You don’t have to go Fort Lauderdale (why would you want to?) to have an adult spring break with lots of open bottles. From Portugal to Mendoza to Marlborough, sparkling to red to white to pink, bargains to unicorn, it’s time to party down.
2023 Domaine Bousquet Tupungato Unoaked Chardonnay ($13). Light in body and flavors, mainly of green apple.
2022 Dow “Vale do Bonfim” Douro White Wine ($15). Very enjoyable floral wine they tastes like a blend of Chenin Blanc and Chardonnay flavors.
2022 Esporão Reserva Alentejo White Wine ($23). A very satisfying blend of native Portuguese varieties with very floral fruitiness, medium in body, yet crisp in the finish with a few hints of tannins.
2021 Villa Maria “Woven” Marlborough Sauvignon Blanc ($50). A step up for the region, with complexity added to the standard green fruits and lime flavors, making it a very versatile Saturday night wine.
2020 Valdemar Estate Columbia Valley Sparkling Chardonnay ($65). A first release of this bubbly which has creamy apple flavors and a few added herbal and green notes for complexity.
2019 Hecht & Bannier Languedoc Rosé ($15). A Syrah-driven blend, it is a lighter pink with piquant strawberry flavors with some defining notes of pencil lead in the finish.
2022 Hoopes Vineyard Napa Valley Rosé ($38). Very enjoyable and complex – hint of orange with ripe cherry flavors, some spicy notes and a little creaminess.
2022 Domaine Bousquet Tupungato Cabernet Sauvignon ($13), A bargain – fresh blackberry flavors, good acidity, lean but not tart.
2020 Dow “Vale do Bonfim” Douro Red Wine ($15). A pleasant, lightly herbal and red fruity, somewhat lean and with good structure.
2022 Lapostelle “Cuvée Alexandra” Apalta Cabernet Franc ($30). Very enjoyable – tightly knit with dark berry flavors and a savory edge to the finish.
2018 Hoopes Vineyard “Sophie’s Block” Oak Knoll of Napa Valley Syrah ($60). Concentrated blackberry and black raspberry flavors, some earthiness, some spices, lots of tannins.
2021 Flora Springs “Trilogy” Napa Valley Red Wine ($100). Nice, creamy, velvety purple fruits with a little tartness around the edges and a few savory notes in the finish.
Prices listed are generally SRP or from wine-searcher.com. As more wineries are now shipping direct-to-consumer, check the winery website if you can’t find a bottle in your retail store.
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