Put a Spring in Your Step With These Seasonal Wines

Is there anything more enjoyable than those first pleasant spring days after enduring the frigid temperatures of winter? If you plan to spend the first days of Spring picnicking in a park, barbecuing in your backyard, or simply spending time in your home enjoying a cool Spring breeze, it may just be the time to pick up a fine bottle of wine to celebrate the season. Wines that are appropriate for Spring (These wines) are light and often bubbly, embodying the fun and exuberance of the (spring) season. They may be sweet, but not overly so. They are best when bought young, either the current or previous year's vintage.

Here are some choice spring wines you can explore.
Lambrusco is a wine many Americans are familiar with, but one that is generally unappreciated. Riunite popularized a sweeter variation of Lambrusco in the 1970's that led to misconceptions about other Lambrusco wines. Traditionally, these wines are produced from grapes found in the northwestern region of Emilia-Romagna in Italy. Residents of Modena, found in the heart of the region, love this very fruity and acidic red wine. They insist that it can accompany any food, though it best complements sausage, cheese, and lighter pastas. One especially pleasing variety of Lambrusco is Grasparossa di Castelvetro.

The Basque coast of Spain, where cool temperatures, salty air, and strong winds set it apart from mild Modena, is home to an excellent white wine called Txakoli. Made from the local hondarribi zuri grape and served in tumblers, Txakoli is a slightly fizzy, acidic wine that is low in alcohol
content. It serves well with seafood but cannot be matched up with many other wines.

Though less exotic than Txakoli, dry Rose wine is another good choice for spring. A versatile wine, dry Rose can be produced from nearly any kind of red grape by means of a unique process. Rose winemakers crush the entire grape and wait a short while (usually a half-day or so) to allow the juice its signature pink tint. Afterward, the juice is drained away for fermentation. Dry Rose is best served chilled, and is often paired with meat and pasta salads.

So, enjoy the upcoming warm weather and don't forget: whether you prefer red, white or pink, there is always a wine perfect for the season.