February 18th is National Drink Wine Day! And if you love wine as much as we do, then get ready to unwind with a glass or two of your favourite drink of gods. Wine has been one of the most beloved drinks in human culture since 7000 BC. Now there is an endless variety of wines to choose from. Here is our list of great wines to celebrate National Drink Wine Day or any other occasion.
NICE Malbec
Malbec is a full-bodied red wine produced in Argentina and France. Malbec wine offers a great alternative to higher-priced Cabernet Sauvignon and Syrah. Try delicious NICE Malbec, produced in Argentina.
Taste: Malbec wine is dry, fruity, and rich in taste with tobacco, plum, and chocolate notes. The notes of tobacco, milk chocolate, and vanilla make this dry wine perfect pairing for smoky red meat.
How to serve: Serve at slightly below room temperature, or about 18°C. Keep it in the refrigerator for 20 to 30 minutes before serving.
NICE Sauvignon Blanc
Sauvignon Blanc is one of the world’s most popular white wines. It is usually pale yellow to greenish in colour, light to medium in body has high acidity and crispy and refreshing taste. Sauvignon Blanc can contain a variety of aromas from cut grass and herbs to gooseberry, grapefruit, lemon and lime, and sometimes honey. Our Sauvignon Blanc of choice is NICE Sauvignon Blanc. It is light, crispy and refreshing.
Taste: Sauvignon Blanc has rich grassy and herbal flavours accompanied by aromas of white peach, green apple, and passion fruit. Sauvignon Blanc usually pairs well with goat cheese, green vegetables (particularly artichokes and asparagus), salads, fish and shellfish.
How to serve: Sauvignon Blanc should be served chilled. If the wine is too warm, the alcohol will be more noticeable while flavours and acidity will taste dull. The best temperature range is 13-15°C, which can be achieved by two hours in the refrigerator.
NICE Pale Rosé
Pale Rosé is made from red grapes usually of such varieties as Cabernet, Pinot Noir, Shiraz, or Grenache. It gets the colour from the skins of red grapes. But unlike with the red wine, the winemakers soak the skins of grapes into the clear juice for a very short amount of time (it could be hours or days). Once the makers have achieved the desired colour, they separate skins from the juice and then ferment the pink juice.
NICE Pale Rosé is an amazing pale rosé with rich strawberry and raspberry flavours.
Taste: Enjoy the light and crispy taste and magnificent aromas of strawberry, cherry, raspberry, and vibrant citrus. It goes well with shellfish, fish, vegetable salads, and grilled vegetables.
How to serve: Rosé should always be chilled and served at approximately 15°C. Place rosé directly into the refrigerator after purchasing it, and chill before serving.
If you are a big fan of fortified wine, then the next sherry recommendations are for you! And no, sherry is not your grandma's wine. Learn more about sherry here.
XECO Fino Sherry
Fino sherry is a super refreshing and fantastically easy-going wine. XECO Fino is made from the Palomino grape variety and is biologically aged in American oak in the town of Jerez, Andalucia.
Taste: It has a pale golden hue, dainty aromas and is light and fresh on the palate. The floral citrus palate, followed by subtle salty notes and a dry fresh finish. It pairs well with seafood olives and cheese.
How to serve: Always serve chilled. Once opened, this wine may be stored in the fridge for up to a week without losing its freshness.
XECO Amontillado
Amontillado is a very unique and delightful sherry. It is made using dual ageing process: first under the blanket of flor, typical of Fino and Manzanilla, and then followed by a period in which the flor disappears and the wine is exposed to oxidation.
Taste: Rich and really quite sweet on the nose, this wine is bone dry and characterized by nutty aromas, tobacco, vanilla, dried fruits, hints of caramel, aromatic herbs and notes of oak. XECO Amontillado is a delicious pairing for white meat, a beef consommé, chorizo, hard cheeses, and nuts.
How to serve: It should be served chilled at around 12°C.
Check out our blog post about pairing wine and food to choose the best snacks for your favourite wine!