Overwhelmed by wine choices? Try a tasting or join a club
Next time you are in a wine store, step back and take a look at the hundreds, if not thousands, of different labels before you. Like so many consumer products, our options can seem endless—and there are more every year. How can any wine drinker begin to explore the wide world of wine? Fortunately, there are lots of ways to try new wines without breaking the bank.
One of the best ways to experience new varietals or wine styles is to take advantage of tastings at your local wine shop. Many stores post schedules of their in-store tastings and may even have wine classes or seminars—sometimes hosted by winery reps.
Local wine clubs are another way to discover wines you may otherwise never would have known existed. Another option is commercial wine clubs, which offer a constantly changing inventory of wines and they track feedback based to tailor future offerings to your taste.
Best of all, get to know the pros in your local wine shop. They are constantly tasting wines and can take the guess work out of shopping by knowing your taste profile. I’ve put together a mixed case here to illustrate the fun and variety that is waiting out there in those miles of aisles.
Corvo Grillo Sicilia DOC 2020—Mediterranean white with zippy acidity and exotic aromas. Think seafood, appetizers, salads. $13
Secastilla Garnacha Blanca 2020—Spanish white comes on subtly but opens into rich, full flavors. Chardonnay drinkers take note. $15
Wachau Gruner Veltliner Federspiel Terrassen 2021—Signature Austrian white, crisp acidity, spicy finish, especially food-friendly. $19
Pagos Del Galir Godello 2020—Fascinating Godello grape from the North of Spain. Lively, silky, beautifully textured. Ideal with salmon. $21
Lake Sonoma Winery Chardonnay 2021—Standout Russian River fruit, creamy texture, lingering finish. $22
Pazo de Lusco Albarino 2021—A classic Spanish white, Albarino is lush, full-bodied and intensely flavored. $29
Woodbridge Sparkling Infusions—New, fruit infused sparkling wines available in Sweet Peach, Strawberry & Kiwi, and Black Raspberry. Fun party wines. $11
Riondo Extra Dry Prosecco—Floral aromas followed by apple and pear. “Extra dry”, counterintuitively, means slightly sweet. $12
Loveblock Pinot Noir 2020—Light but flavorful pinot from New Zealand with lively cherry/pomegranate character. $28
Veramonte Organic Reserva Carmenere 2020—Chile takes carmenere to the next level. Spicy aromas, smoky red fruit. $18
Chateau Peyredon Lagravette Haut-Medoc 2018—Impressive Bordeaux with solid tannins and smooth texture. Will mellow further with time. $28
Cline Family Ancient Vines Zinfandel 2020—Cline has been making great Lodi zins for 40 years, and it shows. Big and beautiful. $17
Chilean Sauvignon Blanc tasting
With over four thousand miles of coastline running north to south, Chile has a tremendous number of microclimates—and sauvignon blanc thrives in just about every one of them.
In the history of sauvignon blanc production, Chile came to the party a bit late—but that hasn’t stopped it from becoming one of the world’s top producers. Because of its chameleon-like ability to adapt and change character depending on its environment, sauvignon blanc in Chile is found in a crazy quilt of styles.
A recent tasting offered an opportunity to compare just a few of Chile’s remarkably distinctive—and diverse—sauvignon blancs:
Matetic EQ Coastal Sauvignon Blanc 2020—dry, tropical fruit, minerality. $20
Koyle Costa La Flor Sauvignon Blanc 2021—tangy citrus and passion fruit. $18
Casas del Bosque Sauvignon Blanc 2020—crisp citrus, melon, gooseberry $18
Tabali Talinay Sauvignon Blanc 2021—very dry, herbal/grassy features. $24
Ventisquero Grey Single Block Sauvignon Blanc 2019—green apple/lime. $25
Steve Prati, Franklin based wine consultant, www.steveswinecellar.com
This article originally appeared on Nashville Tennessean: Overwhelmed by choices? Ask your local wine shop pro
