“Wine is sunlight, held together by water”
Galileo
June, a grand time to purchase a bottle of wine and enjoy it outside, be it at a picnic in a park, while listening to the Dubuque Arts Council’s Sunday night Music at the Star, concerts in the Alliant Amphitheater, or on your own back porch with friends. TeamWine has found two fun wines to help your selection process. We stretched our boundaries a bit though. Our red, really a dark rosé, was purchased from Convivio, a lovely wine shop in Spring Green, Wisconsin; and our white was found at Gateway Market in Des Moines. Both wines are perfect for enjoying outside with friends.
Sips
Our white wine is from Bosnia. While it was purchased in Des Moines, by the time this is published, you may be able to obtain it locally. It is a 2022 Vinogradi Nuić (12.5% abv $19.99) from the Mostar Wine Region of Bosnia. The grape is Žilavka, a light-skinned grape variety planted in the southern part of Bosnia-Herzegovina. The grapes are hand-harvested and further picked over before pressing. The must is cooled and clarified (removing impurities) overnight. It goes through a cold fermentation and is aged on fine lees for six months with occasional stirring. The best tanks are then selected for blending and bottling. It is held for two months before it is placed on the market.
This wine was clear, light yellow with a tint of green. Aromas included spring flower buds, a sweetish- almost coconut note, essence of lime and a bit of grass (but not like Sauvignon Blanc grass). For flavors on the palate, we found hints of grapefruit, spice of white pepper, and wet/mossy stone. The acidity was prominent and almost a bit effervescent. I was surprised with a particularly long, pleasant finish, for a white wine. This wine paired well with some quality tuna in a fennel oil, hummus, a soft Havarti cheese and roasted mushrooms. We felt a summer salad with tuna, or any white fish, or a light pasta dish with a cream or cheese sauce would be a lovely pairing.
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