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Best Bars: Three trendy alternatives to merlot, pinot grigio and chardonnay
| February 13, 2012
Order the same bottle every time? Sheila Flaherty, the 25-year-old wine director at Mercatto who has won the Italian mini-chain three Wine Spectator awards, recommends trendy alternatives to the old standbys
INSTEAD OF MERLOT,
TRY CARMENÈRE
“Chilean carmenère has a beautiful dark colour and those great plummy vanilla flavours of merlot, but it’s fruitier and has softer tannins and acidity.”
BUY: Casa Lapostolle Carmenére.
$16. LCBO 168740
INSTEAD OF PINOT GRIGIO,
TRY GRÜNER VELTLINER
“Grüner veltliner is one of my all-time favourites, and it often flies under the radar. The federspiel from Austria is light, fun and refreshing. It balances soft fruit with herbal dryness, and it has that crisp finish of pinot grigio, but it’s spicier.”
BUY: Rabl Reserve Vium Optimum Grüner Veltliner.
$20. Vintages LCBO 216473
INSTEAD OF CHARDONNAY,
TRY ALBARIÑO
“If you love soft, citrusy, acid-driven chardonnays, albariño from Spain is a great alternative. The apple and pear notes remind me of a white burgundy.”
BUY: Valminor Albariño.
$16. LCBO 266924
By Denise Balkissoon, Ariel Brewster, Andrew D’Cruz, Matthew Hague, Malcolm Johnston, Emily Landau, Jason McBride, Alexandra Molotkow, Mark Pupo, Peter Saltsman, Courtney Shea and Eric Vellend
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