It is always nice to know a wine you suggested to someone is a particular success with them. I am not a sommelier by any stretch of the imagination, but I have been able to find good wines, and thanks to a job at a wine store for the 2010 season, I know a few more good wines than I used to. I have, in recent months, begun to act as a “personal sommelier” of sorts for my friends, often being asked to suggest wines for particular meals or to hunt down wines for friends who have just not enjoyed wine before. The particular success of this week was a wine recommendation to a friend of mine who just turned 21. This wine stands out in my memory not just because it is a good wine but because they had a label change while I was working at the wine store. “Don’t put the new bottles out until all of the old bottles are sold!” I was told quite ardently by our beverage manager. “The customers will be confused!” Our beverage manager was originally from Germany and tended to favor German made wine. This was not always true, but there was a reason you’d never find a Vermont or New York made wine in that store. He quite fervently turned his nose up at them. (And having tasted the wine from Shelburne Vineyards, I’d quite readily agree. I do, however, quite enjoy the wine produced by East Shore Vineyard. But that is for another blog post.)
The Grüner Veltliner Hugo 2010 is a particularly good white wine for the discriminant white wine fan. It lies on the sweeter end of things, but still has a touch of dryness. If you tend to like Pinot Grigio, you’re as likely to enjoy this wine as much as someone of the Reisling persuasion would. It really is a wine of the sweeter persuasion, but don’t discount it if you are a dry wine fanatic.
This particular recommendation was found at City Market in Burlington, Vermont at the time of the recommendation.
On the other hand, Casal Garcia, whose Vino Verde is not just a great all around drinking wine, but an excellent and inexpensive cooking wine as well, apparently has a rosé! The rosé is made with the same vino verde grapes that they are so famous for. Curiosity inspired me to add this wine to my collection, but you will have to wait for an update to see how this particular wine is. I am waiting to taste it until after I’ve finished moving.