Vancouver’s been flirting with spring for weeks, but now it’s finally official. There are so many reasons to love this time of year, including longer days, warmer temperatures and the promise of the new season's fruit and vegetables. To this I would add, the lovely smell in the air. As the earth wakes up, we're assaulted by fragrant flowers.
To match the gorgeous perfume, indulge in equally pungent wines. Referred to as aromatic, these are wines offering persistent scents that leap out of the glass. Think flowers, herbs, spice and exuberant fruit. They make a bold statement and usually provoke a strong love or hate reaction. One whiff may trick you into thinking they're sweet because of what the aromas evoke but this isn’t necessarily the case. They can be made sweet or dry and many are actually dry. What you can count on is little to no notes of toast or vanilla as aromatic wines are typically unoaked. Why would you want to curb all of those gorgeous aromas?
It's generally whites that fall into this category. Riesling, with its citrus and blossom aromas, as well as the rose- and lychee-scented Gewurtztraminer are two well-known examples. Herbaceous Sauvignon Blanc is just as vivacious. Slightly more off the beaten track but equally outgoing, Viognier offers beautiful peach, apricot and ginger notes. Muscat is positively grapey and floral while Torrontès from Argentina combines lime zest with ripe stone and tropical fruit.
Aromatic wines aren't limited to whites. Italy boasts a host of fresh fragrant reds. Frappato from Sicily charms with strawberry, violets and dried herbs. Ruché from Piedmont is redolent of iris, black pepper and succulent raspberries. The Valle d’Acate for $25 is a delicious example of the former with the Gatto Pierfrancesco for $30 representing the latter. I've recommended both in the past so if you have yet to try these unique reds, pick up a bottle the next time you're at a BC Liquor Store. A slight chill preserves the vibrant purity of aromas and also adds immense refreshment value.
Cheers to spring!
2013 Paul Mas, Viognier • IGP Pays d’Oc, France • $12.99, BC Liquor Stores
Bursting with peach, apricot, rosemary and a touch of honey, this rich, full white is the ideal partner for roasted chicken.
2013 Pewsey Vale, Riesling • Eden Valley, Australia • $21.99, BC Liquor Stores
Intense lime notes mingle with white peach on a steely, minerally backbone. And I promise it's dry. A great foil for seafood pasta spiked with chili flakes.
2012 Jorge Ordóñez, Botani Moscatel Seco • Sierras de Málaga DO, Spain • $24.99, BC Liquor Stores
Besides an inherent grapey-ness, orange marmalade and mandarin flowers leap from the glass. A gorgeous mouthful with a slightly salty tang. Serve with white fish accompanied by a fruity salsa.
2011 Pfaffenheim, Steinert Gewurztraminer • Alsace Grand Cru, France • $34.95, BC Liquor Stores
A weighty white boasting incredible concentration of flavours, from cinnamon and nutmeg to pineapple and lychee. Simply made for duck rubbed with exotic spices.
2013 Arianna Occhipinti, SP68 • Terre Siciliane Bianco IGT, Italy • $37.99, BC LIquor Stores
Extroverted Zibibbo (Muscat of Alexandria) brings life to the Albanello grape. Layered with complex flavours of orange peel, lemon blossom, dried herbs and anise. If you close your eyes you could be in Sicily. To complete the illusion pair with tuna with fennel and blood orange.
