As I continue my quest to find good everyday summer wines I am also seeking out wines fitting for specific occasions and moods (i.e. patio sipper, gardening wines, brunch wines, rainy day wines, etc). You see, when I go shopping for wine, I rarely think to myself “ohh, I want a wine that smells like apples and peaches”, or “hmmm I'm thinking blackberries and raspberries tonight”, unless I am specifically looking for something to pair with food. When I shop it's more like “I’m in the mood for something big and bold”, or “crisp and light”, “something good for a BBQ, or brunch, or a hot humid day”. And I'd rather know that a wine is dry or sweet, full or light bodied, rather than knowing that it smells like apricots. I look for "mood" (or "occasion") wines if you will. And last night I think I discovered an awesome post bike ride wine!
Just after getting back from a 40-mile bike ride I was in the mood for something refreshing and thirst quenching. Plus the weather was nice and warm so I was also in a “chilling in the backyard” mood. This wine did the trick. I was a bit nervous about my choice at first because many Grüner Veltliners I drank during my Sommelier studying were pretty full-bodied… not something I was in the mood for after a work out. Crisp I tell you. I want crisp! Crisp, my friends, is what I got. In one sentence, this wine was crisp, light and refreshing!
Wine #2 in my quest for the perfect summer wines
Huber Hugo Grüner Veltliner, 2007
Although I think of this as an "occasion" wine, I will describe it for you in case you would like to pair it with something specific someday, or if you just like descriptions.
It started out with notes of melon, lemon, lime, green apple and some banana. It had a nice mineral mouth feel with more green apple and crisp citrus. The finish was interesting as it reminded of me of a Sauvignon Blanc-ish finish (as in it was dry, crisp, lemony, and acidic).
Winery: Weingut Markus Huber Winery, located Austria (you can check out their website but it’s probably not that fun if you don’t speak German. I did, however, enjoy the “Fotos” section. Some nice pics of a lovely looking family)
Grapes: Grüner Veltliner
Retail: $10.99
As seen locally in New Seasons Concordia, although I am sure it is widely available.
Occasions for drinking this wine: post bike ride, work out, hike, or if it’s just a hot day and you want something light, crisp and super refreshing! I guess this would be my version of a "light" beer after a long hot day.
Recent Comments