![]() ![]() Wine to try: Bending Branch Winery, Newsom Vineyards Tempranillo, Texas High Plains, Texas Deep red fruits and luscious spices show how winemakers in the state are excelling with this full-bodied red wine. However, Texas - one of the U.S.’s most exciting new wine regions - is becoming a source for high-quality tempranillo. While tempranillo is most closely associated with Spain, New World areas like Argentina and California also produce delicious versions. For an equally powerful red, try tempranillo - but one with a twist. Malbec’s bold, assertive flavors make it a favorite among red wine drinkers. Wine to try: The Scholium Project, 1MN Cinsault, California A large-berried, juicy varietal, cinsault was frequently used as a blending grape, but some winemakers are putting it into the spotlight as a single-varietal bottling. If you’re a fan of pinot noir’s light body, red fruit, and spice, give cinsault a try. Burgundy producers such as Domaine Romanée-Conti are considered the gold standard, but great examples of pinot noir can be found all over the West Coast, from Willamette Valley in Oregon to California’s Anderson Valley, Russian River Valley, and Central Coast, just to name a few. Wine to try: J Vineyards and Winery, Cuvée XB, Sonoma County, CaliforniaĪrguably one of the world’s most beloved grapes, pinot noir is highly revered in both Old World and New World regions. Even better, these high-quality alternatives are often priced less than Champagne, making them an affordable luxury. Who doesn’t love a good glass of bubbly? While Champagne is famous the world over, many other regions, such as Anderson Valley, Sonoma County, and Carneros in California, have also carved out a niche for quality sparkling wines, using the same method perfected in the fabled French region. Wine to try: Stags’ Leap Winery, Viognier, Napa Valley, California If you enjoy fuller-bodied whites, this is one to taste. Viognier, with its similarly rounded texture and mouthfeel, can also exhibit the same lovely floral aromas, plus hints of white peach and other orchard fruits. It’s often used as a blending grape, lending body, floral, and spice notes to a wine. In Bordeaux, sémillon is the third most planted white grape after sauvignon blanc and chardonnay. Wine to try: Granbazán, Etiqueta Verde Albariño, Rías Biaxas, Spain Albariño, from Rias Biaxas in Spain, is similar in personality, with bright fruit and zesty freshness on the palate. Like chardonnay, many drinkers have a preferred style of sauvignon blanc, but all prize sauvignon blanc’s versatile and refreshing qualities. Sauvignon blanc is often prized for its aromatics, from the tropical fruit notes of a New Zealand sauvignon blanc to the more savory, stone-y, and citrusy aromas of Sancerre. Wine to try: Rudi Pichler, Reid Hochrain Smaragd, Wachau, Austria Many top producers also make grüners that can age, which offers a different expression of the grape. The varietal, which is native to Austria, has both orchard and citrus fruit flavors with a balanced minerality. If you’re seeking something that fits that fresh, lively profile of pinot grigio, try grüner veltliner. The grape hails from Italy’s Friuli region and usually shows nice mouthwatering acidity and inviting apple and pear flavors. Like chardonnay, pinot grigio, with its easy-going nature, is often a go-to white wine for many drinkers. Wine to try: Kloof Street, Swartland Chenin Blanc, Swartland, South Africa In South Africa, chenin blanc is becoming somewhat of a signature varietal there is more chenin blanc planted there than in the rest of the world combined, and winemakers are finding ways to put their personal stamp on this adaptable white grape. The varietal is highly aromatic with good acidity, and like chardonnay, it has a lot of delicious orchard fruit flavors. Similarly, chenin blanc shows the same range of crowd-pleasing styles. Using your favorite everyday bottles as a jumping off point, here are some alternative wines to try the next time you’re ready to pop a cork.Ĭhardonnay is an incredibly versatile white wine styles run the gamut from crisp, mineral-driven Chablis to full-bodied with buttery flavors often associated with California. While we all have our tried-and-true favorites when it comes to wine, spring is a great time to discover delicious new options. This feeling of renewal and energy brings about the perfect opportunity to engage our palates in new ways. As nature starts to wake up from the slumber of winter, our senses are delighted by the rediscovered aromas of blooming flowers, fresh grass, and that indescribable zip in the air.
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