CENTRE COUNTY — The clocks sprang ahead on Sunday, March 9, and spring is in the air. Spring cleaning is the perfect time to freshen up the refrigerator with some wine options to enjoy as the weather warms up.
MEU ALBARIÑO RIBEIRO 2023
Albariño is a white grape variety primarily grown in the Rías Baixas region of Spain and the Vinho Verde region of Portugal, where it is known as alvarinho. It produces fresh, aromatic wines with high acidity and vibrant flavors of citrus, peaches, apricot and saline minerality.
In Spain, albariño is often made as a single-varietal wine, while in Portugal, alvarinho is sometimes blended with other grapes in Vinho Verde wines.
Albariño is a great grape to transition from winter to spring because it offers both refreshing brightness and a bit of textural weight. Its bright acidity and citrus-driven profile is perfect for waking up the palate after months of heavier winter reds and oaked wines.
A bottle of the Meu Albarino Ribeiro 2023, which retails for $13 at the Fine Wine & Good Spirits at 1682 N. Atherton St., is a great example of how the grape variety balances freshness with complexity.
This particular bottle from Ribeiro — a wine region located in Galicia, Spain, known for its fresh, high-acid white wines that often showcase a balance of fruit and minerality — is full of lemon, ripe peach and salty notes.
It pairs well with grilled shrimp, citrusy salads or roasted chicken with herbs, or is great on its own while watching the sunset (now that that happens after 7 p.m.).
VIILE BUDUREASCA SRL BUDUREASCA 2022 ORANGE WINE
The Viile Budureasca SRL Budureasca 2022 Orange Wine is a refreshing example of Romania’s growing presence in the natural wine scene. Produced by the Budureasca winery, located in the heart of Romania’s Dealu Mare wine region, this orange wine is made using traditional winemaking techniques.
Orange wine is produced by leaving the grape skins in contact with the juice during fermentation. This technique is typically used with red grapes, not white, because it allows the wine to extract color, tannins and additional flavors from the skin. When white grape varieties are fermented with the skin in contact with the juice, the distinctive amber or orange hue that orange wine is known for is produced.
The funky flavors often found in natural wine and the slight tannic structure give orange wines a unique profile that makes them a great choice for spring, offering a refreshing complexity that pairs well with seasonal foods like fresh salads, grilled vegetables and light charcuterie.
Viile Budureasca SRL Budureasca 2022 Orange Wine, which retails for $27 at the Fine Wine & Good Spirits at 1682 N. Atherton St., is made from a blend of sauvignon blanc and fetească regală. It has notes of apple, apricot, citrus and orange blossom. It has vanilla notes from being aged in oak barrels and a caramel, oxidized profile from being exposed to oxygen.
PFAFFL VOM HAUS ZWEIGELT
Zweigelt is a red grape variety primarily grown in Austria, where it is considered one of the country’s signature grapes. Known for producing fresh, medium-bodied wines, zweigelt offers vibrant flavors of red cherry, raspberry and a hint of peppery spice.
Zweigelt is a great wine to enjoy during the spring months, as it has a bright acidity and low tannin content that makes it easy to drink. Its berry-forward profile, combined with a slight herbal touch, is perfect for pairing with the light, flavorful dishes of the season, such as grilled vegetables, roasted meats or even a classic charcuterie board. The light body and low tannin structure of zweigelt also makes it a fantastic chillable red, as it remains fresh and lively when served slightly cooler.
A bottle of Pfaffl Vom Haus Zweigelt, which retails for $16 at the Fine Wine & Good Spirits at 1682 N. Atherton St., has notes of raspberries and cherries with some light peppery spice. Put the bottle in the refrigerator for about 20 to 30 minutes before serving. This helps to bring out the fruitiness and balance the acidity without over-chilling the wine, which can mute the flavors.
