Andi's Wine in Rotation 7/21/22

Hey, winos! Welcome to a bi-weekly series where I provide rapid-fire recommendations for the delicious wine I’m currently sipping on. Here’s a list of my recs in rotation:

Lubanzi Sparkling Rose (Retail $20)

This aromatic wine has brought me joy on so many occasions. My first experience drinking it was like listening to your favorite album for the first time. I split the bottle with a friend and we savored every last drop. Then, only two days later, I bought the bottle again; something about the crisp, balanced acidity had me craving more even though I’d just had it—much like wanting to re-listen to a great album again and again. The second go-around was even better because I noticed things I missed the first time: the citrus blossom tasting notes, the minerality. After this, I decided to wait for a special occasion to drink this wine again. And that moment certainly came: Lauren got me this beautiful bottle of wine for my birthday this year. 

Note: The Lubanzi is one of the wines for this quarter of the Readers and Drinkers Circle! Our quarterly wine and book pairing subscription is a lot of fun and always pairs three books with three wines to give you the full Book + Bottle experience.

Vera Vinho Verde Branco 2020 (Retail $18)

Vinho Verde is what we would call a porch pounder here at Book + Bottle; it’s light, crisp, and you could crush an entire bottle of it on a hot day. Recently, though, I decided to pair this wine with homemade crunch wrap supremes. A refreshing, Portuguese wine was perfect in light of this meal. The lime and yellow grapefruit tasting notes worked well with the sour cream, beef, salsa, and shredded cheese that made up my crunch wrap. It would also pair well with chips and guac, a shrimp burrito, or a heaping bowl of queso. I recommend this wine for your next beach day or summer cookout. It will be sure to cool you down in this Florida heat.

Tenuta Tascante Ghiaia Nera Etna Rosso 2019 (Retail $21)

If you’re looking for the perfect summer red, look no further. I’m a red wine girl through and through and this Etna Rosso is one of my favorites. It elicits the smokiness that you want from the volcanic soil of Etna but also manages to give off several fruit-forward tasting notes: cherry, pomegranate, and orange zest. I haven’t tried it yet, but I would imagine that this medium-bodied red would do great with a slight chill on it. And, because it’s Sicilian, it would be a great wine to bring to your next Italian dinner party. I’ve also purchased this bottle as a gift for someone who is interested in trying wines that feel both classic and exciting.