Traveling around the world may seem unthinkable in the Covid era - but we can still enjoy wines from all over the world! Many people think of imported wines as pricey, but we’ve selected a set of utterly drinkable and delicious wines from France, Italy, and even Mexico where the price tag doesn’t surpass $15. With all that money saved, maybe buying a plane ticket isn’t such a bad idea...
Bubbles
Lombardini Tradizione Amabile Lambrusco
100% Lambrusco, Italy, $14.99
This semi-sweet, semi-sparkling red shines bold, with a deep ruby color. On the nose it is intense and pleasant, with a hint of soft red berries. On the palate, it has good body and balance, offering a clean smooth finish. Pair it with pizza or pasta, or to finish the meal with strawberries or cheesecake.
Luca Paretti Prosecco Extra Dry Doc Prosecco
100% Glera, Italy, $14.99
Luca Paretti Extra Dry appears pale yellow with a lively perlage. The dry and delicate taste is underscored by the floral aroma of wisteria and acacia. It is a versatile and elegant prosecco that is soft and pleasant and presents a perfected acidic balance. Luca Paretti Extra Dry seduces with luscious floral aromas. It is slightly sweet and has perfect acidity. It is ideal for any meal or occasion.
Luca Paretti Prosecco Brut Doc Prosecco
100% Glera, Italy, $14.99
Luca Paretti Brut is a prosecco made with 100% Glera grapes. This wine bursts with fresh aromas of citrus, peach apple. It is dry, crisp and perfectly balanced. This Brut appears soft yellow with lime green hues and fine bubbles that produce understated aromas of green apple and peach with floral notes. It’s soft but shows fresh acidity and a hint of exotic fruit.
Pair this wine with a lighter fish or vegetable dish, such as seared scallops or tomato tartlets. (Or with a girls’ night out!)
Rose
Juliette Provence Rose 2019
70% Grenache / 30% Syrah, France, $12.99
Juliette comes from the Provence region of Southern France which is world-renowned for its exquisite rosé wines. This wine is refreshing and crisp with an initial fruit-forward burst of raspberry and berry flavors yet also elegant, bone dry, and layered. The perfect wine to serve as an aperitif or alongside a caprese salad or charcuterie and cheese plate.
Luca Paretti Spumante Rose
90% Merlot / 10% Raboso, Italy, $15.99
Luca Paretti Spumante Rosé is a sparkling wine that seduces for its perfume and persists for its taste. It is an enchanting shade of rose with soft bubbles that announces a rich personality with a cheeky temperament. The intoxicating aroma of wild strawberries complement the subtle and sweet taste. Luca Paretti Spumante Rosé exudes an intoxicating aroma of berries, lilac wild rose. It is refreshing with a hint of sweetness. Eclectic by nature, Luca Paretti Spumante Rosé is a perfect aperitif, or can bring liveliness to simple seafood and pasta dishes and complements first courses such as salad niçoise. Luca Paretti Spumante Rosé is also the perfect addition to a festive brunch.
Whites
La Cosmique Chardonnay
100% Chardonnay, France, $14.99
La Cosmique Chardonnay is crafted in France and is an approachable, high- quality Chardonnay with unique flavors. It is fresh, fruit forward, and radiates beautiful shades of golden straw with green hues. On the nose, this wine exudes expressive aromas of wildflowers. On the palate, it has notes of exotic fruits and fresh coconut. It is pleasant and crisp with a pleasing minerality.
Pair it with fresh fish such as simply prepared grilled salmon. It is also excellent paired with poultry, such as chicken in a butter sauce or with spicy Asian cuisine.
Trumpeter Rutini Torrontes
100% Torrontes, Argentina, $12.99
Argentina’s signature white varietal, Torrontes is a unique white wine with distinctive floral aromas. On the nose, this wine displays enticing notes of white peaches with hints of jasmine and rose. On the palate, it’s pleasantly fresh, with citrus notes, beautiful structure and pleasant acidity. Pair this aromatic wine with dishes like spicy empanadas, spanish omelet or roasted fish.
Veramonte Sauvignon Blanc
100% Sauvignon Blanc, Chile $12.99
This fresh, vibrant Sauvignon Blanc is produced in the Casablanca Valley of Chile and is made with 100% organic grapes. Lively and aromatic with aromas of lime and tangerine mixed with some subtle floral notes. Smooth and fresh this wine is excellent paired with oysters, white fish, and spring or summer salads.
Clifford Bay Sauvignon Blanc
100% Sauvignon Blanc, New Zealand, $11.99
This Sauvignon Blanc is all about expressive fruit flavors. The wine possesses a light straw color and tropical aromas of grapefruit and passion fruit. The palate exhibits the same fine flavors followed by a crisp, dry, mineral finish. Pairs well with chicken, pork, soft cheeses, and shellfish.
Reds
La Cosmique Pinot Noir
100% Pinot Noir, France, $14.99
La Cosmique Pinot Noir is fresh and fruit forward, appears a bright shade of ruby red and exudes subtle notes of cherry. On the nose, the wine offers notes of ripe cherries, raspberries and black pepper. On the palate, it is lively with fresh red fruit and a subtle earthy finish with hints of the Southern Rhone region’s indigenous herbs giving the wine a spicy accent to balance the fruit.
Serve La Cosmique Pinot Noir with richer poultry dishes such as smoked turkey or duck, vegetarian dishes such as wild mushrooms and grilled asparagus, or at the end of a meal with fresh fruit.
Trumpeter Malbec
100% Malbec, Argentina, $12.99
The Trumpeter Malbec is a full-bodied Malbec that displays an inky and dense color with attractive fruit aromas and a touch of cinnamon and sweet spice. Its intense tannins are balanced with ripe fruits like cherry, blackberry, boysenberry and plum, intermingled with hints of cardamom and pepper. A pleasant touch of cocoa is left on the palate at the end with a long, full finish. Delicious when paired with barbequed meat, lamb dishes, empanadas, or fish.
Trumpeter Pinot Noir
100% Pinot Noir, Argentina, $12.99
This Pinot Noir displays a delicate and silky texture with ruby red hues. Fruity aromas of raspberries, strawberries are combined with hints of violet and oaky notes to create an elegant aromatic profile. The softness and fineness of the tannins bring vibrant acidity and a smooth finish. Serve with cured or smoked sausages and cold meats, yellowfin tuna, mushroom dishes, roast and stuffed game birds, roast pork, or even rabbit with vegetables.
Pavo Real Rojo
40% Cabernet Sauvignon/30% Merlot/16% Tempranillo/14% Grenache, Mexico, $14.99
Pavo Real Rojo exhibits intense and fruit forward aromas of dried strawberry, black currants, crushed pomegranates, wild herbs, and dried clay. The palate is full, layered, rich and spicy with flavors of preserved raspberries, strawberries, bitter chocolate, dried herbs and baking spices. This unoaked wine has a fruity and delicate nose with notes of plum and cherry.
Best paired with a rich meal such as beef fajitas with grilled onions or spicy chorizo dishes.
Sonoro Cabernet Franc
100% Cabernet Franc, Italy, now $9.99 (reg. $14.99)
Sonoro Cabernet Franc has been aged 12 months in stainless steel tanks. This is a medium-body wine. On the nose, it has herbaceous and cherry notes. On the palate, this wine is round and intense. Expect vegetal afternotes typical of a Cabernet Franc. Pair it with salami or with red meat, risotto with sausage, or cotechino with lentils.
