Don Olegario - 2005 Albarino

Don Olegario wines originate from the O Salnes valley in Rias Baixas, a wine region located in Southwest Spain known for its white wines, 90% of which are derived from the Albarino grapes. It is believed that this mild and wet region was introduced to grapes and wine making in the 12th century by Galician monks. While the wines produced there were made for local use only up until the 1980's, since then, this small region has been releasing great Albarino bottles for the rest of the world to love.

This week's favorite: 2005 Don Olegario Albarino
$17, found at your local fine wine store

This wine is perfect for summer! It has smooth, intense citrus flavors of a Riesling, but without the sweetness. It is bright and lively, with flavors of grapefruit and white grape, and has a refreshing, lingering finish complete with hints of lemon. It is simple and elegant!

This wine is strongly recommended to be served with a fresh summer salad, topped with pan sauteed shrimp and scallops. Use a little olive oil, garlic, lemongrass, ginger, black pepper and lime in the pan when cooking to really bring out the flavors of the shrimp and scallops. Throw the shrimp and scallops on a bed of romaine lettuce, fresh tomatoes, and cucumbers, toss and serve. The wine's citrusy flavor will intensify and compliment this meal... the perfect combination for a hot summery day or balmy night!

Layer Cake - 2007 Malbec

Layer Cake is a brand under the Vintage Point partnership, and what is interesting is that all Layer Cake wines are not from the same region. Depending on the grape and expert farmers, they choose the best regions of the world to harvest their wines. For example, their 2007 Cabernet Sauvignon is grown and harvested in Napa Valley, and their Malbec, this week's bottle, is from Mendoza River Valley in Argentina. Their other wines are harvested from regions in Australia, France, and Italy.

This week's favorite: 2007 Layer Cake Malbec
$17, your local fine wine store

This wine is intense! If you are not a "reds" fan, this is not for you. However, if you enjoy a full-bodied Merlot, then this will be a surprising treat. Malbec grapes are typically found in a French Bordeaux, which explains a lot for this deep red wine, although the Argentine Malbec grapes are smaller in size and smoother in texture. When you first unscrew the bottle (LOVE that it has a screw top!), a strong smell of black fruit hits you, followed by anise and other spices. Pour yourself a glass and let it breathe for a few minutes, or decant the entire bottle before serving. Once the wine has been able to breathe, sip it slowly, for a lush fruit and bold spice flavor that finishes with a little bit of bite.

This wine is strongly recommended to be served with a well aged steak topped with a rich cheese like Gorgonzola, or a delicious and savory rack of lamb. Its full bodied flavor and spice will bring out the natural flavors of the meats, without being overbearing. Enjoy!

Carmel Road - 2006 Chardonnay

Years ago, before I could drink, my family visited a little seaside town in California called Monterey. At the time, my parents were just seriously getting into wines, and this area was not mainstream for good wines. Now, so many great wines come from the Salinas Valley and Carmel Valley in Monterey County. The cool Pacific air limits the types of grapes grown in this region, but over half of the grapes grown in this area are those used to make Chardonnay.

This week's favorite: 2006 Carmel Road Chardonnay
$16, Found at your local grocery or wine store

This Chardonnay is a beautiful mix of a fruity white wine with a true oak finish. It is smooth, with bright notes of citrus and floral flavors in the initial taste, and perfectly buttery in color. It ends with a mild, buttery oak flavor that makes it a chardonnay worth coming back to.

This chardonnay is best served with grilled white fish, such as black grouper or tilapia. Baste the fish in a mixture of 2 Tbsp of butter, 2Tbsp of lemon juice, and 1 Tbsp of garlic, with a pinch of salt and pepper before grilling. As a great topping, I like to combine 2 Tbsp of feta cheese, kalamata olives, sliced grape tomatoes, 1 Tbsp of lemon juice, 1 Tbsp of extra virgin olive oil, and a dash of garlic salt. Mix, and pour over fish fillet before serving. Pour yourself a nice glass of Carmel Road and enjoy the butter and citrus flavors of the meal!

Welcome to Wino Wednesday

We winos post a new wine and review every Wednesday, every week. We prefer bottles under $20 (remember, we're addicted, so $$ adds up quick!), so we will let you know the suggested retail price and where to buy it. Reviews are personal opinions, and not affiliated any way with the winery and/or bottle featured. We will also provide suggested foods to compliment the flavors of each individual wine, and every now and then, a recipe too. We hope you enjoy these as much as we do!

"I love to cook with wine. Sometimes I even put it in the food."