Spring has arrived in the southern hemisphere, and with it, we look forward to warm days full of sunshine that entice us out to the terrace to bask in the sun and, while there, why not open a delicious bottle of wine as well? Here are some ideas for celebrating springtime.
Pinot Noir
With the change of the season, we put the days of hearty dishes that call for big-bodied wines behind us. The heat calls for fresher wines and those that can be served cold. In this case, a light-bodied red variety to enjoy well-chilled is Pinot Noir, a spring wine par excellence. Even more so when it’s a recent vintage that delivers the freshness and juiciness of the young fruit to enjoy with or without food.
Marqués de Casa Concha Pinot Noir from the Limarí Valley and Marqués de Casa Concha Edición Limitada Pinot Noir from the Bío-Bío Valley are two wines that fall into that category. With concentrated notes of cherries and raspberries, very well-integrated oak, and juicy acidity, they are strong candidates for opening on a spring day (regardless of the temperature) along with a charcuterie platter.
Rosé
The arrival of spring also inaugurates rosé season. The perfect excuse to enjoy this style of wine, whose pink color combines perfectly with that of the spring flowers. Ideal for warm days, rosé wines are fresh, versatile, and easy to drink. You can serve them as an aperitif or with light-but-vibrant dishes such as salads, sushi, and Asian dishes in general.
The varieties most commonly used to make rosé include Syrah, Carignan, Mouvèdre, Cinsault, and Grenache. The latter two, blended 90% and 10%, respectively, give rise to the Marqués de Casa Concha Rosé Cinsault from the Itata Valley, a wine aged for just six months in concrete eggs and 500-liter barrels that lend just a scant contribution of oak. This privileges the fruit expression, with aromas of pomegranates and cantaloupe as well as mineral notes and good body on the palate.
Viognier
If you love white wine but want to veer away from the traditional varieties a little, the floral bouquet that Viognier delivers is a weighty reason to consider it for a springtime wine. It’s also very fresh, with citrusy notes of mandarin orange with subtle notes of honey on the palate, like the perfect ode to a flower garden buzzing with bees looking for pollen in the height of spring. Thanks to its robust body, it’s ideal for dishes with sweet-and-sour flavors
Chardonnay
If you’re not a fan of highly perfumed wines, Chardonnay is a white that works wonderfully for an evening on the terrace with a cheese board. We could even say it’s a timeless variety that acts like the perfect wild card. Its aromas depend on the climate it is grown in and range from tropical fruits to green apples and citrus. The Marqués de Casa Concha Chardonnay from the Limarí Valley features a floral side with mineral notes and a touch of toasted hazelnuts. The Marqués de Casa Concha Edición Especial Chardonnay from the Bío-Bío region in southern Chile, on the other hand, offers delicate aromas of white pears with tremendous structure and vitality.
Which will you choose?
