Happy New Year! Phew, this Christmas was a blur. Now that all of the excitement has settled down, you have some time to enjoy a great bottle of wine. Thankfully, you will no longer have to ponder what wine to serve with Christmas dinner? That said, you may have found some great wines this holiday. I know I did. A few of my favourite whites and reds from 2012 are included below. This week there is a white, hot climate Viognier; a fabulous white Alsatian blend and a new rich, fruity sweeter-style red Shiraz. Each of these wines can be enjoyed solo or with friends and family.
SULA VINEYARDS
DINDORI RESERVE
VIOGNIER 2012(487561)
INDIA
$14.99
This year has been exciting, with all the new and different wines that Al and I have been able to share with our customers. With that being said this white is a first for many reasons. This is our first vintage of a wine from India and the only one in B.C., they are the first winery at Nasik, and they are the first vineyard resort in India.
Sula Vineyards CEO and founder Rajeev Samant spent many years researching and following in the shadows of some of the great wine makers. He was preparing himself to one day own and operate his own winery. Since 2000, Samant has successfully been producing wine.
We don't usually associate India with wine. Now we know we should. When you think about it, India has the perfect climate for grape growing very hot, similar to say Australia, California or even Spain and Argentina. Sula Vineyards is located approximately 180 km northeast of Mumbai on an estate in Dindori a famous grape growing region known for its rich red soils,. Sula Vineyards is proud to use sustainable agriculture methods. The logo on the bottle is meant to signify the "warmer region" it was produced in. The wine really reflects its climate in its tropical aromas. On your palate, it has a crisp acidity that doesn't over power. The aromas and flavours of apricots don't stop while the hints of minerals rush to the finish. If you plan to have seafood for Christmas dinner then you would need to try this white. You could have this with traditional turkey dinner also, it is very versatile. I would recommend trying this Viognier on its own to appreciate all its exotic aromas and flavours.
HUGEL & FILS
2010 GENTIL HUGEL (367284)
FRANCE
$19.99
After much deliberation and trying to choose yet another white to share, I kept being drawn back to the Alsatian wine section. Just a few weeks ago I shared a Muscat with all of you. Now I have Gentil HUGEL which is a blend of Gewrztraminer, Pinot Gris, Riesling, Muscat, Sylvaner and Pinot Blanc.
Gentil HUGEL comes from ancient times and long standing wine making traditions that when any noble blends were produced that name went on the label. The Alsace region really is indisputably the most beautiful wine growing region in France. Maybe that's why the old city of Riquewihr were the winery is located, gets more than two million visitors a year to its city and surrounding area. It is known to be the driest wine region of France. That is exactly the recipe to an extraordinary wine since the grapes can slowly ripen and reach full maturity to produce a wine you will try and try again.
The Hugel family has produced wine in the Alsace region since 1639. The Gentil HUGEL blend will not disappoint you and you get more than what you pay for. The quality and finesse that these wines have and are so famous for can flow freely in your glass. This Alsatian white blend is perfect for Christmas dinner without breaking the bank, and knowing this Alsatian wine is a sought after top of the class wine. Once you take out the cork a great floral aromas thrives in the air and once poured in your glass. Your mouth will be delighted once that first sip passes your palate. Ripe apples are the first you taste while the dried apricots take over, and then you get the spicy, mineral dryer flavours. The dryness of this white is just right and will not overpower your meal. I don't know why you could pass this one up. An incredible wine for an affordable price.
JAM JAR
2011 SHIRAZ (392845)
SOUTH AFRICA
$14.99
South Africa's Paarl region is where this fabulous sweet red is produced. Paarl translated in Dutch means "pearl." Jam Jar is one of a group of high quality, South African boutique wines marketed in North American as "Cape Classics." Cape Classics represents 20 of South Africa's finest estates and labels like Thelema, Foundry and Excelsior. Without them some or many of these fine wines probably wouldn't reach our markets.
What may surprise you about this red wine is that it is sweet. With the ever changing wine markets, and the HUGE popularity of wines made from the sweet, grape varietal Moscato. Many wineries like Jam Jar are producing sweeter reds. More often than before more of my customers are looking to find a sweeter red. Now, they need to look no further. Making a sweet Shiraz also makes a lot of business sense. Shiraz is the #1 varietal of choice with consumers buying red wines from South Africa. Once you twist the cap and open the bottle to smell what Jam Jar has to offer, you will not wait long for that first sip. Jam Jar bursts with ripe dark fruits and a hint of mocha chocolate. The rich, dark red colour in your glass opens up with a burst of juicy rich fruity flavours on your palate, there is a definite spice followed by a rush of dark chocolate. Oh so good. Best served chilled and watch them ask for more! The label reads "sweet perfection," and I would have to agree. This wine really could be considered to be full bodied and wow just thinking about the versatility of this wine excites me. You can enjoy this red on its own or as a scrumptious addition to dessert, strong cheeses or even chocolate cake. Trust me on this one don't pass it up.
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.
