We finally have spring here in NYC, what about you? Although we can’t enjoy spring to it’s fullest just yet, I’m grateful at least we do have one. For those of you staying safe in your homes and only venturing out for necessary items, I wanted to give you a few more to add to your list! Since wine and liquor stores are essential in today’s current climate, here are some must need wines for you to sip this spring while staying in. Normally I choose a wine from every category, however, with this list I chose to keep all the selections dry and fruity!

 

Whites

2019 Pedroncelli Sauvignon Blanc: I had the pleasure of meeting Julie and her husband Ed at their winery a few years ago. Since then, I have loved Pedroncelli wines, so much so we even hosted an event in NYC together. The SB is absolutely delicious, citrus-forward, and full of nice ripe fruit. Sauvignon Blanc from Dry Creek is always quite fruity, but what I love about this one is the tropical fruit notes that linger into the finish; absolutely beautiful.

2019 Monopole Rioja: Five generations of winemakers, from the founders of CVNE. This wine is made from handpicked viura grapes, which makes it quite elegant and refreshing. Viura is one of the most common white varietals, and it’s the perfect grape to be on its own as well as in blends.

2018 The Paring Sauvignon Blanc:  1100 cases produced! This California Sauvignon Blanc sees a little bit of French and American oak, as well as stainless steel to maintain it’s fruitiness and freshness while still having a nice texture from the oak. Classic lemon on the nose with peaches and some sweetness. On the palate, it’s crisp with notes of pear and white flowers with nice herbal complexity.

2017 The Prisoner Wine Company Blindfold:  This wine will catch your eye with the label since the labels are always very striking with this winery. The Prisoner Wine Company blends interesting and aromatic white varietals together to create bold and intriguing wines. Blindfold, is a very intriguing wine!  It’s clean and refreshing with juicy citrus flavors, supported by vibrant, rich butterscotch notes. Overall this is a wonderful wine to pair with risotto, cream sauces, and grilled vegetables! 

Rosés

2019 Château Peyrassol: the prize of the Commanderie de Peyrassol, which is a harmonious blend of fruit from some of the oldest vines on the estate. Made from mostly Cinsault and Grenache, it is a very pale pink wine with delicate notes of citrus and white blossoms. Tibouren is also combined in the wine during this vintage. This adds a touch of earthiness and sweetness, that is only truly found in the Provençal rosés. The finish is fresh, drawing everything together with the salinity of the Mediterranean! 

2019 Pedroncelli Dry Creek Valley Rosé: A rosé of Zinfandel, one of the big grapes in California! This is a hearty rosé with nice big fruit notes of blackberry, strawberry, and ripe red fruits. On the palate some nice spice, along with excellent freshness and acidity! This is certainly a food rosé and should be enjoyed with a nice spring picnic, or grilled meats!

2019 Bonterra Rosé: Organic and grenache based, this beautiful wine is always one that’s on my list! I have loved the wines from Bonterra ever since I was introduced to them a few years ago. This is a delicate and dry rose with pomegranate and red berry notes with a nice freshness! It has a nice lingering finish, that instantly transports you to California wine country.

2018 Valtènesi Chiaretto: From the Lake Garda area of Italy, comes a stunning style of rosé that I am sure you have heard of. Chiaretto is a light style of rosé made from red grapes and produced in a white winemaking method. This Chiaretto is made from Corvina grapes and is delicious and refreshing with crisp citrus notes, minerality, and nice ripe red fruit. Chiaretto is one of my favorite wines to sip in spring and summer, and I had the pleasure of visiting the region in December 2019. I fell in love with this one then, and recommend it for your warm-weather sipping!

Reds 

2017 The Paring Syrah: From the Santa Ynez Valley, this wine boasts notes of blackberries, violets, and fresh ground pepper. There is a nice balance between fruit and savory notes, creating nice layering to the wine. It’s a structured wine with a softness that’s attractive yet powerful. This is certainly a food wine and can be enjoyed with heartier dishes such as bacon cheeseburgers and mild Indian cuisine.

2015 Glen Manor Cabernet Franc: A bold and spicy wine meant to be paired with baby back ribs or a nice grilled steak! This wine is from Virginia, dark, deep and full of cherry, chocolate, and currant notes. on the palate nice cracked pepper followed by wood and earth leading to a long and structured finish. Overall this wine is wonderful to share with friends, while grilling outdoors (or indoors, depending on what your stay home locale is).

2017 Vale Do Bofim, Douro: A beautiful Portuguese Wine with excellent style and finesse. There’s just something I absolutely love about the wines from Portugal, whether it’s for their approachable nature or their pair-ability, I always find I really enjoy them. This one is a delicious one from the Douro that expresses bold red fruit, cocoa, and spice. It’s a bold wine with a nice smoothness and a drinkability that’s addicting, to say the least. This wine can be enjoyed with appetizers such as cheese and charcuterie, and follow through to the meal easily.

Now that you have ten new wines to try, I encourage you if you’re healthy and doing well to grab your mask and go get some! If you’re in NYC or another big city, you probably have great apps that deliver like Drizly, Minibar, and Instacart. Don’t worry you can find many of these wines on the apps as well, and have them delivered straight to your home.

Always remember, eat what you like and drink what you love. Please pair responsibly!