Spring is the perfect time for rosés - their fragrance and lighter color match the changing of the seasons, the added warmth and light. Historically rosé was a delicate, sometimes dry wine, exemplified by those from the Anjou region in the Loire Valley of France and the powerful Tavels from the Rhone (rosé comes from the French word for pinkish and nothing says they have to be sweet). Today, rosés come from all over the world in a wonderful rainbow of shades and are made from an assortment of grapes. They are often dryer than they were a decade ago as winemakers know they are destined to be served with food. Our shelves hold examples from France, Spain, Germany, South Africa and the U.S., but the two I really, really like are both based on the Pinot Noir grape.

 

Fritz Allendorf's Festival Rosé Secco is a Spätburgunder Perlwein, a dry, slightly sparkling wine made from the German clone of Pinot Noir. The Allendorf wine estate is situated in the heart of the Rheingau - the famous German wine-growing region between Wiesbaden and Rüdesheim on the Rhine. It is one of the largest family-owned wineries in Germany. This light and lovely pale pink wine is an excellent example of a high-class Pinot Noir rosé that doesn't break your budget, with delicate notes of spice and a soft finish.

 

From the village of Sancerre in the Loire Valley comes a new rosé from Cherrier et fils, also a small, family-run winery and the source of one of our most popular whites. If it's from Sancerre and it's a white, then it's made from Sauvignon Blanc; if it's a red, then it comes from Pinot Noir, and therefore their rosé does too. This one is as delicate and elegant as its siblings are from this winery, and even with the Euro doing nasty things to our wine prices, this one is still a great deal. Both variations on the Pinot rosé theme have the distinctive cherry/raspberry fruit and light spice characteristic of this grape, and both are worth a try.

 

FRITZ ALLENDORF FESTIVAL ROSÉ SECCO, Germany $12.95

CHERRIER ET FILS SANCERRE ROSÉ, Loire $17.97 (regular $22.95)

 

Speaking of Sancerre, right across the Loire is Pouilly-sur-Loire, home to another excellent Sauvignon Blanc, from the Domaine Chatelain. Tangy is literally "a distinctively sharp taste, flavor, or odor" and this one has it covered. Full of crisp mineral qualities, it was just reviewed last week by Wine Spectator, who gave it 88 points and the 'tangy' descriptor: "Tangy, with nice straw, yellow apple, mineral and gooseberry notes. A touch shy on the finish, but that's the vintage. Drink now." The Chatelain family has been growing vines on the slopes around Pouilly-sur-Loire since 1630. André Chatelain, who died in 2005, was among the first producers in Pouilly-sur-Loire to export his wines, and his children Jean-Claude and Genevière Chatelain now run the family estate, together with son Vincent and son-in-law Vincent Vatan. The two Vincents are the 12th generation of vignerons at Domaine Chatelain. Their 74 acres of Sauvignon Blanc vines give their wine the balance that comes from the varied soil makeup of their property. The grapes are fermented and blended in stainless steel. Only 200 cases were exported to this country, and we've got a handful of them. I encourage you to grab some while they're in stock - perfect with fish or chicken dishes.

 

DOMAINE CHATELAIN POUILLY FUMÉ, Loire $25.95

 

Hard cider is a terrific option for springtime sipping and not just in England: it's light, smooth and easy to drink, without the sharp hoppiness of beer and a noticeably lower alcohol content (only 5%). Woodchuck Draft Cider is made by the Green Mountain Beverage Company in Middlebury, Vermont, at their cidery (a word they created as a derivative of brewery). Amber was the first style of cider produced under the Woodchuck label. It is made from a blend of apples and fermented with champagne yeast to produce a great tasting and refreshing product. Definitely a good choice on a sunny day after a few hours in the garden, plus it pairs well with light salads or bread & cheeses.

 

WOODCHUCK AMBER CIDER, $9.49 / 6-pk

A great cheese (and I really mean that) to serve alongside that fruity Woodpecker Cider is Montgomery's Farmhouse Cheddar. Made in Somerset, England, this is the real thing. A massive cloth-bound cheese, Montgomery's Cheddar is made from unpasteurized cow's milk, twice scalded and milled. Cheddaring is the process in cheese making where, after heating, the curd is kneaded with salt, cut into cubes and is piled repeatedly to drain the most whey possible. The cheese is bound in cloth and aged a minimum of 6 months. Ours are aged 18-24 months, or usually longer. Montgomery's has superb richness, full, layered flavor, is grassy and buttery. It is the king of English cheeses. (mary)

 

MONTGOMERY'S FARMHOUSE CHEDDAR $15.97 lb (Regular price $19.99) 

We slice a lot of meat in our deli. A lot. Some of it is the best salami we've ever tasted. The Columbus Salame Company (their spelling) of San Francisco is an old-fashioned company making really old-fashioned salamis. The people there are food artisans, perfectionists. They're passionate about their products. Columbus is a family-owned business built up over three generations, blending Old World craftsmanship, superior ingredients and an obsession for doing things the right way to create foods people love. Try these from their Artisan Collection. (mary)

 

FELINO SALAME $14.97 lb (Regular $16.99) - Behold the "king" of Italian Salame - supple, smooth and richly aromatic.

CRESPONE SALAME $14.97 lb (Regular $16.99) - Order salame in any rustic café between Milan and the Italian Alps and, chances are this is the style and flavor salame you will be served: hard, dry-cured and flavored with garlic and sherry.

CACCIATORE SALAME $15.97 lb (Regular $17.99) - Small and delicate, Cacciatore is considered the ultimate finger food. Dry-cured pork with garlic and wine. Nothing fancy, just fantastic.

We're down to only one rack of blowout specials left, but there are still some great bargains to be had. Stop by and see for yourself what goodies you can find.

Wrapping up our spring semester and continuing our series of Third Thursday Wine Classes focusing on individual grapes, next month we'll twist it around and look at Italian whites that aren't Pinot Grigio. Alan Pilgrim will be leading this one and he has picked out some terrific wines from throughout Italy to make it well worth your while. The food department will, of course, offer some appropriate snacks - please remember, if you would prefer a vegetarian tasting plate, let us know when you register. This will be our last class before our summer vacation, and as always, reservations in advance are required, so call or e-mail right now because space is limited.

 

06/19 THU - 6:30 to 7:45 p.m., $20 for CAP members (and you will become a CAP member). Contact Schaefer's at 847-677-WINE (9463) or by email to sign up.

Stop by for our FREE Saturday Tasting, 11:00-5:00, when we'll be enjoying the start of meteorological summer with lighter weight whites and reds, plus our usual goodies from the deli, focusing on al fresco dining treats.

That's all for this week. If we may be of any further service, please stop by our store at 9965 Gross Point Road in Skokie (for directions, click here), visit our website at http://www.schaefers.com, give us a call at 847-677-WINE (9463), 800-833-WINE (9463), or click here to contact us.