by Rebecca Edwards
It's a little-known fact that Utahns drink over twice as much wine as they do beer*. Oh yes, it's true! That news is no surprise to a devoted wino like me, so in celebration of all you other wine drinkers out there, here's a guide to some of my favorite wines that you can enjoy regardless of the recession. Cheers!
The Prodigal Son: This is my new favorite wine. It's a petite sirah, and is a fruity red with a nice finish full of spice. The Prodigal Son is the latest offering by Big House wineries, best known for their blends Big House Red and Big House White. You can pick it up at your local wine or liquor store for just $11.99.
Menage a Troi: You can enjoy your threesome in either red or white. As my white wine palette has come to prefer drier whites, I no longer rave about the white as much as I used to; however, for those who enjoy a little bit of sweetness in a nicely chilled white, you can't go wrong. The red is a balanced blend of Zinfandel, Merlot and Cabernet, and won't set you back any more than $12.99 a bottle.
Cheapskate Miser Meritage: The Miser Mantra, as written on the label, is: "I am my own connoisseur. I will trust my taste. I taste, therefore I scrimp." This wine is only about $7 and is a rich, delightful red table wine that is great to sip over conversation or enjoy with a fine meal.
Coppola Bianco: Ever since the first time I tasted it at Trio Cafe, I have been in love with this Pinot Grigio. Crisp, dry, and with a hint of lemongrass, this wine is one of the best. Coppola is consistent and can be savored for around $14.00 a bottle.
Cycles Gladiator Cabernet Savignon: Not only is this one of the coolest labels out there, but the wine ain't bad either. This is a typical Cabernet with medium dryness and a velvety finish (I'm a sucker for a velvety finish!). For only $8 a bottle, how can you NOT try it?
Mont Marcal: This is a sparkling, Spanish red. Sparkling reds have been all the rage in wine circles for the past year, and this one is a fine example of why. I was afraid of trying a sparkling red, imagining a sickeningly sweet white zinfandel with bubbles, but this wine left me pleasantly surprised. The flavor remained full, and the bubbles added a fun tingle to this wine that makes it a great complement to burgers or other pub fare that you might usually pair with beer.
*According to the Utah DABC 73rd annual report
Jason Manwell
I have a few more that a dear one has introduced me to - El Brujo Garnacha (deep red, very masculine, musky almost - a really cool label too, for less than $10), Vino Verde (new grape pressings, low in alcohol content, very light - less than $10), and Prima Amore (which the wine store is out of - bastards! It was clearance for less than $5!)
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