I was sipping on a glass of Les Charmes Chardonnay the other day and it sparked a recollection of a special birthday lunch circa 1989. My grandparents took me to a lovely little French bistro located in Daytona Beach, Florida. I was just beginning my journey into the world of wines, so my grandfather let me have the honor of choosing the wine.

This was a big deal in my family as my Italian grandfather considered it his sacred duty. I carefully perused the wine menu. It was a tricky situation. There were some nice high dollar wines I would have loved to try; it was my birthday after all. I decided on a mid-range $35.00 bottle of Pouilly-Fuisse. I decided it was the safest bet. My grandparents could afford any bottle on the menu, but I knew that my grandfather would have considered it "frivolous" and not trust me to order the wine ever again. When the waiter arrived, my grandfather instructed the waiter to let me taste the wine. I was thrilled; he was letting me run the show. I tasted the wine. It was delicious and therefore served. "Grandpa, what do you think of this wine?" I inquired. He swirled his glass, took a long slurping sip, put down his glass and replied, "it's pretty good, but I still say Ernest and Julio make a pretty good product," (referring to Gallo jug wines). I almost spit out my wine, then quickly around to see who might have overheard such an embarrassing comment. I was mortified.

Wine can create a sensory memory experience. Much like when you hear a song on the radio that reminds you of a high school dance or a fun night out with friends. A certain wine can remind us of a special dinner shared with family, friends or that special someone. My mother loved Innisfree Cabernet Sauvignon. Every Thanksgiving we have Innisfree and it reminds us of her.

Ten years after my birthday lunch, I met my grandparents at a wine bar in Winter Park, Florida. My grandfather again, let me choose the wine. This time I confidently chose Guenoc Petite Sirah. He said "This is a very good choice; I think you have a knack for picking out good wines for a reasonable price,". I thanked him and remarked, "But I still say Ernest and Julio make a good product,". He looked at me blankly for a moment and then burst into laughter! I use to laugh about Ernest and Julio Gallo jug wines (which were served at all of our big family gatherings) yet they were pioneers in the wine world and the Gallo family continues to make beautiful, well crafted wines. The quality jug wines and my grandfather in a way inspire this blog.

This month I must be wishing I was in western Europe, because all of the wines are from Spain and Portugal! Now for some great wines to make memories with...
       
*Casal Garcia Vinho Verde (2009) $6.99 - Light yellow/green in color. Oranges, lemons and pear on the nose. Light-bodied and crisp with tropical fruit flavors. Vinho Verde are white wines from Portugal. The wine has a slight frizz-ante (fizz), so it is fun to drink! The bubbles occur naturally during the wine-making process.
 
*Segura Viudas Rose Brut (NV) $8.99 - This Spanish sparkling Cava is a harmonious blend of Trepat (80%), Monastrell (10%) and Garnacha (10%). Fresh and fruity aromas of raspberry, strawberry and currant. Dry and delicate with flavors of strawberry, raspberry and a hint of grenadine. At 12% it is a little lower in alcohol content so you won't get to silly if you drink it poolside (recommended RX). Bubblicious!
 
*Luzon Red (2007) $8.99 - A blend of Monastrell (Mourvedre) and Syrah, this is a big bold wine for such a small price! Full bodied with well structured tannins. On the nose: blackberries, cherries, violets with a hint of smoke. On the palate: rich blackberry, cranberry with hints of anise and spice. Luzon delivers a full, silky presence and a lingering finish.

*Wrongo Dongo (2007) $9.99 - Goofy name + goofy label = great wine? In this case the formula worked. 100% Monastrell. Strong aromas of blackberry, plum and black cherry. Flavors of blackberry, chocolate, licorice lead up to a long, spicy finish. Full-bodied medium dry. I recently bought this wine while doing "research" for this blog. The last glass actually had some grape stems in it, so I assume it is unfiltered.

Santé,
Molly