Drink to your health!
Perhaps the best part of the Mediterranean diet is its daily red wine allowance — one glass for women, one to two for men.“If you drink the right wine with the right cuisine, it’s pure magic,” says Lorena Ascencios, head wine buyer at Astor Wines & Spirits in the East Village. Here, some suggestions for bottles from the Mediterranean:
Cantine di Orgosolo cannonau di Sardegna “Urulu,” 2013 The richness of this red from the Orgosolo winery in Sardinia makes for a good match with gamey meats such as lamb chops and grilled vegetables, according to Ascencios.“What I love about this wine is its fullness on the palate,” she says. $29.66 at Astor Wines & Spirits, 399 Lafayette St.; 212-674-7500
Il Nuraghe Cantina di Mogoro “Nero” Sardo cannonau, 2014 Another favorite from Sardinia, this wine made with grenache grapes is smooth and full-bodied with aromas of fresh berries.“Some say Sardinian wine is one of the reasons that people on the isle live to be a ripe old age,” says Nick DiMinno, owner of Park Slope’s Sip Fine Wine. $16.99 at Sip Fine Wine, 67 Fifth Ave., Park Slope; 718-638-6105
Yves Leccia “YL,” 2013 “This is the epitome of the Mediterranean,” Ascencios says of this red from the island of Corsica, made from mostly grenache grapes, along with a nielluccio varietal.“What I adore about this wine is the aromas. Full of herbs, flowers and spices.” $24.96 at Astor Wines & Spirits, 399 Lafayette St; 212-674-7500
Trossos del Priorat Lo Petit de la Casa, 2014 This Spanish wine, a DiMinno recommendation, is made with a rare blend of grapes. It’s a full-bodied red with aromas of sweet spice, ripe black fruit and notes of wild herbs. $22.99 at Sip Fine Wine, 67 Fifth Ave., Park Slope; 718-638-6105
Tempier Bandol rouge, 2013 DiMinno says this French vineyard dating back to the 1700s is“one of the most iconic properties in Bandol . . . [and] this blend of mourvèdre, grenache, cinsault and carignan grapes makes for a full-bodied, dry wine with aromas of dark fruit and intense, smooth tannins.” $56.99 at Sip Fine Wine, 67 Fifth Ave., Park Slope; 718-638-6105 — Lauren Steussy