The Knowledgeable Wino: Spanish Bombs

Photo by Giancarlo Rivera

Autumn is here, and as the tuques and scarves start appearing on the streets, we must face the fact that the Montreal patio-garden-party-balconville-park-grilling season is coming to an end. Here are a few wines that will help with the transition into the cold, party-in-my-living-room-or-a-cozy-restaurant months.

Fruit-bomb reds, like Argentinian Malbec or Australian Shiraz, complement charred meat well, but you may have to change your game plan after packing up the ‘q for the indoor season. Pinot Noir screams autumn like no other wine, as if someone purposely bottled a walk through Mount Royal Park in late October. The 2010 Cono Sur Pinot Noir (SAQ code: 00874891 — $15.95) is a tasty example of just this. Made sustainably in Chile (the land of awesome bang-for-your-buck vino), this wine is oozing with flavours of crisp raspberries and pomegranates, along with some earthy and smoky elements. Try it with oven-roasted chicken, duck confit, beet salad, pan-roasted herb-encrusted salmon or bacon and mushroom thin-crust pizza.

Just next door — in some weird, figurative sense, at least —  in Argentina is the home of a charming white called Torrontés (nothing to do with Maple Leafsville, I swear). If you have had Riesling or Pinot Gris before (think Alsace, France) and dug it, this will be right up your alley. It’s perfect for the next time you order in Thai or Szechuan, or visit a BYOW Vietnamese spot.

A great intro is the 2011 Etchart Torrontés (SAQ code: 00283754 — $13.95), packing fresh citrus and nectarine aromas and a healthy dose of food-friendly mouth-refreshing acidity. It’ll supercharge your fish taco, pulled-pork sandwich, Thai curry or Vietnamese bun.

When in doubt, go bubbly. When you can’t decide on a red or white and want to steer clear of beer’s filling effects, sparkling wine can be the Barrett to your Floyd. It’s perfect for salty and spicy foods and great alone as an aperitif or dessert.

Delicious sorts of Champagne-alternative sparkling wines such as Prosecco and Cava are now more accessible than ever. The Parés Baltà Brut Cava from the Catalunya region of Spain (SAQ code: 10896365 — $14.85) is a hoard-worthy steal. Made organically using the traditional Champagne method, it whispers flavours of late-harvested pears and apples with a hint of toast and almonds. Pop one open to fizz out your pad Thai, smoked herring and mesclun salad, fish’n’chips, or cheese platter or for kicking back and watching the Habs (fingers crossed). Drink as chilled as your favourite pilsner. Salud! ■