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Ahhhh, spring. Whether it's the cherry blosssoms in DC, the mustard blooming up in Napa Valley, or my neighbor's peach trees here in the Santa Monica Mountains, spring is in the air. That also means that Easter has sneaked up on me yet again --seems awfully early this year. If you haven't hard-boiled two dozen eggs, purchased stale marshmallow chicks, or even thought about Sunday's menu yet, don't worry. At least you can pop out to buy some springy wines to welcome the season. Below are my top five springtime wines, with some suggested Easter menu items for pairing, too.
TOP FIVE SPRINGTIME WINES
1) Vinho Verde: Light-weight and cheap, vinho verde is a white wine from Portugal that is easy-drinking. Traditionally, vinho verde is made from alvarinho (same grape as "albariño" from Spain), trajadura and loureiro. These grapes make a straw-colored white wine that is sometimes faintly effervescent. Vinho Verde is lower in alcohol with crisp, green notes of celery and lime. Try it with seafood or pasta salads with green vegetables -- also great as an inexpensive aperitif wine.
2) Sancerre: Mmmm, this is my husband's favorite white wine. Always 100% sauvignon blanc, white wines from the village of Sancerre in France's Loire Valley are marked by green melon, ripe citrus, pencil lead and stony mineral notes. The author Hemingway used to down a bottle of Sancerre in one sitting; it's that delicious. Try it with quiche or other rich cheese and egg dishes; the acidity of Sancerre cuts through the creaminess well.
3) Vermentino: I love this grape. Grown in Italy in places like Sardinia and the Ligurian coast, vermentino (aka "rolle" in France) is one of my favorite lesser-known white wines. To taste, it has aromas of almond and lemon curd and is medium-weight in body. Pair it with more substantial Easter fare such as an herb-roasted chicken or sautéed white fishes like halibut with herbed broth.
4) Cru Beaujolais: Fuller and deeper than the nouveaux wines from Beaujolais, France that arrive in the US each November. Ten tiny villages in this region get to make "cru" wines from the red gamay grape. Look for Chiroubles, Fleurie, and Morgon village wines; they offer lots of easy-drinking raspberry flavors in a lightweight wine that is best served slightly chilled. Pair these wines with Easter hams that are served with any kind of fruit marinade or relish.
5) Barbera: Another grape from our Italian friends that deserves more play in the US ... barbera grapes make red wine that is higher in acid and lower in tannin than many other heavy reds, so it's very versatile and food-friendly. The best barberas offer rich red cherry fruit with notes of dust and green herbs. Try barbera with your Easter lamb chops. Lamb can be gamy while still a tender type of meat, so pairing it with a fruit-forward red that won't overwhelm makes sense.
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