Monthly Archives: December 2018

Sparkling from Italy to Argentina

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As you prepare to ring in the New Year, you can begin in style and within reasonable cost with two sparkling wines worthy of the lead.

#1 – Vino dei Fratelli Vintage Prosecco 2016 ($17.99 or less)

They say ancient Romans drank Prosecco to preserve youth and to lengthen their lifespan. The empire lasted quite a while, so there may be something to Prosecco more than the high value, low-cost factor.

Prosecco is made with 100% glera grapes from Veneto, Italy. I opened my first bottle of Vino dei Fratelli upon the arrival of some friends who wanted to toast to the holiday season before we headed out for the evening.

Their first sips were voiced to this Prosecco’s success. They loved the dryness and ease of drink-ability. We agreed this was considerably an easy-to-drink bubbly on its own, but we enjoyed it even more with French triple-cream cheese spread on quinoa cakes. This is a drink-it-now sparkling, so that’s exactly how we treated the bottle.

#2 – Bianchi Brut Sparkling (no vintage) made by Bodega Valentin Bianchi, South America – ($21.99)

Predominantly made with chardonnay, followed by a third of pinot noir and a touch of viognier, this brut sparkling is sure to seduce your palate with delicate bubbles emitting notes of white peach and toasted nuts that lead to a fruit-forward, dry bubbly.

The grapes are grown in San Rafael in Mendoza, Argentina and the taste is better than many Champagnes I’ve tasted, especially when you factor in that you can drink this alone. But again, bubbles are best with cheese, so I succumbed.

This sparkling is made in the traditional French Champenoise method in that its secondary fermentation occurs in-bottle, which equals small bubbles and no headache for those who indulge.

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Raise your glass to usher in 2019 and look back to the past with warm memories. May this year bring new happiness, new goals, new achievements and new inspiration to your life. All the best wishes to a year brimming in happiness.

New Age Wine: Something Borrowed, Something Sweet

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New Age, an Argentine sweet white wine, is best served chilled, on ice with a slice of lime. I know this because I tried a sip and knew I would never finish the glass unless I tweaked it a bit. This is not my typical wine experience, but it keeps things interesting in the wine world. New Age is a blend of mostly Torrontés with a bit of sauvignon blanc.

Aromas of rose petals swirled through my senses, leading to a sparkling sensation due to the process in making this wine. So, this wasn’t an actual glass of wine to sip, nor was it actually bubbly. I was at a loss on what to do with this interesting bottle, so I read the label and realized it was best mixed with gin, pink grapefruit juice, and ice, garnished with a slice of grapefruit, or just poured over ice with a twist of lime. I tried the latter and voila! I could now drink New Age.

Torrontés is a grape native to Argentina, best served as a refreshing start to a meal or paired with a meal of fish and/or shellfish. It works nicely with spicy and aromatic Indian, Chinese and Thai cuisine as well. Price point: $12.99

Want to learn more about wine or gift someone who does? A new book just hit the shelves, offering insight into the world of wine in layman’s terms.

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Available on Amazon.com, Wine For Dummies explains everything from understanding grape varieties and wine styles to navigating wine shops and selecting wines in restaurants. Authors Ed McCarthy and Mary Ewing-Mulligan share their expertise in the easy-to-follow, no-nonsense signature style of Dummies, breaking down everything there is to know for readers that range from casual beginners to intermediate wine enthusiasts. The book includes new information on emerging wine regions in the United States including Oregon, Washington state, and New York, along with international regions like Hungary, Croatia and Slovenia.

A winery with no name

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My experience during a stay at Aria Hotel Budapest (by Library Hotel Collection) began in the music-inspired lobby where a spaceship-shaped Bogányi piano was being played. Guests were gathered at various bistro tables to enjoy complimentary afternoon wine and cheese in the indoor music garden. I accepted a cool glass of Sauska Rosé, an award-winning wine from Villainy, in southwest Hungary. It was a delightful refresher.

The next day, I set out to explore Etyek, a village in Fejér county in Hungary, less than 20 miles from Budapest, where it’s a good idea to taste wines. Etyek is, after all, a wine region in Hungary where cool climates  produce fruity wine varietals such as Pinot Gris, Sauvignon Blanc, Chardonnay and Pinot Noir.

While visiting Anonym (translation: no name) Winery in Etyek, owned by Áron Szövényi and his family, I was treated to tastes of its rosé of pinot noir, sauvignon blanc, chardonnay and pinot noir. But it was the egyböl kettö blend of 40% pinot gris and 60% zenit (a varietal grown in Pázmánd, located about 40 miles south of Etyek) that stole the show, at least for my palate.

I had never heard of a zenit grape, but was informed that it is a rare, black-spotted, white grape varietal developed in 1951 by Hungarian viticulturist Dr. Ferenc Kiraly, who crossed Ezerjo, a local variety, with Bouvier, a grape cultivated in modern-day Slovenia.

I sipped a 2017 made using a reductive technique (when a winemaker ferments in stainless steel containers). These grapes were incredibly fruit-forward and brought forth a buttery mouthfeel of a “wow” factor. I purchased a bottle for $9 and took it home to enjoy later during a dinner party with friends. And now it’s gone forever with no hope of finding this wine in the U.S.

Although Anonym produces 23,000 bottles annually, they don’t export to the U.S. or anywhere else in the world because THEY RUN OUT OF WINE. They admitted to actually importing wine for local consumption.

Fun Fact: Hungary exports more Hungarian oak barrels than wine.