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 choices which are usually under $20. On occasion, I pair a wine with scrumptious recipe. This weekend, you’ll feel like you found a basket full of shamrocks with two delicious choices!
Many of us will be wearing green, dyeing beards red, smoking (or perhaps holding in your mouth) a pipe, and kissing leprechauns (after a few adult beverages…). Perhaps you will be in Chicago for their annual St. Patrick’s Day parade and taking selfies on the Michigan Avenue bridge overlooking the temporarily (in most areas) green Chicago River. Others will be in pubs tippling Guinness and faking an Irish brogue or having a quiet evening at home with corned beef, Irish soda bread, and Shamrock Shakes. Wherever you are and however you choose to celebrate (or not!) eventually you are going to want a glass of wine. Really!
I am definitely thinking out of the box with this week’s wine suggestions. Both recommendations are from Spain (there really is an Irish/Spanish connection…), they are affordable, and pair beautifully with traditional Irish dishes as well as any other activities you plan.
**Terras Gauda Abadia de San Campio 2012 – I love a crisp, fruity, high acid Albarino and this white wine sent as a sample did not disappoint. From the Rias Baixas region in Galicia, Spain, the Albarino grapes, harvested by hand to minimize breakage, were from vineyards 150-450 feet above sea level with plenty of rain, average temperatures of 59 degrees Fahrenheit, and very little frost. Clear and lemon colored in the glass, aromas of apples, lemon, pineapple, and some floral notes made me want to do a bit of a jig! Fresh, ripe fruits with that high acidity, a wonderful balance of alcohol and fruit, and a crisp, lingering finish…did I find this pot o’ gold at the end of the rainbow? Choose this citrus filled Albarino to pair with some crunchy fish and chips to help celebrate St. Paddy’s Day! And enjoy the delicious $20 bottle of wine young and chilled.
**Bodegas Bilbainas Zaco 2011 – Are you feeling lucky? This 100% wine from Tempranillo grapes is from Rioja in the north east area of Spain. The winery, Bodegas Bilbainas, is the largest in Haro, capital of the Rioja Alta region, with 600 acres of vines from which to select. The 2011 Zaco sent as a sample is considered by the winery as the “ultimate modern expression of Rioja” and I loved the fresh red cherries as well as anise and a bit of spice such as vanilla. On the palate, I found more vibrant berries, soft tannins, lovely mouthfeel and a fruity, pleasant finish. If you decide to cellar this wine, more aromas and tannins will be evident, but go ahead and enjoy this wine now with Irish soda bread, Irish stew, or even a bit of corned beef and cabbage. The cost is only $15.
Enjoy your weekend!! Just remember to drink responsibly, have fun, and wear green! And if you see a leprechaun, plant a kiss on his cheek for me!
Slainté ~ Cindy
