Best Wines to Celebrate Carnaval

Carnaval, derived from the Latin carne levare (to take away meat), is celebrated this year on Tuesday, March 4th. This feast to mark the beginning of 40 days of Lenten sacrifice is celebrated throughout Europe, the Americas, and the Caribbean. The most famous festivals are in Rio de Janeiro, New Orleans, and Venice, but when it comes to partying, Puerto Rico and Cadiz, Spain can hold their own. The night has become synonymous with raucous behavior and overindulging, especially in the US, but there’s no reason why we can’t mark the date with a high-style party at home that gives a nod to the holiday’s religious and European origins while celebrating the mashup of culture in the New World.

Give some love to the Carnevale di Venezia by pouring wines from northern Italy alongside your Latin-inspired party food:

Cavicchioli 1928 Sparkling Lo Spumante NV is 100% Malvasia, so expect fresh stone fruit flavors with a light floral touch. At $14 a bottle, you can keep pouring these bubbles all night, especially if you are serving mariscos or ceviche. The festive bottle says fiesta before you even pop the cork.

Lamberti Rosé Spumante Veneto VSAQ NV is a pale pink sparkler that goes great with seafood. This is from the Veneto region just outside Venice, and it is a blend of Pinot Bianco, Pinot Nero, and Raboso, a native Italian red grape. Soft flavors of green apple and Turkish delight amid delicate bubbles (also at $14) are a terrific way to ring in the season of self-denial.

Cavicchioli Lambrusco di Sorbara DOC ‘Vigna del Cristo’ 2012: Light red in color with strong bubbles, this fruit-forward Lambrusco is a sparkling wine that you can drink with red meat (before you give it up for a few weeks, at least on Fridays). Strong flavors of cherry and black raspberry are enhanced by a bright finish. ($17)

Click on for great carnaval wines from Chile!…

Carnaval in South America, Latin America, and the Caribbean is a combination of European and indigenous traditions, so another good way to celebrate is with the wines of Los Vascos, the Chilean winery owned by Domaines Barons de Rothschild of French winemaking fame. At around $13 a bottle, any of the following is priced for a crowd, but good enough to serve if there are only two of you celebrating.

Los Vascos Sauvignon Blanc 2013: We really like Sauvignon Blanc with spicy party food—the herbal notes and crisp acidity hold up to the fiery flavors in the dishes we serve. Flavors of peach, passion fruit, and lime with a hint of Mediterranean herbs are terrific with seafood and chicken alike.

Los Vascos Rosé 2013: Pink wines aren’t just for warm weather—this 90% Cabernet Sauvignon, 10% Syrah rosé has the full mouthfeel of a red wine and flavors of black cherry, pomegranate, and almond blossom. It is a refreshing choice with spicy food, fried fish, or even mixed paella.

Los Vascos Cabernet Sauvignon 2012: If carne is on the menu, you will be proud to serve this fruit-forward, mouth-pleasing red that exhibits strong flavors of dark red berries dusted with oregano and laurel.

Click on for more bottles of red!…

Not that we encourage anyone to give up wine—even for 40 days—but if you are planning to, make your last bottle of the winter a special one!

Santa Rita Pehuen Carmenere 2007: One of the finest expressions of Chilean Carmenere, Pehuen’s spicy blackberry flavors will be wonderful with a steak a la parrilla. A bit of a splurge at $70, but well worth it if you won’t be having much meat or red wine for a while!

Emiliana Ge 2009: A luscious blend of Syrah, Carmenere, and Cabernet Sauvignon, Ge offers an elegance and intensity worthy of its name, which is a translation of the word “Earth.” It’s worth every penny of its $79 price tag, whether this will be your last glass of wine for one day or forty.