But before we start whipping out our favorite recipes for hearty winter stews, let’s all just slow down for one minute. Take a look outside - it’s still summer! Especially with that freak snowstorm blowing through here in June, robbing us of much needed sunshine and warmth, we owe it to ourselves to find time to appreciate these final days of summer.
My recommendation? Make like a grasshopper and plan on being outside this weekend. Raise a glass to our beautiful Montana summers with a refreshing, well-chilled Albarino wine, one of Spain’s finer contributions to warm-weather drinking and the perfect reflection of the bright, shiny days of summer.
I’ll also confess that I have hit all the wines stores over the past few weeks to stock up on my own supply of this wine before this column printed for fear all of you would hog it up before I had my fill. Don’t worry, I left a few bottles on the shelves!
Laxas (pronounced La-shas) comes from a family-owned estate that has been growing grapes since 1862 in the province of Galicia. This wine region, located along the Atlantic coast in northwest Spain, is called Rias Baixas (“low rivers”), named for the fjordlike fingers of water that protrude inland from the Atlantic. It is a well-known area for producing albarino grapes.
This wine is like a cross between dry Aussie Riesling and peachy Viognier. The color is a delightful pale lemon with a green sheen. Its aromas of pineapple, melons, apple and apricots stand out, while subtle traces of white flower blossoms and herbs linger on the edge. In the mouth, this wine is zesty and fresh with just a slight tingle of fizz. Flavors of peach and apricot (stone fruits), green apple, pineapple, grapefruit, melon and lime zest dance on your taste buds, which is all beautifully balanced out with the wine’s refreshing acidity and mouthwatering minerality.
My first suggestion is to enjoy this at Scotty’s Table with one of their appetizers - or pick up a bottle from CVS, Good Food Store or Costco for just $15 to take home and enjoy with fresh fish as the Gallegos do. Or go even more low-maintenance and pair this Albarino with a plate of fresh fruit and brie, then enjoy it as you lie back in your hammock and treasure the last hours of summer over this holiday weekend.
Happy Labor Day!
Kate Murphy is the wine writer for the Missoulian and Missoula.com magazine. Check out her blog at KnowYourVino.com. She can be reached at 523-0486 or at kate.murphy@missoulian.com.
|
 |
 |
Add your comment now! Write your comment in the form below.
(Email address is for verification only. If you'd like to email a story, look for the link above)