Tour Europe's vineyards for $20 a day
The COVID-19 pandemic has confined us to home for almost a year now, leaving many with a thirst to travel as soon as possible.
Today we try to fill the gap by taking you to Europe for less than $20 a day, sort of. The idea is to take you there via a bottle of wine selling for less than $20.
The wine world has long been carved into two parts: the Old World and the New World. Europe is considered Old World while North and South America, Australia, and South Africa fall under the New World moniker. The New World is catching up to the Old World at light speed, and there is even some evidence the Old World is already pursuing new paths suggesting there is a Third World of wine at play we could term the Next World.
That said, France, Italy, Spain, Portugal and Germany, to name but a few Old World producers, have been growing grapes, making wine and exporting it for centuries.
In the Old World, much is made of the wine's origin. Despite many wines being made with well-known grapes, the European tendency is to associate the wine with its appellation or origin rather than any single grape variety. Hence varietal wines like Chardonnay, Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot give way to names such as Bordeaux, Rioja, Burgundy, Barolo and many more. So, where does one begin to explore Europe?
White wines can be particularly rewarding given their ability to pair with B.C.'S great mix of seafood and South Asian dishes. Riesling (German or Austrian) is a great place to start.
You can add Albariño (Spain) to the list, as well as Viognier (France) and Grüner Veltliner (Austria).
Northern Italian white wine or Verdelho from Spain's Rueda region can be equally charming and easy to appreciate with light seafood dishes, grilled chicken and pasta, and few will break your budget.
The red wines of Europe are plentiful, and for the bored-outof-your-mind Merlot or Cabernet Sauvignon drinker, they can be a much-needed tonic.
Portugal's Douro Valley is a great place to start. Dry Douro reds are often a blend of five or six grapes, and in some cases, the wine is made from a field blend of 50 or 60 different grapes. Names like Quinta do Crasto, Quinta do Vallado, Ramos Pintos Duas Quintas, and Quinta de Chocapalha are easy to find. Each is a rich, savoury introduction into dry Douro reds, and many are among the best barbecue reds you won't soon forget.
From Spain, the soft, easy-sipping Monastrell (Mourvèdre) is all the rage with young people and why not. The price is right, and the fruit is even better. Grenache from the south of France (Languedoc) has been on a roll since the late 1990s, fuelled by a string of excellent harvests most regions can only envy.
Couple that with affordable prices, and you have a winning appellation. Italy is a treasure trove of red wine, especially for the adventurous drinker who heads south to Apulia and Sicily.
Now to the best part — a shortlist of tasty wines that will take you on a tour of Europe for less than $20 a bottle.
Chapoutier Les Vignes de Bila Haut Blanc ($15.99) is a tasty white from Côtes du Roussillon, France, to serve with chicken or fish. From northern Italy, the Di Leonardo Monovitigna Pinot Grigio ($15.99) from Fruili is a fresh, dependable sushi or pasta and pesto choice.
Reds we like include Tormaresca Castel del Monte Trentangeli Organic ($19.99), a healthy blend of Aglianico, Cabernet Sauvignon and Syrah from Apulia, Italy.
Soft, affordable and mouth-filling best describe this trio of French reds: Louis Bernard Cotes du Rhone ($16.49), the Pesquie Ventoux ($19.99) and Boutinot Cotes du Rhone Villages ($19.99), all from the southern Rhone Valley.
Sturdy winter reds for stews or sausages include Boutari Naoussa Xynomavro ($18.99) from Greece, Pedra Cancela Selecção do Enólogo ($17.99) from, Dão, Portugal and finally from Spain, Anciano Old Vines Garnacha ($19.99).
That's a slice of Europe for $20 a bottle or less and no airfare or hotel fees. Who knows, you might save enough to get to Europe when it is safe to do so.