Wine & Brews

Sips & Tips: Wines for the End of Winter and the Edge of Spring

It’s always nice to know we are in March. Most of the harsh winter is behind us and Spring is around the corner. Mid-month we have a green holiday (St. Patrick’s Day) and while I don’t recommend drinking any green wine, it’s a great day to have a good beer.

The wines this month embrace a bit of winter, yet peek ahead to spring. The most entertaining tasting panel (Angela Jones and John and Miranda McVoy) enjoyed a Tawny Port and a La Crescent white. The tawny is great for those cold days still ahead as a before or after dinner treat. The La Crescent lets us know that warmer weather is on its way, and this is a wine to serve on the porch.

We tried these wines separately (rather than side-by-side), tasting the La Crescent first, as the Tawny Port would have overpowered the La Crescent. Both of these wines were made with local grapes by Bob and Nan Smith of Stone Cliff Winery.

To read this and other premium articles in their entirety, pickup the March 2022 issue of Julien’s Journal magazine. Click to subscribe for convenient delivery by mail, or call (563) 557-1914. Single issues are also available in print at area newsstands and digitally via the Issuu platform.

Comment here