By Mark Littman '11
Reviewer

On the eve of Snowpocalypse 1 in December, I was standing in line at a local wine merchant holding a case of bottles I was about to purchase. The gentlemen in front of me, a few six-packs in hand, and I exchanged approving nods. An ungodly amount of snowfall in Charlottesville, along with two weeks of the Winter Olympics, has ensured that I have depleted my wine collection at a faster-than-expected clip.

As the co-founder and co-president of the Wine Society at the Law School, I always frown upon seeing people settle for mediocre generic California wines or Yellow Tail when looking for a lower-end wine. It is not that I am a wine snob – I am on a student’s budget, too – but you can do so much better. In writing this article, I encourage you to sample the plenty of affordable, yet tasty, alternatives in the Charlottesville area. The following have been some of my favorite bottles that I purchased locally during the past months:

2006 Step Rd Black Wing Shiraz (Whole Foods): My first experience with this New World wine was the ’05 vintage, and I was blown away. Shiraz is the same red grape as the noble French Syrah (northern Rhône), but the Australians produce younger and more approachable wines as compared to their Old World counterparts. Furthermore, Australia is currently facing an oversupply of wine, which will only ensure even better values in the near future. This wine is fruit-forward and delicious. I believe this bottle actually costs slightly less at Market Street Wineshop, which has an outpost right across the parking lot from Whole Foods.

2008 Kanu Chenin Blanc (Market Street): Last February, the Wine Society tasted this South African white, and it remains one of the most memorable (and cheapest) wines we’ve had to date. Produced in the Stellenbosch region, this Chenin Blanc is crisp, floral, and peachy. It is easily enjoyable without food, though it would likely go well with seafood or spicier Asian cuisines. South Africa is known for great value wines, and, if you instead prefer a red, I highly recommend trying the native Pinotage grape in the alternative.

2006 Pratello Garda Poderi Ogaria (Kroger): I was excited to see this 100-percent Marzemino wine (red grape) on the shelf of a supermarket of all places. I had never heard of the grape and was interested in trying it, if only to further my progress toward membership in the Wine Century Club (trying 100 grapes in a lifetime). The wine is produced in the certified Garda D.O.C., which is about halfway between Milan and Venice in northern Italy. I was even more delighted once I tried the wine. An interesting and approachable red, the wine makes for a great bottle to drink among friends and doesn’t require food to enjoy.

2008 Domaine Eugène Carrel Vin de Savoie Jongieux (Market Street): What started out as a new-grape purchase (the white Jacquère) became a highlight of a Feb Club pre-game. I am typically suspect of trying to find value in France, but this wine was noteworthy. The grapes are grown on the other side of the Alps from Italy’s famed Piedmont region. While this wine lacks complexity, it is very nicely balanced and quaffable. The young wine has a pear or general fruit undercurrent that is not overwhelming.

Even if you don’t seek or find the specific brands I tasted, there are plenty of great value regions still out there. In addition to Australia and South Africa, which are represented above, Argentina and, especially, Chile, both export excellent red and white varietals that are still gaining traction in the wine world. The Portuguese also produce very approachable red blends that typically fall well within a student’s budget. If you’re looking in more traditional producing countries such as Italy and France, it may be best to try to find uncommon grape varietals in less popular regions (such as Sicily or Languedoc) as opposed to buying the lesser Piedmont or Bordeaux wines. There are some interesting and delicious finds out there.

Wine is a drink for all occasions and weather conditions. So even though the Olympics are coming to a close and, hopefully, so is the snow, there will always be an occasion for another bottle or two. It’s never a bad time to stock up on your supply. If you ever have questions about wine in general or suggested food pairings, always feel free to e-mail the Wine Society at virginiawinesociety@gmail.com.

N.B. The Wine Society Bulletin Board on the first floor of Slaughter has the “Supermarket Wine of the Month” for more suggestions.