Best Varietals for Seasonal Pairings
By Hillary Latos
Whether you are entertaining or enjoying a quiet night at home, here are some of our top picks for wine pairings from around the world that can be enjoyed any season.
The house of Mirabeau was founded in 2019 by a couple from London, Stephen and Jeany, who decided to leave the bustle of the city and create a winery in the historic village of La Garde-Freinet located between Provence and the Gulf of St Tropez. Seduced by the idyllic countryside and glamour of the French Riviera, this was paradise on earth. They set out to create a collection of world class rose wines comprised of grenache, cinsault, and rolle grown on their 20 hectare estate, and also employ regenerative farming to cultivate the land. The result is a range of refreshing dry pink wines that partner well with a vast array of foods. The gastronomic Etoile Provence Rose is the star of their collection with a 94 point award from Wine & Spirits Magazine, which embodies a perfect balance of minerality and acidity with citrus top notes.
Roses are synonymous with summer but truthfully they can be enjoyed year round. Housed in a beautiful bottle with a rose shaped bottom, Gerard Bertrand’s Cote des Roses celebrates the Art of Mediterranean Living. Harvested from the Languedoc region of France, their signature Cote des Roses series includes a crisp Chardonnay with subtle hints of minerality, light Sauvignon Blanc, a dry rose which they are best known for, and also a medium bodied 2018 Pinot Noir. Crafted in the South of France, the warm and windy climate is ideal for ripening the grapes at the right time with high temperatures cooled by warm breezes coupled with an arid limestone soil protected with gravel brought by the rivers and streams of the Languedoc
Altaneve presents a beautifully refined premium dry prosecco from the Valdobbiadene region that is perfect for an aperitivo or celebratory occasion. Awarded the highest D.O.C.G. certification, this small production wine is composed of 100% Glera grapes from a small town in the foothills of the Italian Dolomite Mountains. The flavor profile is delicately balanced with elegant floral and fruity notes and a balanced acidity.
The Altaneve sparkling rose is an exclusive blend of 70% pinot noir grapes from the Oltrepo Pavese region in the hills of northwestern Italy and 30% glera grapes from the Valdobbiadene region in Northeastern Italy. The unique blend combines the minerality of the pinot noir grape with the more delicated and softer flavors of the glera grape to create a dry and elegant sparkling rose wine.
California Whites
Harvested from Sonoma in the Russian River Valley is Ferrari Carrano’s Pinot Grigio which has delicate flavors of lemon, lychee, orange blossom, kiwi, nectarine, white peaches, green apple, and mango balanced with a touch of minerality. 2019 was one of the best years to create this satisfying Pinot Grigio that pairs with many different types of cuisines but ideal with seafood or the spicy flavors of Asian dishes.
Chalk Hill presents a full bodied Chardonnay from the Sonoma Coast with hints of baking spices and warm apple pie on the nose. These grand notes are combined with extended notes of hazelnut, vanilla custard and crème brulee through their fermentation in French, American, and Hungarian Oak barrels. This bold and complex Chardonnay pairs wonderfully with wild game, poultry, and meaty seafood.
California Reds
Roth Estates has created a luxury Bordeaux varietal with their rich and full bodied 2018 Cabernet Sauvignon. The tasting profile has subtle hints of black cherry, plum, mocha, intense dark fruit, cassis and cocoa powder. This elegant and powerful Cabernet embodies the structural complexities and nuances that has earned Sonoma reds their international acclaim.
Banshee brings a refined and approachable Pinot Noir that can be enjoyed now with meal pairings. It is bursting with flavor of juicy berries with an earthy undertone. The flavors are sweet and tart with a slightly herbaceous nose.
One of the best investment wines to savor and store for years to come is Sebastiani’s 2017 Cherryblock Cabernet Sauvignon. A true masterpiece to enjoy now, it would prove to come into its own if left to age for 10+ years. Cherryblock is considered to be the flagship wine for Sebastiani, the 2017 harvest is a wine of great complexity, sophistication and intricacy. The palate is comprised of rich black fruit combined with layers of cedar and tobacco framed with lingering notes of herbs and spice.
