Spring Wines for Warm Days and Cool Nights

March is always a dubious weather time here in New England. Tank top days change at the drop of a hat, or in this case a few degrees, and turn into the nights where all you want is to be bundled up in a hoodie by a fire. Sure we get a glimpse into the inevitable end of the dreary winter days and start seeing more tepid temperatures, but it’s always strange when there’s snow on the ground while people are driving around with their windows down, iced coffees in hand. It can be daunting trying to make sense of which wines will transition from daytime porch sipping to take-the-chill-out-of-your-bones kinds of nights. I’ve put together some options that are fit for a king, but priced for a spring fling.

The Broc Love Red is a perfect springtime red offering from winemaker Chris Brockway. Composed of mostly carignan and blended with valdiguié and syrah, the Love Red is juicy and light, fresh and flirty. Cherry, cranberry and blueberry notes envelop the mid-palate while minimal acidity and the almost complete absence of tannins put this wine in the easy drinking category. Subtle woodsy herbal notes keep this California blend just bold enough to enjoy on the frost-ridden nights. I’ve written about Brockway’s wines several times now and for good reason — the dude is seriously talented. It’s always a safe bet that any bottle of wine you pick up of his will be delicious, if you’re lucky enough to find them.

If you really want to channel the warm weather vibes, crack open a bottle of Bott Freres Edelzwicker. The name might be a mouthful, but the wine itself is chuggable. The Edelzwicker is a blend of sylvaner, pinot blanc and gewurztraminer and is true to its Alsace pedigree of notoriously delicious wines. Look for golden, straw-colored hues in the glass with notes of white nectarine and apricots on the palate. Subtle soft spice notes in the finish lend a hand in balancing out the citrusy lime undertones. Not that I need another reason to sing Bott Freres’ praises, but I’d be remiss if I didn’t take a beat to mention that it comes in a liter bottle, so more bang for your buck. Yay!

What would a spring article be without the mention of a killer rosé, or in this case rosado? The Ameztoi Rubentis Rosado is a show-stopper. Hailing from the Basque region of Spain, this salmon-colored beauty is not only stunning to look at, but is an utter joy for the taste buds. The Rubentis is made from indigenous white and red hondarribi grapes and bottled with a bit of CO2 to give the wine a spritzy effervescence. Crisp green apple and zesty lime coupled with candied strawberry make this rosado not only super delicious, but also quite versatile for food pairings. Try the Ameztoi Rubentis with spicy Thai food, delicate shellfish dishes and everything in between. No matter the time or the temp, this is a must-try. But don’t wait too long because there isn’t going to be a lot of this wine floating around.

No matter which of these little ditties you decide to give a whirl, you’ll be in for a treat. All three wines are super easy drinking whether paired with food or simply around a fire with friends. Try for yourselves and let me know what you think!