Drink Up!
Many of us have been captivated by the World Cup series that began on June 28 and will conclude on Sunday afternoon, July 19, at New York New Jersey Stadium in East Rutherford. At the time of submitting this article only the final four teams are known. I thought it would be fun to research and share with you my recommendations for the wine, beer, and spirits that reflect the final four countries: Argentina, England, Spain, and France.
Argentina is famous for Malbec, even though the varietal originated in Southwest France. Perhaps the most significant person to impact the Argentinean winemaking industry was the French agricultural engineer, Michel Aimé Pouget. It all began in 1853 when the Governor of the Cuyo (central) region, Domingo Faustino Sarmiento, a man who would later become the President of Argentina, sent a proposal to the national Argentinean government to develop and expand the winemaking industry. Pouget was hired as a viticulture specialist and founded the first agricultural school and vine nursery in Mendoza, Argentina. He introduced numerous French grape varieties — including Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Pinot Noir, and Malbec — from cuttings he brought from France. A number of these grapes adapted very well to the terroir and produced wines of excellent concentration and quality. Malbec, or “la uva Francesa,” (the French Grape) as it was known in Argentina, adapted the best. Malbec plantings grew significantly throughout the late 19th and early 20th centuries and expanded to many wine regions throughout the country. Michel Aimé Pouget is now known as the Father of Malbec in Argentina and the date he was hired, April 17, is celebrated internationally each year as World Malbec Day. There is no shortage of good Argentine Malbecs, but my two favorites are El Esteco Don David Reserve and Catena High Mountain Vines. Salud!
England is not generally thought of as a wine country, but, in the words of Bob Dylan, “the times, they are changing,” and so is the climate. England is now producing sparkling wine that is gaining global attention. Bride Valley Vineyards was founded in 2009 by Stephen Spurrier, the Englishman responsible for the Judgement of Paris 50 years ago, in which California wines were judged against French wines. Stephen and his wife Bella settled in Dorset, an area with chalk-rich soil similar to Champagne, France. In 2011, the vineyard released its first vintage of Bride Valley Brut, made with estate Pinot Noir, Chardonnay, and Pinot Meunier in the Méthode Traditionnelle, like in Champagne. Thanks to a good wine friend, I was able to taste this wine and can assure you that England produces excellent sparkling wine! Of course, I would be remiss not to mention the other adult beverages that England is best known for. London Dry Gin, such as Beefeaters and Tanqueray, is arguably the most famous spirit of England. Ales and Stouts such as Newcastle Brown Ale, Fuller’s ESB, Boddingtons and Samuel Smith Oatmeal Stout are known worldwide. Finally, England is also known for hard ciders. Treat yourself and try the Strongbow Gold Dry Hard Cider. It is a real treat and a great choice for the game. Cheers!
Spain has great red, white and sparkling wines. If you prefer a lighter, fresher, more acidic red, Garnacha is for you. This is the same grape known as Grenache in France and other parts of the world; the terroir of Spain is perfectly suited for this grape. There are many great Garnacha, including Evodia, Gulp Hablo, Lurra and Bodegas Breca Breca.
Or, for an excellent full-bodied Spanish red, go with a Tempranillo wine, which have notes of dark fruit, tobacco, leather and baking spices. My favorites come from Bodegas Familia Chivarri. If your preference is a slightly lighter, young wine, choose the Larchago Tempranillo. For a more aged, earthy wine, the Larchago Crianza is a real crowd-pleaser. If you are into well-aged, more traditional Rioja wines, the Larchago Reserva is for you.
For a white from Spain, choose Albariño as a wonderful, bright, crisp wine from Rias Baixas in the northwest section of Spain. The Marqués de Cáceres Deusa Nai Albariño is a wonderful example of this delicious, summery wine.
Of course, my top choice if you are cheering for Spain is Cava. Cava comes from the Penedes region near Barcelona and is the sparkling wine of Spain. Roger Goulart Gran Reserve Extra Brut Cava is an exceptional sparkling wine at a very reasonable price. For me, Cava is the closest thing to Champagne at a fraction of the price. Toast Spain’s team as they do in the Basque region: Topa!
France has plenty of wines to choose from and is the birthplace of many of the varietals most familiar to Americans, including Cabernet Sauvignon, Pinot Noir, Chardonnay, and Sauvignon Blanc. It’s summer, so my choice for a red is a Pinot Noir from Burgundy, such as Domaine Chevrot Bourgogne Hautes Cotes De Beaune. This is the perfect blend of rich dark cherry flavor and the earthiness that gives Pinot Noir its character.
If a darker French red is your preference, try the Château Tourteran Cru Bourgeois Haut-Médoc from Bordeaux. This is a classic left-bank blend of Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, and Cabernet Franc. Cru Bourgeois is a prestigious designation for exceptional wines from the Médoc appellation of Bordeaux. This is a must-try for Cab lovers at a price that will pleasantly surprise you.
For a French white, grab a Sauvignon Blanc from Sancerre, such as the Henri Bourgeois Sancerre. Wines from this region are very popular in the summer for their wonderfully light citrus notes and outstanding minerality. If Chardonnay is your favorite white, raise a glass of Novellum Chardonnay from Languedoc or of Domaine Chevrot Bourgogne Blanc from Burgundy. Of course, if France wins it all, Champagne will be flowing. The choices are numerous, but my favorite is Gonet-Medeville Premier Cru Tradition Brut. It sounds expensive and drinks like the best Champagnes, but at half the price. Sante!
Even if World Cup soccer is not your thing, I hope you enjoyed this article and exploring the countries of wine. As always, if you have questions, contact me at dsetley@passionvines.com. Until next time, may the best team win, and happy wining!
David Setley is enjoying his retirement from higher education as a wine educator and certified sommelier at Passion Vines in Somers Point, New Jersey.
