OREGON S GAY/LESBIAN/Bl/TRANS NEWSMAGAZINE
FEBRUARY 5 2010
F O O D 8 W IN E
H a v e y o u b e e n naughty or nice
t o y o u r smile?
Hot W ines
for Hot V alentines
By SARAH HORNER
Valentine’s Day is approaching, and no
matter what you have planned, nothing says
“be mine” like fine wine. Whether you have
a special date planned or prefer to spend the
evening solo, heat up the night this February
14 with some of today’s hottest wine trends.
Whether your lover is Latin or not, you
can spice up Valentine’s celebrations with
hugely popular Argentinian Malbec, a
hearty wine characterized by deep color,
structure and dense fruit flavors. Accord
ing to the Argentina Department of
Customs, Malbec sales to the U.S. rose 54
percent from 2007 to 2009 and continue to
increase. In these tough times, savvy wine
drinkers are seeking out quality wines for
less money, and many great Malbecs can be
found for under $20. Be on the lookout for
Washington-grown Malbecs in the near
future, as producers there embrace this in
creasingly desirable varietal.
The hot-blooded might also add excite
ment to the evening with Spanish Tempra-
nillo. Dark and earthy with notes of tobacco,
leather, dark fruit and herbs, Tempranillo
also offers great quality at an affordable
price. Tempranillo has been grown in Spain
for centuries, but in recent years the younger
generation of winemakers seems to have
adapted the Old World style to be less rustic
and more refined to suit New World con
sumers. Spanish Tempranillo is abundant,
but Australia, California and even Oregon
producers are also crafting their own deli
cious versions.
If soft and romantic is more your style
and you prefer your roses pink, a bottle of
Rosé may be the perfect choice. A recent
Wine Spectator article revealed that dry Rosé
sales from France, and more specifically
the southern Provence region, have surged
28 percent in the past year, defying the
economic downturn. These aren’t the sickly
sweet pink wines that your grandma drinks
on ice; these are bold and fruity yet dry. The
pink hue typically comes from pressing red
grape varietals just enough to allow minimal
skin contact to impart a hint of color. These
Rosés also complement a wide variety of
cuisines, and sipped alone they make an ex
cellent aperitif to warm you and yours up for
the next course. Added appeal comes from
the affordable price tag.
Is Valentine’s Day about being adventur
ous and experimenting with something new?
While Chardonnay and Merlot are depend
able, there are many varietals from every
corner of the globe just waiting for your
open mind—and mouth! Cole Danehauer,
co-publisher of Northwest Palate, is finding
that the region’s wine lovers are eager to
expand their horizons and are increasingly
interested in trying wines that haven’t previ-
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ously been widely available. Wines enjoy
ing popularity right now, he says, include
Albarino, Vermentino, Grüner Veltliner and
Petit Verdot.
Albarino is Spain’s most popular white
wine, and its racy quality and sexy aromas
make it an excellent option for romantic
exploration, as is Italy’s Vermentino, a dis
tinctively fragrant white that offers richness
and an enticingly full body.
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Austria’s Grüner Veltliner may be a
mouthful to pronounce, but it’s a tasty one.
“GruVe,” as the hip wine drinkers call it, is
a spicy white with white flower and pepper
flavors and mouth-filling richness. You can
spend more than $20, but there are plenty of
Griiners priced lower. Many less-expensive
GruVe’s are bottled in large-format liter
sizes and topped with a crown cap. Don’t
underestimate these options if you’re experi
menting with a group.
Prefer to dabble in the dark? California
and Australia winemakers are breaking
tradition by producing deeply hued Petit
Verdot as a stand-alone varietal. A Bordeaux
varietal traditionally used as a blending
component, Petit Verdot is typically used
sparingly to add color and tannin structure
to the mix. But grown in warmer climates,
this grape gets the chance to ripen into
its own solo greatness, producing rich and
fruity, well-structured wines.
All of these wines can easily be found
in Portland-area bottle shops and well-
stocked grocery store wine departments.
Euripedes, the ancient Greek playwright,
said, “Where there is no wine, there is no
love.” Heed his warning. Seek out that spe
cial bottle for you and your Valentine and
enjoy a “hot” February 14. J Ä
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