Six Essential Wines For Spring

Looking for the right wine to pair with the Spring season!? Well, we’ve got just the pick for you! And actually, we’ve got six of ‘em! Check 'em out!

From our owner and wine buyer Samuel Whitmore, check out these springtime wines which we think you’ll love now and on into summer!

GRGICH HILLS
Napa Valley
Fumé Blanc
Fumé Blanc is a Sauvignon Blanc which has been fermented or been aged in a barrel — which lends a little more minerality to the wine while still having good fruit to it.

Sam says:
Think Sancerre meets Napa Valley!
Retail price: $31.99
Club price: $27.19

BARTON & GUESTIER
France
Vouvray
A great wine from Touraine region of the Loire Valley. A lovely wine with floral notes, peach and pear flavors — and a refreshing finish. Enjoy as an aperitif with cheeses and light desserts.

Sam says:
This wine is bright with good citrus, great acidity and it has a touch of sweetness — and is really great with spicy foods!

View this wine on our website by clicking HERE!
Retail price: $15.99
Club price: $13.59

CHARLES & CHARLES
Columbia Valley, Washington
Rosé
Charles & Charles is a slate of wines made in collaboration between two winemakers — Charles Smith, based in Walla Walla, Washington, who is the owner and head of winemaking for K Vintners, Charles Smith Wines and Secco Italian Bubbles.

The second Charles in this equation is Charles Bieler, who is known for being one of the top wine innovators in the industry and who began championing rosé in the US market back when it was woefully unpopular. 

Sam says:
These two winemakers came together to produce a whole line of really fun and approachable wines, making everything from very high-end, pricey wines to every day sorts of wines. I think this rosé is bright and delicious. It’s a Grenache-Syrah-Mouvedre blend and it has a lot of great fruit, good acidity and is super approachable, for drinking on its own or as a food-friendly wine for lighter dishes like appetizers and salads.

View this wine on our website by clicking HERE!

Retail price: $12.99
Club price: $11.04

LES DAUPHINS
Cotes Du Rhone, France
Rosé
Family winemakers in the Dauphiné region of the Rhône Valley joined together in the early 1920’s Paris to make delicious wines that fueled the creative revolution in bistros across Paris. At the time, Paris was the artistic and intellectual capital of Europe. Musicians, painters and writers joined with Parisians in bustling bistros to share simple but savory food and wine, new ideas and a lot of joie de vivre! The Dauphiné became the source of many of these popular bistro wines thanks to their vibrant style and versatility with classic bistro dishes. 

Today, new generations of talented grape growers in the Southern Rhône Valley craft Les Dauphins wines from traditional varietals. These wines once again inspire the joy that made 1920’s one of the most exciting and creative periods in history.

Sam says:
The next rosé that I wanted to feature is Les Dauphins. This is a French rosé that’s a little softer than the Charles & Charles rosé — a more typical provençal style rosé that is going to have a touch more minerality and not quite as much fruit, but both are delicious! If you like seafood, this is a really great match.

View this wine on our website by clicking HERE!

Retail price: $11.99
Club price: $10.19

CONSENTIDO
Spain
Monastrell Barrica
A 90pt wine that won’t break the bank! This Spanish Monastrell is black cherry in color with a good intensity and forward notes of figs, plums, herbs and a finish of spicy aromas. On the palate its fleshy, well-integrated and has mature tannins.

Sam says:
This is an awesome value and drinks way above its price point in my opinion!

View this wine on our website by clicking HERE!

Retail price: $10.99
Club price: $9.34

VINA ROBLES
Petite Sirah
Paso Robles
Rated 93 points by Wine Enthusiast:
“Quite dark and inky in the glass, this bottling begins with aromas of cassis, roasted meat and a hint of baking spice. Thick, hearty tannins frame the savory sip, where teriyaki and roast lamb flavors lead to dark berries, moving to vanilla bean and espresso on the finish.”

Sam says:
This last wine is one of my new personal favorites. It’s a Petite Syrah from Paso Robles and the winery is called Vina Robles. A Petite Syrah is very different from a Syrah. It is an entirely different grape and stylistically they are very different.

Syrah tends to be either smokey or kind of meaty, while Petite Syrah is closer to a Cabernet — with a big, bold fruit flavor that’s really friendly to BBQ foods. I just love this wine. It’s totally crushable on its own, but also will stand up to all kinds of different food.

View this wine on our website by clicking HERE!

Retail price: $26.99
Club: $22.94

ABOUT SAM WHITMORE
Growing up in Northern California, Sam, a level one Sommelier, worked in the wine industry for over ten years covering Sonoma, Napa and Mendocino wine regions. He studied at wine making and winery hospitality management at UC Davis. He relocated to Western New York with his wife and opened Bag & String Wine Merchants ten years ago.