For the past couple of weeks, I have been writing about how consumers who want to learn more about wine can do so by reading wine books, attending tastings and starting their own wine groups. But when it comes right down to it, the best thing to do is to simply taste more wine. The trick, however, is finding wines that will expand your horizons without shrinking your bank account. When I was starting my own wine education, I cut my teeth on red Bordeaux wines because that was what my wine group could afford. But increasing demand in Asia combined with the climbing value of the euro has sent prices for grand cru wines through the roof. The idea of spending north of a $100 for a learning experience is a bit outlandish. The good news is that with advances in winemaking techniques and choices from more countries, there are some very good wines that offer a lot of “palate education” for the money.
I have compiled a list of several wines that any wine novice or accomplished enthusiast can try for around $12 a bottle. Retail prices are approximate.
One of the best ways to really get a feel for a particular varietal is to try it “naked,” meaning without any oak treatment during the winemaking or aging process. The wines made by Ryan Flock for Simply Naked allow the expression of each type of grape to shine on its own. Flock makes a pinot grigio, chardonnay, merlot and cabernet sauvignon that are clean, fresh and straightforward, using premium fruit that has been sourced from some of the best regions in California.
The Familia Zuccardi line of wines hails from the Mendoza region of Argentina. They recently introduced a line of wines named Santa Julia [+] ($10) that include torrontes, pinot grigio, viognier, malbec, and cabernet sauvignon. They use the [+] to symbolize that the grapes are sustainably farmed on their own estate. The 2010 torrontes and the 2010 malbec offer an interesting dichotomy from white to red. The torrontes offers up notes of white peaches, orange rind, pear and citrus flavors that are delicate, while the malbec is full-bodied, featuring ripe plums, blackberries and mocha flavors and a long, expressive finish. Both are good examples of their varietal’s characteristics.
Originally started in 1998, Echelon Vineyards was created to showcase fruit from the Central Coast region of California. Today, Echelon has expanded its roots beyond the Central Coast to showcase the characteristics unique to several of California’s diverse appellations by introducing its “California Series” of wines. Echelon sources fruit for its new brand from a mixture of winegrowing regions. Winemaker Kurt Lorenzi combines the best of these regions to layer flavors and complexity. For example, grapes from the cool, coastal valleys are used in the chardonnay and pinot grigio ($10) wines and have great concentration and structure, while grapes for the cabernet sauvignon and Red Blend ($12) come from the warmer, interior valleys and add richness and suppleness.
One of the old wine tasting rules of thumb assumes Italian wines must be paired with food. Castello di Gabbiano has two wines that will let you be the judge of that. The 2010 Gabbiano Chianti DOCG ($10) is a new-world Tuscan red that is aged in stainless steel tanks. It offers up pretty floral aromas and complementary flavors of red cherry and dark strawberry. While the bright acidity would love to play with a tomato-based pasta dish, the sweet tannins are content to remain a solo act.
