One of the greatest joys of appreciating wine is trying something new and different.
Maybe you love Chardonnay and really enjoy trying the big oak-flavored Chards of California and then comparing them to the lighter stainless steel-aged wines of France.
Or maybe you like the bigger red wines and like to compare the fruit-forward Syrahs versus the peppery finish of a big Zinfandel.
Here’s a challenge to be more adventurous. There are more than 10,000 documented varieties of wine grapes. Most fine wines come from about 230 grape varietals. There are hundreds more pressed and aged into wines in all corners of the world.
So instead of trying the same wine from another country, how about trying a grape you’ve only heard of or, better yet, one you’ve never heard of at all?
Let’s start with some red wines for your consideration. If quizzed on the mostly widely planted grape in the world many would probably guess it’s Cabernet Sauvignon. But it’s widely believed that Grenache is the most planted varietal of wine grapes. The heart of Grenache (or Garnacha in Spain) is the Spanish countryside and lower France, though it is grown around the world.
Grenache is often used in blends and is the key grape in many of the fabulous Southern France wines such as Chateauneuf-du-Pape. Those wines are usually more expensive juice, starting at around $40 a bottle and going up. But I’d suggest buying a bottle of Spanish Garnacha in order to try something different. There are many great Spanish Garnacha wines in the $12-$20 range.
Grenache will often have something of an herbal nose with raspberry and peppery notes. The wines can range from super smooth to big robust wines. It’s a very easy-to-drink wine you’ll enjoy by itself or with food.
How could you not like a wine when the grapes are known as “little sweet ones?” Dolcetto D’ Alba is an Italian grape and wine from the Piedmont region of Italy meant to be consumed when young. If you buy much red Italian wine the odds are you’re buying Sangiovese. The Dolcetto grape makes a wine which is dry with some acidity. You’ll taste the fruit and it will go down smooth. Try it with your next plate of pasta instead of Chianti.
You’ll have an easier time finding Grenache than you will the Dolcetto, but both are worthy of your palate. And both are usually quite affordable.
Other reds worth your effort which are relatively smooth, easy to drink and affordable: Malbecs and Bonarda from Argentina, Carmenere from Chile, and wonderfully affordable Tempranillo or Mencia from Spain. (I’ll be writing about these wines in future columns as well!)
Let’s switch gears for the white wine fans and offer a couple I think you’ll really enjoy.
First up is an ancient grape that dates back to Roman times. The wine is quite easy to find and even easier to enjoy. Viognier started in France but can be found extensively in the United States, Australia and other parts of the world.
One of the great things about this wine is the nose. I think one of the most under-appreciated aspect of all wines is the sensual pleasure of getting your nose into the glass and really appreciate what you’re about to drink.
Viognier will give you hints of peaches, apricots and sometimes musk. The California Viognier is usually very affordable. If you want to go to the grape’s origins pick up a Condrieu from the Northern Rhone region of France.
Some of the best white wines you will ever drink come from wineries and grapes you’ve never heard of out of Italy and Spain. One of the easiest to find is Soave, a dry white wine from Italy’s Veneto region. Soave wines will sometimes include more than one but always includes the Garganega grape.
The wine will be crisp and at least slightly acidic but pair it with seafood and you have a great wine-food experience. The wine will have a bright and fruity nose and perhaps a touch of mineral to the taste.
Other whites to consider include: Gewürztraminer, an aromatic and spicy wine that is awesome on a summer evening. Gewurtz’s hybrid brother Traminette is grown and made into great wine by many Indiana wineries, great Pinot Gris from Oregon, and a great French or American Chenin Blanc are all good choices.
Howard’s Picks:
2006 Vega del Castillo Garnacha – A nice representation of the wine, a bit acidic but pairs well with food. Give it an hour open before pouring. Under $15.
2004 Tamellini Soave – A beautiful wine that would pair nicely with white fish. It has a bit of apricot on the palate and a surprisingly smooth finish. I paid $13 for this Italian beauty.
A reminder that any wine I recommend in these columns was purchased in an Indiana wine shop. To read more about the wines and what I’m drinking, go to my wine blog at www.redforme.blogspot.com
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