Death, taxes, and more wine, the only things that are certain in life.
Tax day is here, the accountants can breathe a sigh of relief. You’re either enjoying your refund, crying over your negative bank balance, or filing an extension. Any way you look at it, a glass of wine is in order. Why not show some fiscal responsibility and enjoy some of the more economical wine choices on the market. There are some remarkable wines in the $10 and under category, readily available and accessible. Wine is not all about pretty labels or high prices: great, affordable wines are available from fantastic growing regions.
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Here are some recommendations to help your 1040 form blues.
Columbia River Landing Riesling, Columbia Valley, Washington. Trader Joe’s, $5
Frisk Prickly Riesling, Victoria Australia. Robust in Webster Groves, $10
Riesling is considered one of the world’s noble grapes due to its versatility. Riesling can be sweet or dry depending on the growing region or winemaker’s preference. It is wonderful with food and can be a very age-worthy wine. Columbia Valley in Washington State produces some of the country’s finest Rieslings. The Columbia River Landing Riesling’s grapes were affected by botrytis, that wonderful fungus known as “noble rot” that imparts a honeyed characteristic to the wine. Its sweetness, acidity, and fruity components make the wine a nice match with spicy Thai cuisine or even dessert. Most Australian Rieslings are very dry with high alcohol.
Frisk Prickly has a funny name but is a seriously good wine. It has nice acidity, orange peel aromas, and a hint of sweetness, making it different than other Australian Rieslings. This wine would be a wonderful accompaniment with that freshly prepared sushi you’re spending your refund check on.
La Vieille Ferme, Orange, Southern France. Dierbergs Markets, $7
Tres Pinos Three Pines Cuvée, San Luis Obispo County, California. Trader Joe’s, $6
Roule Rouge Organic Red Table Wine. Trader Joe’s, $6
Some of the most popular wines available today are IRS: International, Red blends and Sustainable. La Vieille Ferme is a fruity and spicy wine from Southern France’s Rhone Valley. Made with indigenous grapes this wine pairs with just about anything on your grill. Red blends are one of the hottest categories in wine. Blending high tannic grapes like Cabernet Sauvignon with spicy grapes like Syrah and Petite Sirah make for a very food friendly and balanced wine.
Tres Pinos Three Pines Cuvée is from the central coast region of California, a warm and suitable growing area which produces exceptional and affordable new world blends.
Environmentally conscious, sustainable, and organic wines are becoming more popular. The label of the Roule Rouge from California states that the wine is organic and contains only naturally occurring sulfites which means vineyard practices that promote sustainability, no added sulfites, plus a jammy, fruit forward, food-worthy wine. Your tax dollars are well spent on this one.
Los Vascos Cabernet Sauvignon, Colchagua Valley, Chile. Dierbergs Markets, $9; and United Provisions, $9
Excelsior Cabernet Sauvignon, Robertson, South Africa. United Provisions, $8
Sometimes we want to celebrate on tax day by firing up the grill, maybe with a filet or maybe a hotdog. Regardless of the amount of the tax refund check, the wine has to pair well with what’s on the grill. Cabernet Sauvignon is one of the world’s classic grape varieties: big, bold, and tannic it grows well around the world. Los Vascos Cabernet Sauvignon from Chile is a perfect match with beef. The wine is rich, velvety with hints of chocolate. Some of the best values are coming from Chile’s French influenced wineries. Los Vascos is part of the Rothschild family of wines.
If you’re adventurous try the Excelsior Cabernet Sauvignon from South Africa. South African wines surprise you with unique aromas and flavors. The Excelsior shows black fruit, dark chocolate and dried spice. South African wines have been increasing in quality with every vintage.
So if you’re finished trying to figure out if you can write off your lost socks as a business expense or your cork collection justifies your business miles declaration, open up a bottle of one of these wines, pour a glass and enjoy. Tax day only comes around once a year!
Mike Ward, CWE, CS, CSS, has been the state wine educator at Major Brands Distributing for the past nine years. In addition to teaching professional beverage certification classes, Ward also presents entertaining and informative seminars for wine professionals and novices. His passion is helping people easily approach wine, find the wines they like, and enjoy them at their best. To that end, he launched his own company, Ward on Wine in 2015.
