Summer vacation may be over but the warm weather figures to linger for a few weeks (just hopefully not as oppressively hot and humid as it has been in the Mid-Atlantic for much of the summer.) Here are some tasty wines to enjoy throughout September, plus an outstanding (and substantial) Portuguese red and a few standouts from previous vintages.
Labadia Chill Ya Jolo, Toscano 2024 - 12%abv - Ciliegiolo - A chillable red, designed for fun and refreshment. A nice pizza wine. And yes, it does taste like cherries, as many red wines do. A casual wine to chill and smile with. "Labadia" is a label of Badia a Coltibuono. Packaged simply in a clear glass bottle (easily recyclable) and without a capsule. SRP: $19.
La Valentina Cerasuolo d'Abruzzo DOC 2024 - 13%abv - Deep colored rosé, grippy with some tannin, Cerasuolo d'Abruzzo is Italy's Tavel - a substantial rosé, deep colored, with some grip and tannin. This La Valentina is juicy and substantial, quite delish. Dalla Terra Winery Direct. SRP: $14
Cleto Chiarli Lambrusco di Modena D.O.C., made with organic grapes. 11% abv. Sparkling red wine may still be unusual for some, and Lambrusco is a great way to get over any surprise. These dry, fizzy reds from northern Italy are classic partners for salumi and your ubiquitous charcuterie board, so expand that reference a bit to include pizza and barbecue. Lambrusco is typically made with a single fermentation that finishes after the wine is bottled, similar to pet-nats, resulting in a gentler fizz than most sparkling wines. Best served chilled, lambrusco is also an ideal red for warm-weather meals. Cleto Chiarli has an extensive portfolio of lambruscos, including this delightful light, cherry-scented version from organic grapes grown by . And it's packaged with a normal champagne-style cork and foil, a plus for me, as traditional lambrusco closures can be an adventure to open. Dalla Terra Winery Direct. SRP $16.
Domäne Wachau Riesling Federspiel, Ried Bruck, 2021, Wachau, Austria - 12.5% abv. Light, almost feathery in texture, this riesling speaks of purity. Imported by Gonzalez Byass USA. $27 - not current vintage.
Weis Vineyards Blaufränkisch 2021, Finger Lakes, N.Y. - Peter Weis produces standout wines at his winery near the southern tip of Keuka Lake in the Finger Lakes. His "blau" is light and juicy, with a hint of the caraway seed flavor characteristic of the variety. Burgenland on Keuka! $26 for the 2023 now available from the winery.
Prats & Symington Chryseia 2022, Douro, Portugal - 14% abv. This joint venture of the Douro's Symington family with famed Bordeaux winemaker Bruno Prats began in 1998, and over that time the wines have taken on a maturity of style and elegance that speaks from first pour to the final sip. Made at the Symingtons' Quinta do Roriz, it's a blend of touriga nacional and touriga franca. Imported by Premium Port Wines. $80-ish. (The sister wine, Post Scriptum, retails for about $30 and is also excellent.)
Ok. That Blaufränkisch has me intrigued!
Chryseia is one of our favorites.