Wine can be a great ice breaker and something to be enjoyed with friends whether it is with a meal or sitting around an evening backyard fire. While it is nice to try the iconic and classic wines of the world, they often come with a hefty price. So for everyday sippers, I have to find decent wines that are affordable and the four here fit that bill.
Wine grapes are best grown between 30 and 50 degrees latitude either in the northern or southern hemispheres. Most of Argentina lies within those latitudes and San Juan is one of the more northerly provinces between those boundaries. That is where you'll find the Graffigna winery. Don Juan Graffigna immigrated to Argentina from Italy in 1865 and five years later brought over his nephew, Santiago Graffigna. Both emigrated to Argentina with a winemaking background and thanks to that we're still enjoying the fruits of their labour today.
From the oldest operating winery in Argentina, we have the Graffigna Centenario 2009 Pinot Grigio Reserve (915918). Pinot Grigio is an Italian grape. Traditionally, Pinot Grigio creates a light, dry, crisper wine and this one is a bit different. Here we have a fuller-bodied wine with ripe tree fruit aromas and flavour. In this Argentine wine, I found tree fruit aromas such as apricot and pear with some peach and citrus aromas. On the palate, you will notice some softness with ripe fruit flavours offering just enough acidity to make your mouth water. At $13.99, this is a great wine to serve with spicy prawns, Asian or fowl.
A second Argentine wine, this time a red, comes from the largest wine-producing province, Mendoza. From the Misterio line of single varietal wines of Finca Flichman we have the 2008 Cabernet Sauvignon (108738). This red wine from the foot of the Andes has been fermented in stainless steel and then oak-aged for a short period before bottling. The colour is dark purple with aromas of blackcurrant, blackberry and black plum with hints of vanilla and pepper. This Cabernet has a soft mouth feel with a black fruit palate and easy tannin and acidity. An easy sipping wine that doesn't require food, this wine will also stand up to stronger cheese and red meat dishes. This bottle is only $12.99 a bottle, so it is affordable to serve at your next barbeque.
Another Cabernet Sauvignon but this time from Washington State - Columbia Crest Two Vine 2008 Cabernet Sauvignon (332320). As the name suggests, this wine comes from the Columbia River Valley. This valley is on the same latitude as those of Burgundy, Loire and much of the Bordeaux region of France allowing them to make somewhat comparable wines to those French classics. This full-bodied red wine has nice berry fruit aromas of blueberry and blackberry along with touches of vanilla and cocoa. The tannins are barely noticeable and the finish is fruity and smooth. This wine is another easy sipping wine that I enjoyed without food. It also makes a well-priced bottle that will pleasantly accompany that grilled steak or roasted chicken for $12.99.
Yet another red wine is the J.J. McWilliams 2008 Shiraz Cabernet (300251)from South Eastern Australia. South Eastern tells us that the grapes used in this wine come from any or all of the three Australian states in this region. Because these grapes are from undefined areas, the winery can produce good wine at very reasonable prices. This simple, full-body wine delivers good fruit flavours and a decent finish for only $9.99. On the nose, you find what you would expect from a blend of Shiraz and Cabernet -- aromas of plum and blackberry with hints of peppery spice. This summer, if you need a wine to serve to a large gathering at a barbeque or a wine and cheese, give this a try.
