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Our Seasons
In a recent TV interview I was asked to suggest what wines we should be having at this time of year. As I prepared for the show and looked at years of historic weather data, it became clear that Jamaica has two seasons, hot and not so hot! Our average temperatures range between 80-90°F, with July and August the hottest months and February the coolest.
So what wines should we buy and enjoy as we move from “not so hot” towards the hot summer weather? In general we should be looking for wines that meet the following criteria,
1. Little or no oak — this is the time of year to try some crispy, zesty, refreshing, fun white wines. It’s not the time for the big, oaky Chardonnay.
2. Lightbodied, refreshing wines — whether they’re white, red or pink, do move away from the full bodied wines at this time.
3. Screwcaps — sufficient research shows that wines under screwcaps remain fresh for a long time. If I am heading to the beach or just chilling out with friends by the pool, I scout the shelves for the fun wines with screwcaps on them.
4 Bubbly is always good — prosecco, Cava or a slightly fizzy Moscato d’Asti is always a great choice.
Spring wine recommendations:
Cupcake Vineyards Moscato d’Asti — vibrant and expressive with dominant floral notes and hints of bright fruit flavours including peach, tropical fruits and lychee, this wine is soft and luscious.
Just a hint of fine effervescence tickles the palate and balances the sweetness. Moscato d’Asti is a semisweet frizzante (lightly sparkling) wine made from Moscato Bianco grapes in Asti, a key wine town in the South Eastern part of Piedmont, north western Italy.
This wine is refreshing and will be loved by all who taste it.
Matua Valley Sauvignon Blanc — soft in colour with green hues, this Marlborough Sauvignon Blanc shows tropical and citrus fruits along with attractive herbaceous or varietal characters on the nose. The palate is generous and fruit driven with classical Marlborough acidity giving a fresh, clean palate and passion fruit finish.
FlipFlop Chardonnay — If you must drink Chardonnay, do try this new brand on the market called FlipFlip. These wines are for the casual lifestyle. This is a medium bodied, rich chardonnay with pineapple, soft vanilla and a long, lingering finish. Try any of the FlipFlop varietals.
Spring is a time to try something new. Grab a bottle of a brand you have never tasted before. — Jamaica Observer.
leeroy