Wine for Your Weekend from Italy and Oregon

It’s almost Friday and you are already thinking about your weekend plans and perhaps which wines to purchase.  Weekly, I post two recommendations, one white and one red, for your weekend wine choices which are usually under $20.  This weekend promises to be a bit laid back for me…nothing really special going on except perhaps lighting a warm, glowing fire in the early evening,  exploring some new recipes which hopefully my family will enjoy, reading a novel, Vintage Attraction, by Charles Blackstone, and crossing some long awaited items off of my to-do list!  I can handle all of this…with the assistance of a glass or two of wine!

The following choices may be just what you need this weekend, too!  They are affordable, delicious, and most likely will pair with…anything!

**90+ Cellars 2012 Pinot Grigio (Lot 42) – From time to time I pour wines for 90+ Cellars and I’m happy to do so.  Their concept to bring wines to your table at a reasonable price without compromising quality is a paradigm which is rightfully successful.  (Follow the link for more information.)  I love their most recent Pinot Grigio, the Lot 42 from Trentino, Italy.  The aromas of bright citrus led to tastes of more lively fruit such as pear and apple as well as floral notes.  Its snappy acidity and minerality will pair beautifully with our bruschetta and a pasta dish…two of my new recipes planned for the weekend!  From grapes harvested from hilltops on the base of the Dolomite Mountains, this Italian keeper can be yours for only $12.!

**2008 Van Duzer Cuvee Pinot Noir – Displaying a beautiful purple color in the glass, this wine had enticing aromas of vanilla, cherries, and a touch of earth.  On the palate, I loved the freshness of the fruits including blackberries and raspberries along with exotic spices of cinnamon and cloves. The medium tannins were well integrated and the wine finished with more spice…ginger?  Ahhh, quite rich and satisfying.  The Cuvee Pinot Noir is a blend of seven Pinot Noir grape clones all from the Van Duzer estate in Oregon’s Willamette Valley.  The cost for this delicious wine is $20.

Cheers to the weekend! ~ Cindy