10 Wines to Celebrate Spring

By
Veronique @ Food & Wine Chickie
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Bud BreakWinter seems to be giving way to spring, finally! When buds are breaking on the trees, tulips are blooming and heavy foods give way to lighter fare, I find myself craving wines that are equally as light.

2012 Herdade do Esporao Verdelho WhiteWhether you’re making grilled fish, seared scallops or pasta with a light sauce and sautéed chicken, the following 10 springtime wines will pair beautifully with any of them.

  • 2011 Herdade do Esporao Monte Velho White – fruity, ripe citrus aromas and ripe apricot and Meyer lemon flavors. $10 (Alentejo, Portugal).
  • Pfaffl Austrian Pepper The Dot – citrusy and grassy aromas and fruity flavors. $11 (Weinviertel, Austria).
  • 2010 Brancott Sauvignon Blanc – super aromas of grapefruit and fruity, zippy flavors. $12 (Marlborough, New Zealand).
  • 2011 Steelhead Vineyards Sauvignon Blanc – tropical fruit aromas, lemony fresh flavors with great acidity. $12 (North Coast, CA, USA).
  • 2009 Trimbach Pinot Blanc – very floral aromas and flavors of peach and ripe lemons. $16 (Alsace, France).
  • 2011 Kellerei Kaltern Caldaro Pinot Bianco Weissburgunder – Asian pear aromas with apple and Meyer lemon flavors. $17 (Alto Aldige, Italy).
  • 2010 Albert Mann Crémant d’Alsace – super bubbly with pear aromas and crisp apple flavors. $20 (Alsace, France).
  • 2010 Lucien Albrecht Riesling Réserve – apple aromas with juicy pear flavors. $20 (Alsace, France).
  • 2011 Heritance Sauvignon Blanc Napa Valley – citrusy aromas with tropical fruit flavors. $24 (Napa Valley, CA, USA).
  • 2011 Zuani Vigne Collio Bianco – fruity, wet stone aromas with rich peach flavors. $24 (Fiuli, Italy).

Here are a few of our favorite New Jersey wine shops selling some of these springtime wines:

Veronique Deblois, Food & Wine Chickie: Veronique is a food and wine writer based in Morris County, NJ. As the author of the popular blog, Food & Wine Chickie Insider, Veronique shares recipes, wine and restaurant reviews and insight into the travel industry of which she’s a 15-year veteran. Follow Veronique on Twitter or like her Facebook page.