Spring is here in force, and it has us heading straight for the wines that allow the season’s ingredients to shine. The abundance of this “green” season’s herbal flavors can make pairing a challenge—lookin’ right at you, asparagus!—but with morel mushrooms, fresh peas, favas, and fresh thyme and cilantro popping up, there’s no shortage of winning matches…when you’ve got the right wines, that is.
Herbaceous salads with bold flavors
Think English peas, Morel mushrooms, dill, arugula, citrus, parsley, cilantro, fennel.
Wine Varietal: Sauvignon Blanc, Gruner Veltliner, Verdicchio, Greco di tufo
Why it Works: The herbal, citrusy and lively acid-driven qualities of these varietal wines embrace the complexity of the greens, elevating the pairing.
Recommendations:
2022 Langlois-Chateau Sancerre
Fresh fish based dishes
Think crudo, smoked trout, grilled salmon.
Wine Varietal: Sake
Why it Works: Sake’s traditional best friend is fish; the Umami and silkiness that sake brings to the pairing is simply unbeatable.
Recommendations:
Takachiyo 59 Junmai Ginjo Nama Niigata
Heavensake Junmai Daiginjo Yamaguchi
Roasted vegetables with olive oil
Think asparagus, peppers, brussels.
Wine Varietal: Riesling
Why it Works: Dry Riesling has an excellent ability to complement grilled vegetables, including hard-to-pair items like asparagus, fennel, and brussels sprouts. Its chalky mineral notes and ensemble of stone-fruit aromatics make it ideal with the green, charred notes.
Recommendations:
2018 Smith-Madrone Riesling Napa Valley
2020 Capel Vale Single Vineyard Whispering Hill Mount Barker
Lamb chops and other meat based dishes
Wine Varietal: Rioja
Why it Works: With its balanced acidity, notes of dried herbs, and dried-fruit components, Rioja (especially with a little age) makes for a lovely match for gamy, fatty, and rich meats.
Recommendations:
2020 CVNE (Cune) Real de Asua Carromaza Rioja
2017 Bodegas Gomez de Segura Finca Raton Reserva Rioja
Roast chicken with spring vegetables
Wine Varietal: Pinot Noir
Why it Works: California Pinot Noir—from the Sonoma Coast to be more precise—is a proven ideal match for umami-rich roast chicken and spring vegetables. Fruit-forward, savory in nature, tinged with an herbal edge, it always makes a simply delicious pairing.
Recommendations:
2019 Bydand Pinot Noir Sonoma Coast
2021 Wayfarer Pinot Noir The Estate Fort-Ross Seaview
Fresh spring spritzer
Wine Varietal: Txakolina
Why it Works: Txakoli is a vibrant, high-acid wine that provides nice backbone and citrus flavors in a spritz. Refreshing and lively, it’s the ideal springtime white, sometimes with an intriguing whisper of cilantro or jalapeño on the nose.
Recommendations:
