Spring is upon us, and as the days start growing longer and the weather finally begins to warm up, it’s time to switch up our drinking habits. Stash the rich, heavy reds and luscious white wines of winter for the next several months, and say hello to the brighter styles that are tailor-made for spring’s seasonal fare. Whether you’re craving a picnic wine or something to sip with your farmers’ market haul, here are some wines you should be drinking this spring.
White Wines
There’s a whole world of bright, light white wines to explore from the advent of spring into the early days of summer. Austria’s Grüner Veltliner is a beautiful wine to enjoy with a wide array of seasonal fare like asparagus, peas, artichoke, anything packed with fresh herbs. It’s a brilliant salad wine, especially with cucumber salads. A crisp sauvignon blanc from Sancerre or Marlborough won’t go out of place this time of year. It’s a killer wine to drink with saag paneer, seafood, or light, herby dishes like green harissa chicken. Fresh goat cheese is a classic pairing. A light unoaked chardonnay is never out of place, either.
For something a little different, Vinho Verde from Portugal’s Minho province is a brilliant spring refresher. The style comes in white, red, and pink, and it’s always best enjoyed while it’s young and fresh. White Vinho Verde is lightly spritzy, citrusy wine, and absolutely divine on a sunny spring day. Naturally, anything with bubbles is guaranteed to refresh. Cava and Champagne are phenomenal in any season.
If you prefer something that packs more punch, try a torrontés from Argentina. With perfumed floral aromas of rosé coupled with peach and Meyer lemon, it’s a bolder option for spring drinking. A delicious partner for a coconut shrimp curry.
Riesling is always a winner. It’s another wine to enjoy year-round, thanks to the numerous styles in which it’s produced. We adore off-dry riesling with many of our classic desi dishes, thanks to its help in taming the heat of even the spiciest chili peppers.
Rosé Wines
If sipping on rosé is on your springtime agenda, lighter styles are the way to go. Look to some of the lighter rosés of Provence, a rosé Vinho Verde, or if you’re in the mood for something properly bubbly, rosé prosécco. Pour yourself a glass of any of these beauties when enjoying a salad Nicoise, salmon, or seared tuna steak.
You may associate Rioja with reds, but there are excellent rosados found across the region. Crafted from tempranillo or garnacha, they tend to be crisp, featuring red berry flavors layered over a touch of earthiness. We love it with grilled seafood. Scallops, in particular, are a delicious pairing.
Red Wines
As far as spring-friendly red wines go, look for easy-drinking bright grape varieties like cabernet Franc, Gamay, and young, New World pinot noirs (from California, New Zealand, and Oregon, for example) are full of fresh, beautiful berry fruit notes that go beautifully with tamarind duck breast or mattar paneer – a perfect excuse to make use of in-season peas this spring. Enjoy a glass of Gamay with some roast chicken or tomato curry, and pop open the cabernet Franc from the Loire with a cheese plate.
Here’s a pro-tip for you: there are certain red wines out there that are ideal for chilling. A glass of chilled red vino is a fantastic way to cool down on an especially balmy spring or summer day. Serve it around the same temperature you would rosé, about 50 to 60 degrees. Unoaked, thin-skinned, fruity styles, like the ones mentioned above, are your best bet.
Of course, you don’t need to pair your wine with a meal. Sipping on any one of these wines is a great way to treat your taste buds to the vibrant flavors of spring, whether you’re unwinding at the end of the day or raising a glass with friends.
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