Spring into White Wines

If you live anywhere in North America, you anxiously awaited the arrival of spring for what felt like more than a century. With unrelenting snowstorms and too many days of below freezing temperatures, we all grew a bit weary of Old Man Winter this year.  But cheer up, because as bad as it was the promise of spring is just around the corner.  Our neighborhood bodega has started selling spring flowers and the daffodils and crocus in the parks are pushing their way up toward the sky. It seems that the birds have started chirping again and people have dusted off their bicycles and running shoes—the city seems to be coming back to life after a long winter’s nap. And for us that means it’s time to break out the white wine. Springtime meals are a bit lighter and fresh green vegetables have begun to show up in our green markets, so we start shopping the white wine aisle of our local liquor store in search of old friends from Spain, Portugal, South Africa, Italy, Germany, and California to make a perfect match. Here’s what we’re drinking this spring:

Damilano Arneis 2012 from Langhe, Italy is straw yellow in color with aromas of citrus blossom, ripe stone fruits, and a touch of sea air.  It is crisp and clean in the mouth with great balance and a dry finish. 

Mulderbosch Sauvignon Blanc 2011 (right) from the Western Cape of South Africa is yellow green in color with notes of lemon zest, white flowers, and freshly mowed grass in the complex bouquet.  It is sexy and racy on the palate with some nice minerality in the finish.

Ipsum Verdejo 2012 from Rueda, Spain is yellow to yellow-gold olored. It has great aromas of honeydew melon, white peach, and Bartlett pear.  In the mouth it has rich mouthfeel with a touch of fennel and honeycomb. The finish is spicy with a hint of spring time herbs. 

Next, more top picks to help you celebrate the new season… 

Frescobaldi Ammiraglia Vermentino 2012 (left) from Tuscany, Italy is fermented in 100% stainless steel, so it’s crisp and clean but has undertones of exotic fruits like passion fruit, mango, and dried apricot. It has some herbal notes in the finish making this a perfect match for herb rubbed salmon filets. 

St. Francis White Splash 2012 from Sonoma, California is an enticing blend of Viognier, Pinot Grigio, Malvasia and Gewurztraminer.  It has a top note of vanilla and rich ripe fruit flavors. Try it with your favorite chicken dish. 

Antao Vaz Arinto Alente 2010 (right) from Alentejo, Portugal is a perfect match for sushi or ceviche. It has great aromas of mango, pineapple, and white peach. It is rich and fruity in the mouth with a clean finish. 

The Seeker Riesling 2012 from Mosel, Germany is straw colored with whiffs of honeysuckle, lime zest, and citrus flowers. It has just the slightest touch of sweetness that makes it an ideal choice for take out Chinese food. 

Jao Portugal Ramos Lima Loureiro 2012 from the Vinho Verde region of Portugal is the perfect match for PulpoGallego or shellfish. It has aromas of rosemary, oregano, and lemongrass and it has vibrant citrus flavors in the mouth. 

Kopke Vinho Branco 2011 from Douro, Portugal (left) has notes of white flowers, grapefruit pith, and a touch of salinity. It is big on the palate with a nice level of acidity that makes it perfect to pair with grilled sea bass or swordfish.