GotWines.net

There’s an epidemic in this country. Beringer alone is making over eight million cases of White Zinfandel a year, and Americans are actually drinking this stuff. I mean people in Europe are eating chocolate covered bugs, but they won’t touch this completely unsophisticated, quintessential American interpretation of “wine”. The truth is there are a lot of options out there for all you White Zin drinkers that won’t have all of us wine geeks snickering at you from the next table. You want it fruity? No problem. You want it sweet? No problem. You even want it pink? We got that, too. So if you’re tired of looking the fool when you’re drinking wine with friends, or if you just can’t find anything to drink when you’re hanging at The Bridge, (that’s  my wine bar) well give these wines a whirl; you’ll thank me for it.

Reichsgraf von Kesselstatt, RK Riesling, 2005, Mosel-Saar-Ruwer, Germany      $18

White Zin is frequently described as being off-dry, or semi-sweet. If this is why you like it – because it reminds you more of grape juice than of wine – well than you should definitely spend some time exploring the world of Riesling. There are both dry and sweet examples, but if you’re a big White Zin fan, I’d recommend something like the RK Riesling from Reichsgraf von Kesselstatt, with subtle sugar and balanced acidity. German winemakers have been producing Riesling for centuries, and von Kesselstatt recently celebrated their 650^th anniversary, so I think it’s safe to say these guys have the experience to produce some pretty awesome stuff.

I prefer Riesling to White Zinfandel because of its superior complexity and brilliance. The sugar brings balance and substance to the wine, instead of disguising the wines true nature as in White Zin. The RK Riesling is fruit forward and citric, as Riesling should be, with delightful minerality throughout. Sweet but not sugary, and acidic but definitely not sour, this wine is nothing if not well-balanced. Pair with all your favorite spicy dishes and Asian cuisine.

Piazzo Comm. Armando, Moscato d’Asti, 2005, Piedmont, Italy      $15

So, Riesling isn’t fun enough for you? Maybe you’re a little attached to the excitement of drinking pink? Well when you want fun you can’t beat bubbles. Moscato d’Asti, from the southeastern corner of the Piedmont region in Italy, is an effervescent sparkler called frizante; which means it has about half the bubbles of a traditional sparkling wine. The mild sweetness is balanced by lively acidity and accented by a beautiful, fragrant nose.

This example of Moscato d’Asti displays a bright floral nose of honeysuckle and aromatic herbs. Sweet peaches and honey, coupled with the refreshing tingle of tiny bubbles and a clean finish, make for an exciting taste adventure. Drink this wine soon and often with all your fruity desserts, or even as an aperitif.  

Dominio del Plata, Crios de Susana Balbo, Rosé of Malbec, 2006, Mendoza, Argentina      $15  

Alright, if it absolutely has to be pink lets look into wines that actually say “rosé” on the label. Enter Susana Balbo: one of Argentina’s premier winemakers, and a woman working in a male dominated Argentinean industry. Producing a wider variety of wines than any other Argentinean producer, and being the first winemaker from Argentina to work as a consultant outside of her country has given Susana an unparalleled level of experience in South American winemaking.

Susana Balbo’s “Crios” line of wine is her second label. Meaning “offspring”, the Crios wines are inspired by her two children and meant to be consumed while they are still young and vibrant; two words which describe her 2006 Rosé of Malbec perfectly. The nose contains tons of strawberry fruit which is joined by cherries and licorice spice on the palate. The subtle sweetness is surprising from such a deep, brooding rosé; perfect for any White Zin enthusiast. Pair this wine with all sorts of food, especially when you have trouble deciding between red and white.     

Monticello Vineyards Rose of Syrah, 2004, Napa Valley, California 

Ok, I know what you?re thinking. How could a guy who claims to have a knowledge of fine wines, and a discriminating palate, truly be drinking, and reviewing, a pink wine. Well, first of all, this ain’t no White Zin. And second of all, real men drink pink, especially dry rose. It’s a perfect summertime wine, an ideal accompaniment for any barbeque and when it’s done well it can have muscle, depth of character and elegance. The Corley family at Monticello Vineyards is just the group to handle this task.

At my wine bar in Columbia, Maryland we have the exclusive retail rights for Monticello wines in the state, so of course we love all of their products. However, in the midst of their wide range of world renowned reds, I fear their gorgeous roseay be going underappreciated. The nose of this wine is floral, with rose petals and hints of cranberries. On the palate are sweeter fruit like strawberries and cherries, though the wine is definitely dry with its crisp, refreshing acidity. Stainless steel fermenting and neutral oak aging make for a clean finish.

This wine is the perfect pairing for nothing more than a warm summer day, though it’s great with any seafood dish. Try it with fruit salad, lamb chops with fresh herbs or any fowl. For dessert, mild cheeses and figs.

Even a quality rose isn’t likely to hurt your wallet too badly. Monticello gets about $16 for this example, though if you want it in Maryland to go with your crabs this summer, you?ll have to get it from us at the Iron Bridge Wine Co.