South Africa, BC and Chile are where you would find these fine wines I am sharing today. Not only are they all affordable, they are all very approachable and summer-worthy. Whether you're enjoying dinner at the lake or adventures with family and friends, it's always nice to have a great bottle of wine to finish the day off. Once poured in your glass, enjoy all the aromas with your nose, as it detects thousands of smells compared to what your tongue can taste. We usually get sweetness on the tip, while at the back we get bitter and on the side of your tongue and cheeks we feel tannins, which is kind of like biting into a grape seed. Even if you don't smell or taste the aromas that are recommended, that's okay too. The main thing is to enjoy what you drink.
JAM JAR
MOSCATO 2011 (75630)
SOUTH AFRICA
$13.99
Some of you who follow this By The Glass column might already be familiar with the Jam Jar Shiraz I featured a while back. Just in time for summer is the Jam Jar Moscato. This company believed there was a need for consumers to enjoy a nice sweet wine and I agree. With the trend of more requests for sweet wine, many more are being produced and available. This Moscato is very inviting once it is chilled and ready to serve. Talk about fruit in a cup - voil! After the first sip, the fruit rushes your taste buds with ripe peaches, apricots and a hint of sweet lychee. Try it in a white sangria by using one bottle of Jam Jar Moscato, one cup of club soda, one cup of white rum, sliced peaches, pineapples and strawberries. Mix together, refrigerate 24 hours and enjoy. $13.99
JACKSON-TRIGGS
RIESLING GEWRZTRAMINER 2013 (834267)
BC VQA
$13.99
I don't think I could ever brag enough about BC VQA wines. I believe everyone that enjoys wine should experience a bottle at least once. The winemaker responsible for producing this mouth-watering white is Derek Kontkanen, who produces all the whites for Jackson Triggs in the Okanagan. This white is very crisp, fruity and refreshing for sure. You will get sweet aromas of ripe orchard peaches and apricots followed by a slight citrus flavour into a honeycomb finish. I only tried this white on its own and enjoyed it to the fullest. It is off-dry but not as sweet as the first white. $13.99
CASILLERO DEL DIABLO
DEVIL'S COLLECTION RED BLEND 2012 (362913)
CHILE
$16.99
Who would have thought a legend would live on and make this winery the most visited attraction in Chile? Legend has it that when visiting his cellar, Don Melchor Concha y Toro realized many of his prized wines had been stolen. Thinking of a way to keep this from happening again Don decided to tell everyone that there was a devil in his cellar, keeping watch over his wines. Thereafter he had no more problems and the tale lives on in Chile.
The grapes for this robust full-bodied red are grown in the Rapel Valley located in the Central Valley. Winemaker Marcelo Papa's passion for producing an affordable wine with complexity and body won't disappoint. Devil's Collection red is a blend of Syrah (gives this red the balance), Cabernet Sauvignon (gives it boldness and tannins) and Carmnre (gives you that smooth mouth feel finish) and the fruit flavours really come through. You can easily enjoy this red with a grilled steak. $16.99
