Wine & Spirits - June 2019 - 18

Sorbara is a relatively light
variety of Lambrusco; this
one is estate grown by Mauro
Buffagni and made in the
Charmat method, so it's
shipped fresh throughout
the year. Imported by Oliver
McCrum Wines, San Francisco, CA
WHY BALDIVINO PICKED IT:

MAEVE
DECOUVELAERE
Kermit Lynch Wine
Merchant, Berkeley

Tenuta La Pergola 2017
Monferrato Rosso
Il Goccetto $12

JOSIAH BALDIVINO
BayGrape, Oakland

Barbolini Lambrusco di
Sorbara $16

I was thinking about versatility. With Chinese food, in particular, you can go so many
different ways. The wines I
brought, a riesling Sekt and
a Lambrusco, are what I call
'layup' wines. The ones [for
when] someone comes in
[to the store] and says, "I

have no idea what people
are bringing," so I give these
and they usually work. You
can get a little fancy, but at
the end of the day, with spicy
food, I feel like you just need
something that's going to
battle that spice; wines that
have that slight off-dry, or
riper, thing. I love bubbles, so
I selfishly brought them. Bubbles work with everything...
and they help to extinguish
the fire.
The bubbles are actually kind
of calming for the spiciness.
-BRIAN LOEHR, ARLEQUIN WINE
MERCHANT

A blend of brachetto and barbera from Piedmont, Italy,
vinified and aged in stainless
steel, this was dubbed "the
value wine of the value wines"
by our retailers. Imported by
Kermit Lunch Wine Merchant,
Berkeley, CA
WHY DECOUVELAERE
PICKED IT:

I rarely find myself recommending red wine with spicy
food. Normally, I'd recommend a darker rosé or a
Bugey-Cerdon, so I went in
that same vein. Il Goccetto
has some brachetto in it,
which gives it that little bit of
tannins and the structure to
round out and complement
the spicy dishes.
It's always fun trying to
think of exciting pairings for
people and to find ways to
bring in the Old World and
make it more fun. The Old
World can often be put into
a more snooty category. This
wine is light enough to be
refreshing and it's just so
easy...an out-of-the-box idea
for a light and refreshing red.

This verdejo, at 5.5 percent alcohol, is a light white with a slight
sweetness and effervescence.
Imported by Kysela Père et Fils,
Winchester, VA

I am all about aromatics
and it's hard to get that in a
red without the wine being
sweet. This is nicely balanced, both on its own and
with the food.

WHY BOOTH PICKED IT:

-DOMINIQUE HENDERSON,
GEMINI BOTTLE CO.

ANDY BOOTH

The Spanish Table, Berkeley

PHOTO LEFT: MOUTHWATERING
CHICKEN; AT RIGHT, COUPLE'S
DELIGHT AND TAN TAN MIEN

Palacio de Bornos Rueda
Verdejo Frizzante $15

With spicy food, you always
hear about wines with residual
sugar to balance out the heat.
I went with something a little
like gewurz or moscatel, but
different. I thought, No one's
going to have anything like
that, so why not?
The bubbles, the zestiness-
it's so quaffable with the
spice. -DOMINIQUE HENDERSON,
GEMINI BOTTLE CO.
Wine & Spirits - June 2019

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