Now that the 3 weeks of Florida winter are behind us once again, we can start to think about sun, fun,
grilling, chilling and enjoying new wines with old friends. Though many of us in Florida use our grills pretty much all year round, I definitely use it more in the spring and fall--sometimes it's just too hot to stand in front of a grill in the heat of summer. Boy have I gotten spoiled! Besides the obvious meat choices you will be putting on your grill, summer is when you start to see fresh spring in your local grocery store. It is also the time we start to see many new wines coming into our stores, and I wanted to share with you all a few that you may be interested in trying. These are some wines that our people, who we send all over the world to find new wines, have found and brought back for us to enjoy.

One we especially needed was a new South African Pinotage. The Painted Wolf “The Den” is the perfect addition to our South African wine section and at just $11.99, it is as easy on the wallet as it is your pallet. A wonderful new Italian white wine from our friends at Alberello Wines is the Pepe Nestor Greco de Tufo
($17.29). “This wine has a nice yellow color with golden nuances, a nice array of fruit flavors such as apple, pear, peaches and melon. A creamy, velvety texture with a long almond finish; it is a great match with fish and shellfish, pasta dishes with spring vegetables, truffles and mushrooms.” A terrific Italian white that you must try.

Also, a number of very good wines from the south of France from Michel Chapoutier were found, like the Les Vigne de Bila Haut ($12.99). “The color is a garnet-red, very steady, deep and brilliant with purple lights. Nose is open, expressive and complex with aromas of very ripe black fruits (elderberry, blackberry), some spicy scents (pepper, garrigue). One notices a dominance of spicy aromas, a lot of richness, a good
length and a very ethereal finish.” What a great wine to try along with a perfectly grilled piece of medium-rare beef.

A new cabernet sauvignon from Napa Valley, California, has been discovered: Circadia ($24.99). “This alluring cabernet sauvignon, with seductive dark fruit flavors, medium body and exquisite, soft texture. A wine of great intensity, yet with a timeless sense of elegance.” This is a very sexy cab, just the glass of wine to share with someone you want to get to know better.

Though these wines are all very different, they also are similar in that they are all delicious and pair beautifully with some of the foods we will start to see and prepare in the springtime. As spring turns into summer, we will have many more new wines to share with you, and if you run into a great new wine…send it along on this blog for all to see and enjoy!

Ken Amendola, ABC Fine Wine & Spirits Wine Supervisor

Follow him on Twitter @abcwinekena