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Spring is here but there are no rules when you can enjoy any type of wine

Fri, Apr 04, 25
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Spring is here but there are no rules when you can enjoy any type of wine. 

Featured in The Press of Atlantic City, written by Michael Bray, May 16 2022

This week’s Wine Q+A focuses on a wide spectrum of topics, from sparkling wine, to reds, to food pairing. While we often consider wine in terms of seasons and celebrations (for example, rosé in the spring, red in the winter, and bubbly for special occasions), there are no real rules surrounding when you can enjoy certain types of wine. The main factor is finding what you like, and allowing yourself to explore it.

Email me your wine-related questions at Michael@passionvines.com, or text me at 609-248-6065. I will use this column to provide answers, and hopefully some helpful tips and insight.

Q: Mary B. from Brigantine asks, “I see most wines have a vintage, but not most sparkling wines. Why?”

A: Hi Mary! This is a great question. Vintage is arguably one of the most important factors in the winemaking process. The year printed on wine labels refers to the year in which the grapes in the bottle were harvested, and the climate of the growing season greatly impacts the finished wine. Years with varying temperatures, levels of rainfall and other noteworthy weather events can lead to vast changes in wines of different vintages. Vintage variation is part of what makes wine exploration so fun, as each bottle provides evidence of weather and soil activity during its particular harvest season.

Certain categories of wine – including sparklers like Champagne and Prosecco – will not typically carry a vintage date on their labels. We refer to these wines as “non-vintage,” or “NV.” It is a longstanding practice in sparkling wine production to blend juice from different harvest years, which results in non-vintage wines. While vintage variation is a hallmark and expectation of many still (aka non-sparkling) wines, consistency is key when it comes to bubbly. As many regions known for sparkling wine production tend to be cooler (France’s Champagne region has an average annual temperature of only 50 degrees Fahrenheit, for example), climate conditions can create a challenging environment for grapes to grow and ripen. The grapes that persevere are hardy with a strong acidity (vital for sparkling wine), but yields can be unpredictable. Blending vintage years safeguards winemakers from the whims of the climate, and it also allows them to offer a consistently delicious product year after year.

If a region experiences a particularly stellar growing season, winemakers may decide to produce a vintage sparkling wine. These bottles will be more expensive because there are fewer to go around, and they will offer more distinctive and unique flavor profiles.

For an excellent example of NV Champagne, try Nicolas Feuillatte Brut (Champagne, France; on sale $32.99). If you’re seeking something even more special, Pol Roger Brut Rosé 2015 (Champagne, France; $141.99) is one of my favorite vintage Champagnes of the moment. For a NV Champagne flavor profile without the price tag, check out Dibon Cava Brut (Catalunya, Spain; $12.99). Spanish Cava is made using the same method as Champagne, so you will find lots of similarities between the two.

Q: Jack M. from Ventnor asks, “I took your Wine Foundations class at Seafood Fest and I loved it! I learned that I like reds with low acid. Can you recommend some?”

A: Hi Jack! I’m so happy to hear that you enjoyed our Wine Foundations class. For those who are unfamiliar, this is an exercise in which we add several ingredients to a neutral “base wine” in order to identify the main structural components of acidity, tannin, alcohol and residual sugar. We’ve found this to be an incredibly useful practice in determining the wine flavor profiles that we enjoy, and we’re very grateful that you found it to be helpful, too!

By Brittany Lane