Attributes:

Dominio Lasierpe

Navarra, Spain

Chardonnay

750 ML

Food Matches:

(shar dohn nay)—This noble grape’s reputation was established in France, particularly in the Burgundy region, and the highly prized Chardonnay wines from Chablis, Mâcon, Mersault, and Pouilly-Fuissé are imitated by winemakers around the world. Generally an oaked wine (whether from expensive oak barrels or a quick soak in oak chips), its fruity aromas and flavors range from apple in the cooler regions to tropical fruits such a pineapple in the warmer regions. It can also display subtle earthy aromas, such as mushroom or minerals. It has a medium to high acidity and is generally full-bodied. Classical Chardonnay wines are dry. Chardonnay is also an important grape in the Champagne district where it's picked before fully ripe and while it still has high acid and understated fruit flavors—the perfect combination for champagne. California has adopted this grape with a fervor and there are some 200 wineries producing Chardonnay wines in other parts of the United States. Chardonnay has also seen a tremendous planting surge in Australia, and new vineyards are being planted in Italy, Lebanon, New Zealand, Spain, and South Africa.

Once known for easy-drinking dry rose wines, today this region just northeast of Rioja is becoming known for red wines that are similar to but less expensive than Rioja’s. Navarra currently is going through a modernization program, which includes not only adding new equipment and implementing modern winemaking techniques but also experimenting with different varieties such as cabernet sauvignon and chardonnay.

Attributes:

Fattoria Licia

Rías Baixas, Spain

Albarino

750 ML

2005: WineSpectator Rating: 87

tangy

citrus

Food Matches:

This thick-skinned aromatic white grape is grown in the Rias Baixas region in the northwestern corner of Spain and in the Vinho Verde region in Portugal. Its wine is medium bodied, crisp, and creamy, often tasting of apples, apricots, peaches, and citrus.

Attributes:

Do Ferreiro

Spain

Albarino

750 ML

2005: Tanzer Rating: 89

bright, fresh, lively acidity

white flowers

focused

green apple, minerals, pear, spicy

2004: WineAdvocate Rating: 91

rich

2004: Tanzer Rating: 88

bright

floral

elegant

apple, citrus, flowers, grapefruit, honey, minerally, pear, stony

2003: WineAdvocate Rating: 90

spring flowers

light

layered, opulent

2003: Tanzer Rating: 86

bright, fresh, soft

lean

2003: WineSpectator Rating: 79

crisp

apricot, citrus, incense, mandarin orange, sandalwood, spicy

2002: WineSpectator Rating: 83

apple, earth, mineral

2002: WineAdvocate Rating: 89

clean, crisp

medium-bodied

candied, honeysuckle, lemon

round

Food Matches:

This thick-skinned aromatic white grape is grown in the Rias Baixas region in the northwestern corner of Spain and in the Vinho Verde region in Portugal. Its wine is medium bodied, crisp, and creamy, often tasting of apples, apricots, peaches, and citrus.

This mountainous country possesses more vineyard land than any other country on earth, and ranks third in wine production after France and Italy. Spain is best known for its red Riojas and its Sherries, however other wines and regions are quickly gaining notoriety. Like France, Spain divides wine into categories; table wine at the bottom level and quality wine at the top, with a large emphasis on geographical origin. VdM (Vino de Mesa) is a basic table wine. VC (Vino Comarcal) wines are a level up. VdlT (Vino de la Tierra) refers to one of the country’s 25 distinct regions, and each wine possesses a local character. At the top level, only about fifty wines are considered DO (Denominacion de Origen). These wines come from the best-known regions and are the equivalent of France’s Appellation Contrôlée. DOC (Denominacion de Origen Calificada) is reserved for wines that adhere to the most stringent regulations. So far, Rioja is the only wine to gain the Calificada classification.