hint of lemon on the nose. Dry, berry fruit flavors are complimented by soft tannins in the finish. Despite the two grapes used in making this wine, it is light and refreshing. This is a wine you will want to serve well chilled. Enjoy Ch. Lamothe with Barbecued pork or spinach – feta chicken sausages on the grill.

So you want to grill this weekend, possibly even barbecue some chicken. Well, you might be a little nuts considering how hot it is but, hey, this is what we do on weekends in the good ole summertime. You might think I’m a bit nuts myself considering the wine I’m going to suggest. But that’s okay, because this wine comes from La Mancha where one of the most famous nuts in literature came from: Don Quixote.

The Finca del Castillo Tempranillo is a dry Spanish Red that is medium bodied with substantial red berry fruit. Because it is fruit forward without the influence of oak, this wine is a great match for a spicy barbecued chicken. Another great benefit of this wine is it can be served slightly chilled on a sultry day without compromising the fruity-spicy flavor.

Right now, you can pick this Spanish treasure up for $5.99.

We are back to the French wines this week for a very good reason; it’s extremely hot out and it is time for a refreshing alternative to white wine that will make the most ardent red lovers happy as well. What better than a French Rose? This is not your grandma’s Rose, nor your grandaughter’s for that matter. This wine is not sweet. It is quite dry but delightfully refreshing.

The Chateau L’ermitage Rose 2011 is a medium light color, similar to watermelon where it meets the white edges. The nose has ripe peach and faint melon scents. Light strawberry and raspberry is prominent thanks to the Grenache, Syrah and Mourvedre grapes that make up this delicate Rhone Rose. There isn’t a smidgen of sweetness in this wine, but it is so crisp and fresh tasting that it makes a terrific wine to beat the heat.

Have this Rose with a blackened salmon Caesar salad. A perfect summer lunch!

Yes, it is time to break away from the French wines temporarily with this gem from Argentina. In case you’ve never tried this wine or heard of for that matter, Torrontes is the major white grape of South America. If you like Sauvignon Blancs or if you’re looking for a refreshing and more complex alternative to Pinot Grigio, seek out Tilia Torrontes. At $ 8.99 a bottle, this could be a summer staple. The aroma is floral. Some have found jasmine, others magnolia. I can only say with certainty it is floral. Strong citrus notes were repeated on the palate along with pear and fig. See what I mean about complex?

Torrontes pairs wonderfully with fish and chicken dishes. Try shrimp kabobs with lime or baked haddock.

It is going to be very hot this weekend, so whether you’re going on a picnic, off to the beach or simply trying to keep cool in the A/C, try a bottle of Tilia Torrontes.

It seems like I just can’t get enough white wines from France these days, but they’re just so damn good! This 2009 Sauvignon Blanc is the type of wine that is quite versatile. The floral and citrus nose will activate your June senses, although the golden color will remind you of a late August day. This wine is more round than many New Zealand style Sauvignon Blancs and the taste is more apple and pear like than citrus. It finishes with a smidgen of honey.

The beauty of this wine is that it will transcend perfectly into Fall and will pair nicely with seafood soups or Maytag Bleu cheese and green apple salads. Grab this wine for $7.99 while it lasts.
Coming soon- A blog about a wine that isn’t French. Stay tuned.