6 WINES TO TAKE YOU AROUND THE WORLD THIS WEEK!
My itch to travel is becoming real, my friends. Like so many others, I haven’t been on a plane or outside of my own country in well over a year now and it feels downright odd. Many of us have become serious global citizens in the past two decades and now, we are so totally unable to do that which we did so freely before and the pain is real.
Since there doesn’t seem to be an immediate end in sight (at least to me), we’ve got to get creative and do some armchair travel, finding ways to transport our minds and spirits elsewhere even if our bodies can’t go anywhere. It is with this in mind that I’ve curated this weeks’s selection of recommended wines. My goal this week is to recommend interesting and well priced wines and also help you travel elsewhere through a wine glass and the story behind what’s in it.
As always, my list is based on what is available in my market and is tied to the LCBO’s most recent Vintages release (February 20, 2021 release date). Having said that, most if not all of the wines that I have selected should be available in major markets and online, across the globe. I say this all the time but it’s worth repeating - I don’t get paid to recommend any of these wines. I only do so only because I personally find them compelling so you can count on the fact that I truly think they are worth your time. Now let’s get to it!
If you’re a reader that is located in Ontario like myself and you go to the LCBO for your liquor needs, it’s worth noting that this most recent LCBO’s Vintages release includes 81 new wines, with a focus on France and Pinot Noir. While I’ve only picked out a handful of wines that I think are worth your time, there are lots of really great options available. If you want to see them, here’s where you can peruse the complete Feb 20th LCBO Vintages release.
In keeping with this week’s theme, below, I’ve made an effort to highlight where each wine is from and tell you just a tiny little bit about that place. When you drink these wines, and even as you read this post, close your eyes and imagine yourself in places described, or plan for when you will eventually be there and start manifesting that reality now - it’s sure to do you a world of good and lift your mood! XOXO
NOTE - If you’re shopping at the LCBO, remember that product availability will vary from location to location, and not all products last very long. Click the links below to check availability at your preferred store, or online.
All images below are taken from the LCBO website.
MY TOP PICKS TO TRANSPORT YOU AROUND THE WORLD!
2017 Sidewood Shiraz $19.95 LCBO Product #446146
This award winning and highly acclaimed Shiraz comes from the Adelaide Hills wine region in South Australia. It is straddled by the Barossa Valley to the north and McLaren Vale to the south. Located about an hour away from the city of Adelaide and easily accessible by a major highway, this area is renowned for its charming scenic drives, valleys, small townships and roadside stalls, great weather and of course, its wineries. One can easily spend a day or two traversing the Adelaide Hills and not regret it!
Expect this wine to be elegant and restrained and not a heavy intense alcohol bomb because it comes from a cool climate. Notwithstanding, this wine will still be full bodied and rich, with ample black fruit and mocha notes, making it the perfect accompaniment for braised, grilled or smoked meat. It would also be beautiful with grilled eggplant or black bean patties.
97 points - James Halliday
Vineyards in South Australia. Image by Michael Baragwanath from Pixabay.
2018 Pierre Sparr Grande Reserve Gewurtztraminer $19.95 Product #747600
No doubt many of us are dreaming of going to France - and probably more specifically going to Paris - someday soon. But if you’re dreaming of France, why not add Alsace to the list? Alsace is a region in northeast France, right where it meets Germany and Switzerland, and is nestled between the Rhine rivers and Vosges mountains. There is a heavy germanic influence here and a visit would include seeing beautiful brightly painted, half timber houses with steep roofs and balconies and a beautiful castle nestled in the mountains! Mon dieux!
Made by a large and famed producer in the Alsace region, this Gerwurtztraminer is a semi-sweet wine that is fragrant and juicy. With rose, citrus and tropical fruit notes, it is the absolute perfect pairing for the spicy asian dishes and curries that so many of us look to enjoy in the winter months.
The historic centre of a town in Alsace. Image by Macyvi from Pixabay.
2015 Confidences De Prieure-Lichine $58.95 Product #18139
Since we’re already in France, why not add Bordeaux to the list of places that we want to sit around and dream about right about now? Famed pretty much unilaterally for its rich, dark, brooding age-worthy wines, the Bordeaux wine region is not a particularly beautiful part of the world in my humble view (though the historic centre of the city of Bordeaux is quite charming!) but it is certainly home to some of the most spectacular and well-photographed chateaux on the the globe. Driving through the various appellations of Bordeaux is truly a mecca for most wine enthusiasts!
I’m loving this wine from the left bank of Bordeaux for two reasons. First, it is from a fantastic vintage (2015) and second, it is the second wine of a fourth-growth producer and is about half the price of their flagship wine. This will be dry, firm and brooding. You can drink it now, or age it for a few years to come
91 points - vinous.com
The city of Bordeaux, at night. Image by Geralbe from Pixabay.
2016 Travaglini Gattinara $32.95 Product #713354
I think it would be fair to say that another place that a lot of people, especially lovers of wine, are dreaming of travelling too is Italy. The land of delicious food, incredible art, unbelievable fashion and a rustic hometown sensibility is also one of the best places for seemingly unending varieties of high quality wine. Piedmont, where this wine is from, is a picturesque landscape composed of mountains, glaciers and rolling foothills. A visit here would include seeing beautiful lakes, grand castles and churches and possibly even some alpine skiing at world-class ski resorts.
Gattinara is one of the sub-regions within Piedmont, right up in the northern part. Gattinara wines are primarily made from Nebbiolo grapes and are often referred to as “mini Barolos”. Travaglini is a top notch producer and whenever I see their wine, I grab it because it is really, really good. Expect this wine to be medium bodied and fruity, with nice floral and red and black fruit characteristics that pair really well with meat dishes, pizza and pasta.
93 points - robertparker.com
Vineyards in Piedmont. Image by Beat Roth from Pixabay.
2016 Casa De Cambres Reserva $14.95 Product #470377
Portugal is a beautiful country. Its thriving historic cities, beautiful beaches as far as the eye can see and friendly people make it a must-visit destination. Add to that the incredible wine that is produced in the country, and you’ve got pure magic on your hands. It might be a little known fact that Portugal actually has eleven different wine regions and ranks 10th in world wine production. The Douro River Valley is one of Portugal’s prime wine regions. Granted UNESCO World Heritage Site status, this area is awash with steep, terraced hillsides covered in vineyards at precariously high heights!
One of the wine world’s best kept secrets is that wines from Portugal represent tremendous value - just look at this one, it’s only $15 and was ranked #20 in Wine Enthusiast’s Top 100 Best Buys of 2020. Perfect for food, this wine will be fruity and medium-bodied and dry, with ample red and black fruit and structured tannins.
90 points - Wine Enthusiast
The beautiful vineyard terraces of Douro, Portugal. Image by RAM21 from Pixabay.
2017 Valduero Finca Azaya $31.95 Product #18676
And with this last wine, we go to the unforgettable land of Spain. But not the Spain that most people immediately think of, but rather the Castilla y Leon region in the northwest part of the country. Here, you are high up and the land is ringed by high mountain peaks and dotted with medieval castles, Renaissance-era churches and ancient fortress walls and turrets. The average altitude here is about 3000 feet above sea levels and there are vast and open plains as far as the eye can see! I’ve driven through this region and can attest to its vastness.
This wine, made from 100% tempranillo, is exciting because it is not from the Rioja wine region (which means it is off the beaten track, so to speak) and it has received rave reviews from Decanter magazine. So much so that received high accolades at the 2019 Decanter World Wine Awards. These factors combine to make it a winner in my books!
Pair this wine with grilled chorizo sausage, a platter with nuts, olives and manchego cheese or meat lovers pizza!
97 points - Decanter
Cathedral in Castille y Leon.
And there you have it - my top wine picks for this week. I hope enjoying these wines helps you drift off somewhere and feel better! Be sure to let me know what you think if you buy any of these wines - I always love to hear from my wine-loving tribe! :)
Cheers!
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