Kim Cabral
By The Glass
Wow, summer has indeed arrived and it's time to pop the cork on some summertime refreshers. Just in time for this season's enjoyment, I am featuring three new wines that I hope you will enjoy while relaxing in the sunshine.
The first one is a sparkling wine that can be opened before dinner to sip on and enjoy with hors d'oeuvres. The second is a Sauvignon Blanc to have with a great outdoor dinner, such as barbecued chicken with asparagus and garlic potatoes.
You can finish an evening off with the third wine, a medium-sweet, rich red that would pair well with chocolate-covered strawberries for dessert. Voil! Enjoy!
Emeri Pink Moscato (+588392)Austrailia.
The De Bortoli Family is still going strong in Australia after emigrating there from Italy more thanthree generations ago. The family motto has been, and still is, "always striving for better." They brought strong Italian traditions of winemaking to Australia and have continued to produce in this way throughout the years.
The Emeri Pink Moscato is a sparkling wine made from the Moscato grape varietal, which is known as the "grapiest" of grape varietals out there, and slightly sweeter. Its pretty bottle brings summertime fun, packed with aromas and flavoursof strawberries, peaches and a hint of rose petals.
The creamy texture on your palate, with loads of bubbles, would make this wine an excellent apritif, or perfect for any seafood pairing. $16.99
Open 2009 Sauvignon Blanc (+380386) B.C. VQA.
This wine's slogan is "celebrate, connect, and discover something about wine, about ourselves and about others," in the same way a wine would reveal its characteristics. Some of you may have been lucky enough to try this new wine last weekend at our in-store tasting. The grapes used for this wine are sourced from the sunny Okanagan Valley. We really have to be proud of the hard work being done to produce many amazing wines in the Okanagan.
This bottle won't disappoint. Open Sauvignon Blanc is very crisp and refreshing, with aromas of grapefruit and lemon, followed by flavours of ripe pineapples and melons. It's the perfect addition to any patio party, or you can enjoy it alone on a hot summer evening. $14.99
Tibaneli 2007 Kindzmarauli (+670539) Georgia.
This red is a first for us in our store for a few reasons and we are excited about it. First, it's the only wine we have from the Kakheti Region of Georgia, which is close to Turkey.
It is also the first medium-sweet red that we have, with a rating of four in sweetness out of 10. It is made with the hardy Saperavi grape, which is native to Georgia and its most important varietal, used to make Georgian red wines, with the potential of aging up to 50 years.
Don't let the sweetness scare you. At least give it a try. Not only is Tibaneli rich in colour but it's bursting with rich, lush flavours. Aromas of ripe, dark fruits hold your attention, while flavours of ripe blackberry, ripe cherry and a touch of oak entertain your palate. The first sip will leave you wanting more. $19.99
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Kim Cabral is a product consultant at the B.C. Signature Liquor Store, Pine Centre. The bracketed numbers are the product codes for the B.C. liquor stores.
