How nice it is to finally, confidently, write about summery weather arriving in Vancouver. As barbecues get fired up and the mercury rises, lets face it many of us will find ourselves drinking during the day a little more often.
Now, we want to enjoy these longer days and warmer nights too, so in an effort to keep buoyant, bright and not wanting to turn in by nine oclock, a little strategy should come into play. Drinking plenty of water goes without saying, but when you grab a bottle of wine, take note of the alcohol content on the label. Those 16% Zinfandels, while delicious with whatevers on the grill, will slow you down real quick.
This week, a few suggestions of fresh, lively bottles thatll complement your summer without knockin you out.
| California | $14-ish | Private Wine Stores
If this aint a delicious bottle of summer cheer, then nothing is. Weighing in at a mere 10.6% alcohol, this is an off-dry style loaded with juicy peaches, apricots, honey and a slight spritz to it as well. Chill this one down as much as you can and pour liberally with anything that has some spice to it.
| Mosel, Germany | $18.99 | BC Liquor Stores
Rieslings always gonna be a safe bet when you want a little less booze in your bottle, and Dr. Loosen is certainly one of those textbook classics thats widely available and remarkably consistent from vintage to vintage. Thirst-quenching lemonade notes with a little marmalade in there as well, this little fellas only 8.5% so the only thing youll want to pair with it is a second glass.
| Ponte de Lima, Portugal | $16.99 | BC Liquor Stores
Oh my GOD, you guys, this is the wine that made me want to write about this weeks theme! Last week Id saddled up to the bar at Boneta in Gastown, and as Ive told you before, its always best to let co-owner Neil Ingram choose your wine for you when youre visiting his digs. With the sun glinting through the Blood Alley windows, this 11.5% stunner from Portugals coast hit the spot with its high concentration of key lime, Granny Smith apple and maybe a touch of green olive. Salmon, halibut, scallops and anything else that swims is perfectly suitable. Neils pouring it by the glass for a couple more weeks, do pop in!
Saint Desirat 2009 Ardèche Syrah | Rhône Valley, France | $14.99 | BC Liquor Stores
Theyre fewer and farther between, but finding reds below the 13% mark is totally doable. This French Syrah is a peppery blackberry-laden refresher that tips the scales at a totally reasonable 12.5% and still manages a good dose of complexity and minerality from the vineyards granitic soil. If youre feeling carnivorous, this should handle any grilled meats quite well.
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Editors Tasting Note: iMining.com is hosting a wine tasting benefiting Covenant House Â鶹´«Ã½Ó³»on June 4 from 4 to 7 pm at Mahony and Sons new location at the Â鶹´«Ã½Ó³»Convention Centre. For ticket information email [email protected]; for details on Covenant House go to CovenantHouseBC. com.
