BRANCHING OUT I WINE
Spain, Portugal and Argentina deserve chance in the spotlight
Wineries in these three countries have lots to offer.
SPRING is a time of renewal. The leaves come out, the flowers bloom, the birds come back, baby animals are born, and the weeds come back in your lawn. OK, so maybe not all of what spring brings to the table is good.
What spring really should do is inspire your curiosity to try something new. New recipes, new plants for the garden, new things for around the house and, of course, new wines.
Traditionally, in Ontario wine country, springtime is when the new white wines come out from the previous growing season: think Rieslings, Sauvignon Blancs, Pinot Gris and unoaked Chardonnays. And with those first bottles, we get an idea of how the vintage actually was – not just speculation based on what we see out our windows.
Some pundits have already written off the last season as being inferior, but let’s wait and see before we write the obit on the vintage of 2013.
I also mentioned above something about curiosity and springtime. As much as I might preach the gospel of eating local food and drinking Ontario wine, being monochromatic — one kind of wine or from one region or country — can put blinders on your palate. And let’s face it, it can get pretty boring too.
Drinking outside your region is also a great way to compare local wines with those from around the world. So let’s take a brief peek at some regions that are offering really good wines that you should keep an eye on this year. SPAIN
Every year I think Spain is going to bust onto the scene in a big way, and every year they seem content to stay in the background.
Spain used to be all about wines from the Rioja region, but these days, this country is busting at the seams with great wines coming from a variety of excellent regions: Jumilla, Ribera del Duero and Calatayud are just three that come to mind. Sure, they may not be household names like Napa and Sonoma, but trust me when I say there are great inexpensive wines coming from this country.
Three producers to look for: