Tag Archives: spring

Our Top Easter & Passover Wine Picks

They’re two of our region’s most celebrated holidays, two that we look forward to all year. And even if you don’t honor the traditional Easter or Passover rituals, there’s lots to toast to this weekend. Spring has sprung, and our markets are bursting with the new season’s first produce. Here’s what our team recommends to accompany all spring occasions. Whatever you may celebrate – we hope you do so with great wine, family and friends.

OUR TOP EASTER PICKS

Quinta do Encontro Brut
A delightful, relative newcomer to the store that we can’t get enough of. This Portuguese sparkler is dry with vigorous bubbles, and tastes like a dream $25 Champagne, but is half the price! Pop it open to welcome your Easter guests or sip on it as a reward for spending all of Sunday in the garden. $10.99

Steininger Cabernet Sauvignon Rose 
This spring-in-a-bottle charmer will be spectacular with your Easter ham, lamb or vegetarian quiche. Our Wine Manager Kate just returned from a visit to this Austrian winery, where the winemaking family reveled that this past, warmer season was the best vintage they can remember in over 15 years.  Ask her to show you pictures of the lovely family and underground cellars. If you like Whispering Angel, you need to try this Austrian gem!  $19.99

Henri Perrusset Macon Villages Chardonnay 
A wine perfectly suited for spring holiday meals!  This light French white is easy drinking and a super classy selection from the Kermit Lynch Portfolio.  It’s easily one of our absolute favorites.  Crisp, like the morning dew on an early, spring morning. $21.99

Raul Perez “Ultreia” Mencia  
This wine is so special! It tastes like a delicious jam made from Scandinavian raspberries with hints of dried herbs, and a smooth, somehow refreshing finish!  Even, Eric Asimov, NY Times  Wine Critic  agrees, including it in his most recent roundup of value wines not to be missed. It’s a beautiful complement to the Easter mainstays of lamb, ham and roast beef. $21.99

And then there are the bottles below. They do double duty, what with their spring-themed labels and all. Never fear – we wouldn’t recommend them if we didn’t like what was behind the label a whole heck of a lot:

The Little Sheep
What an elegant rose, with notes of red summer berries and delicate floral notes. Smooth, and beautifully balanced with fruit-forward flavors and cherry hints that lead into a refreshing, enjoyable finish. $12.99

Lelievre Pinot Auxerrois
We brought this wine in last year and just had to include it again here, given its affinity to spring foods. It’s from Lorraine, near Champagne and Chablis. Though different from those two wines, if you like them, you’ll love this, too. It’s incredibly, beautifully aromatic, and round with pear and white-fruit flavors, all brought together with a delicate acidity. And did you notice the bunny on the label? Could it be more perfect for this spring and Easter?  $18.99

Le Poussin Rose
Made by by Sacha Lichine of Whispering Angel fame, the “Pink Chick” is a delicate, pale pink blend made mostly from grenache with a little dash of syrah to round it out. It has floral, rose petal scents on the nose and a dry, well balanced palate with supple summer fruits. It’s one of our most popular, packed full of flavor, at a great price. $11.99

OUR TOP PICKS FOR PASSOVER

O’Dwyer’s Creek Sauvignon Blanc
This Kosher for Passover and vegan beauty of a wine is made on a single estate in the iconic Marlborough region of New Zealand. It’s vibrant with juicy, tropical fruits and pairs perfectly with the Passover table. $17.99

The Butcher’s Daughter Bordeaux
A great wine that just happens to be kosher for Passover, this Bordeaux blend is ripe with a bouquet of cassis and raspberry fruit, and a deep cocoa character. Made to drink with your brisket or lamb roast. It’s a year-round best seller! $13.99

Terra Vega Malbec
From Chile, this silky and balanced wine pairs beautifully with brisket, what with its amazing aromas of plum, cherry and herbs, all followed by a fruit-sweet, biscuit finish. $9.99

Chag Pesach! Happy Easter! Happy Spring!
xoxo, Team Bottles

prices subject to change

Our Top 6 Spring Wines

Channeling our inner Kevin Costner here, and putting out there that If You Drink Them, It Will Come. We’re talking spring wines and spring weather, folks. Who knows if we’re out of the snow woods yet, but gosh darn it, we’re going to drink like we are. And here’s what we’ll be opening:

Underwood “The Bubbles” Sparkling Wine in a Can, Oregon

Oh where to start with this one. Do we talk about how cool it is to have wine in a can (great for the wine! environmentally friendly!)? Or how cool it is to have sparkling wine in a can (instant party anywhere!)? Or do we talk about just how yummy these bubbles are (oh hello ripe citrus, tropical fruit, and white flower flavors). Or, maybe we should just shut our mouths and drink it, and encourage you to do the same. (The drinking part, not the mouth-shutting part.)

Underwood “The Bubbles Rosé” Wine in a Can, Oregon

You probably didn’t set out today looking for springtime in a can, but man did you find it. Each of these little aluminum gems are bursting with effervescent wild strawberry and tart cherry flavors that’ll make you look forward to mowing your lawn, weeding your garden, and mulching your beds. We guarantee it.

$6.99 per can (each flavor)

Boya Rosé of Pinot Noir, Chile

And now for a refreshing coastal Chilean rosé with bright raspberry and tangerine notes, and a dry, mineral-y finish. Crack open a bottle, invite friends over for freshly shucked oysters and grilled chicken and vegetables and you win. It’s a food-loving, crowd pleasing blockbuster of a wine for sure!

$15.99

Domaine d’Ourea “Tire Bouchon” Gigondas, Rhone Valley, France

Quench your thirst with this juicy, funky, deep and fascinating Grenache-based wine while you slow roast ribs or slather that chicken in barbecue sauce for the season’s first cookout. It’s all dark fruit, with an undercurrent of dried-herb earthiness and some grippy tannins that whip in at the end. It’s super stuff.

$13.99

Foris Estate Grown Pinot Noir, Rogue Valley, Oregon

We can’t stop thinking about salmon when we think of this wine! It’s an Oregonian Pinot Noir with bright Bing cherry, red plum, and floral aromas, and beautifully assimilated flavors of cherries, currant, cranberry gratin, dried strawberries, and barrel spices. Bring on spring!

$21.99

Lelievre Pinot Auxerrois, Cotes de Toul, Lorraine, France

No really, you need to try this wine! We are so excited about it! It’s from Lorraine, near Champagne and Chablis. Though different from those two wines, if you like them, you’ll love this, too. It’s incredibly, beautifully aromatic, and round with pear and white-fruit flavors, all brought together with a delicate acidity. It’s pure springtime in a bottle (though would be amazing with Thanksgiving dinner, too!). And did you notice the bunny on the label? Could it be more perfect for this spring and Easter?

$18.99

Our Top 9 Spring Wines, Part II

We’re down to just a few weeks now until our local farmer’s markets will awash with brightly-colored and fresh spring produce: green peas, ramps and asparagus, magenta rhubarb, orange carrots and more. Prep for the arrival of those goodies now, friends, with our selection of spring wines that are equally as bright and fresh with flavor. Here are our remaining picks of the season’s best this year.

Domaine de Martinolles ‘Le Berceau’ Blanquette de Limoux, Languedoc, France $14.99
‘Le Berceau’ translates to ‘cradle’ which in this case symbolizes the birthplace of sparkling wine. This bottle was made using the traditional Champenoise method, making this delicious, crisp and bone dry bubbly a spectacular value.

Contour Pinot Noir, Monterey, Napa & Sonoma, California $14.99
Loads of juicy strawberry and blackberry fruit with a whisper of spice on the finish – making it a perfect match with your first-of-the-season grill fare (salmon anyone?)!

Thierry Germain ‘Les Roches’ Saumur Champigny, Loire Valley, France $27.99
Hand-harvested cabernet franc from 25+ year old vines. Fruity, pleasantly funky, and completely biodynamic/organic, this bottle is pretty acidic and begs to be paired with a creamy spring pea risotto or a rich lamb dish.

Fatum Dry Spanish White Blend, La Mancha, Spain $11.99
Bursts of lime citrus flavor with ripe pear notes that gently wash over your palate. Look for hints of salt and brine to round out that tart finish. A staff favorite!

Enjoy Spring!

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The Top 9 Spring & Kosher Wines, Part I

For some reason, it seems as if all of our guests are looking forward to the arrival of true spring weather this year more than ever before. We don’t have an in with Mother Nature, but we can certainly help you set a springtime mood with the wine you put on your table. Here’s what we think are the best of the bunch to do just that this year, as well as those that will be excellent at your seder.

Our Kosher for Passover Picks

The Butcher’s Daughter, Bordeaux, France, $19.99
A great wine that just happens to be kosher for Passover, this Bordeaux blend is ripe with a bouquet of cassis and raspberry fruit, and a deep cocoa character. Made to drink with your brisket or lamb roast.

Notte Italiana Prosecco, Veneto, Italy $17.99
These semi-sweet, happy bubbles pack a punch of bright green apple, but finish creamy and smooth with hints of vanilla. Wonderful with light appetizer fare for any spring festivity.

Lanzur Chardonnay, Valle del Maule, Chile $11.99
A big, bursting, round and juicy chardonnay with an oaky backbone that lends tons of structure and depth. Serve chilled next to an overflowing platter of latkes or pan-fried potatoes.

Looking for more kosher options? Come by or call the store to shop our expanded selection of over 75 seder-friendly wines.

Non-Kosher Picks

Elk Cove Pinot Blanc, Willamette Valley, Oregon $19.99
Pinot Blanc is a grape you need to try for its vibrant, round and fruity notes. The Elk Cove has a tropical fruit flavor tinge that is balanced by an underlying, subtle, lemon zing. We love this wine for its incredible food-versatility, especially with lighter fare.

Zorzal ‘Terroir Unico’ Pinot Noir Rosé, Tupungato Valley, Argentina, $14.99
The grapes for the lovely Zorzal rosé were picked earlier than usual for this region, thus resulting in a wine with zippy acidity and a young (aka ‘green’) vibrancy. It’ll be superb with grilled or roasted meats & veggies, legumes and fish.

Tune in next week for the remaining bottles on our Top 9 list.

Cheers & Happy Spring!

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Four Reds for Easter and Spring!

Last week we gave you Bottles’ top Spring picks for white and rosé wine. Today we share our favorite reds that will pair beautifully with lamb, ham, and other heavier dishes you’ll have on your table this season.

Primarius, Pinot Noir, Oregon
A rich, luxurious pinot from Oregon with bold fruit and an interesting mineral/graphite element that makes it a no-brainer pairing with lamb. It’s also gentle enough for fish.

guerra Armas de Guerra, Mencia, Bierzo, Spain
One of our favorite values in the store! It’s made from grapes from super old vines (50+ years!) and is studded with energetic aromas and flavors of sappy black fruits and fresh violets. A perfect springtime wine!

bruni Bruni “Poggio d’Elsa” Red Blend, Maremma, Tuscany, Italy
A “Super Tuscan” 50/50 blend of sangiovese and cabernet sauvignon that over delivers for the price. Rich, dry and brooding with a softness and a gorgeous depth of flavor that will pair well with roasts and richer meat-based dishes on your Easter table.

secaturs AA Badenhorst “Secateurs” Red Blend, Swartland, South Africa
Our favorite wine (at the moment) from South Africa. A perfect blend of grapes usually found in the South of France, this wine typifies the terroir of South Africa: minerally, juicy and bold. Terrific with grilled or roasted pork.

Happy Spring!

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Botanical Engraved Glassware for Spring

Celebrate the spring season with beautiful botanical-themed glassware! Inspired by vintage spice racks and homestyle canning, Liz Wikstrom (Bottles Master Engraver & Designer) has designed a group of custom floral designs for our selection of champagne flutes, mason jar mugs, flasks, and more.

Giving this as a gift? Use our custom engraved bottles & glassware service to have your personal message etched on the back. Or, ward off moochers by putting your name on it, literally. Swing by the store and look for the engraving display, or email us to order. Happy spring!

ORDER CUSTOM ENGRAVING HERE >

Glass Flask with Rose

Mason Jar Mugs with Botanicals

Glass Flask with Honey Bee

Custom engraved champagne flutes

Champagne Flute with Botanicals

8 Spring Cocktail Ideas

Happy springtime! The cocktail experts at Bottles have concocted an enticing group of fresh, bright drinks to celebrate the arrival of spring. Find these ingredients featured in-store on our spirits display, which includes Campari, Lillet, Pimm’s, Fernet Branca, and more interesting, flavorful liqueurs. With only 2 to 3 ingredients each, these recipes are ridiculously quick to mix up for enjoying on your patio, or to share at your next party. Cheers!

Swing by the store for free recipe cards!

Find more cocktail recipes here >

Rumpus

Ingredients
1.5 oz White Rum
½ oz Aperol
Juice of ½ of a lime

Directions
Stir all ingredients over ice, garnish with lime.

One bottle of rum can make 15 Rumpus, and a bottle of Aperol can make 30! Aperol is a bright orange aperitif with a unique sweet-bitter taste, and an alcohol content of only 11 percent. Its fresh and versatile taste makes it perfect for mixing.

Hanky Panky

Ingredients
2 oz Gin (St. George Dry Rye Gin)
2 oz Lillet Rouge
1 oz Fernet Branca
Orange

Directions
Shake all ingredients over ice, strain into a Martini glass. Garnish with Orange twist. A bottle of Gin can make 13 Hanky Pankies!

A combination of Lillet Rouge, craft gin, and a splash of bitter, herbal Fernet Branca, the Hanky Panky is fresh variation on the classic Negroni cocktail.

The Perfect Guest

Ingredients
1 ½ oz Vodka (Purus Vodka)
2/3 oz Lillet Blanc
½ oz St. Germain
Optional: dash of celery bitters

Directions
Fill shaker half way with ice, pour ingredients in and stir. Strain and serve straight up in a martini glass. A bottle of Vodka, Lillet, & small bottle of St. Germain can make 15 Perfect Guests! (with extra Lillet left over). Source

Fernando (Fernet & Coke)

Directions
Mix Coca-Cola & Fernet Branca to taste in a glass with ice. Drink it!

This is the national drink of Argentina, called the “Fernando”. Fernet is a type of amaro, an Italian digestif, and is made from a combination of different herbs and spices for a licorice-type flavor. To make the Fernando, try to use sugar based Coca-Cola instead of corn syrup based Coca-Cola.

Aperol Spritz

Ingredients
Aperol
Prosecco
Perfect Cube Trays
*One bottle of Aperol and one bottle of Prosecco will make 16 Aperol Spritz.

Directions
1. Take your Perfect Cube trays. Fill your tray with Aperol, straight from the bottle! Place in your freezer for a minimum of 18 hours. Add a tiny bit of water if you need the cubes to freeze quicker.
2. Pour your guests a flute of Prosecco. Leave a little room at the top.
3. Drop an Aperol ice cube in the spritz. Enjoy!

Lillet & Orange (or Lemon!)

Directions
Garnish well-chilled Lillet with strip or 2 of lemon or orange zest. Yep, it’s that simple! The perfect springtime refreshment.

Grumpy Cup (Our own recipe!)

Ingredients
1.5 oz. Pimm’s
½ Btl of Crabbie’s Ginger Beer
Wedge of lemon

Directions
Fill a glass with ice, pour over 2 oz. Pimms, fill with Crabbies. Stir. Squeeze a lemon wedge over the top & enjoy. A bottle of Pimm’s can make 15 Grumpy Cups.

It’s just like a classic Pimm’s Cup, but with Crabbie’s Alcoholic Ginger Beer! You’ll love it.

Campari & Soda

An essential Campari cocktail! Load a glass with ice, and add Campari and soda. If you’ve never had Campari, it’s a bitter-sweet liqueur that’s super refreshing with soda water.

Herb-Roasted Spring Chicken Recipe and 3 Wine Pairings

Looking for the perfect wine to complement your chicken dinner? The wines on this list are no-brainer choices for fresh and vibrantly flavored springtime chicken dishes, such as Herb Roasted Chicken with Spring Root Veggies. Read more for details on the three wines we’ve highlighted, and for a simple and satisfying roast chicken recipe provided by Edible Rhody magazine.

TOP 9 SPRING WINES >

Matua Pinot Noir, 2012, Marlborough, New Zealand

New Zealand is best known for their Sauvignon Blanc, but they also grow a little bit of really delicious Pinot Noir. Lighter in style than California Pinot Noirs, expect notes of cherry with hints of blackberry and sweet smoky vanilla. A soft and luscious wine with enough stuffing to satisfy the most discriminating Pinot Noir lover. A perfect match with roasted chicken, especially with crispy skin. $12.99

William Hill Chardonnay, 2012, North Coast, California

A beautiful, well-balanced Chardonnay with lush tropical fruit flavors of pineapple and mango, but without heavy oak or vanilla flavors. This is a very nice example of a fresher style of Chardonnay coming out of California and is great by itself, but also really nice with lighter chicken dishes. $14.99

K Vintners Viognier, 2012, Columbia Valley, Washington

Viognier is best known for coming from the Rhone Valley in France and is more of a savory wine than a fruity wine. Viognier has the rich body of Chardonnay, but without any of the oak and butter flavors that Chard can often have. Look for cool aromas of ripe Meyer Lemon and sandalwood, with flavors of dried orange rind, honeydew melon and beeswax. Great with chicken and complex and concentrated sauces. $24.99

Herb-Roasted Spring Chicken with Roots, Sweet Peas and Buttery Onion Jus

PRINT THIS RECIPE >

by Beau Vestal, chef, New Rivers, Providence

Roast chicken is perhaps my all time favorite go-to recipe: simple, satisfying and representative of the cooking at New Rivers. The quality of the ingredients is paramount, so get the best bird and vegetables you can find, and enjoy this delicious spring feast!

Chicken:
3 tablespoons unsalted butter, room temperature
2 cloves garlic
1 tablespoon each fresh mint, parsley, thyme leaves
Grated zest and juice of 1 lemon
Kosher or sea salt
Freshly ground black pepper
1 (4-pound) free-range chicken

Vegetables:
1 pound spring parsnips, peeled and cut into 2-inch pieces
1 pound chiogga or golden beets, peeled and cut into 2-inch pieces
1 pound carrots, peeled and cut into 2-inch pieces
1 pound small fingerling potatoes, washed
Extra-virgin olive oil

Buttery Onion Jus:
2 cups homemade or unsalted chicken broth
½ cup green onions, washed and chopped
2 cups shelled English peas
4 tablespoons unsalted butter, room temperature
Juice of 1 lemon

In a food processor, blend butter, garlic, herbs, lemon juice and zest, ½ teaspoon salt and ½ teaspoon pepper into thick paste. Rub liberally all over chicken, inside and out. Season liberally with salt and pepper. Truss (tie) legs with butcher’s twine. Let sit for 30 minutes to 1 hour. Preheat oven to 350°.

Toss root vegetables in enough olive oil to coat, add salt and pepper to taste and arrange in single layer in a heavy roasting pan. Place chicken on top of vegetables. Roast for 50–60 minutes. Raise heat to 425° and roast additional 6–8 minutes to get skin golden and crisp. (Chicken should register 165° with an instant-read thermometer inserted between thigh and breast.)

Remove pan from oven and transfer bird and vegetables to large sheet tray and tent with foil to rest and keep warm. Remove excess fat from roasting pan and put over burner at medium heat. Add chicken broth and scrape up any brown bits. Reduce by half. Add green onions and peas and whisk in butter 1 tablespoon at a time. Season with salt, pepper and lemon juice to taste. Carve chicken and serve with roasted veggies and spring onion jus. Serves 4–6.

Our Top 9 Spring Wines

For us, spring is the real beginning of the year. So many exciting wines start to arrive, the most notable being rosé from all over the world. When thinking about springtime foods, they mirror the season very well – fresh, light and with vibrant flavors and colors. To make a comparison, we think of Grüner Veltliner, Albariño and Cabernet Franc to be the Ramps, Fiddlehead Ferns and Asparagus of the wine world.

PRINTABLE WINE LIST >

Look for our in-store display of spring wines, hand-selected to be perfect with almost any fresh and vibrantly flavored springtime dish.

Stout-Braised Lamb Recipe >

2012 Château D’Oupia ‘Les Hérétiques’, Languedoc, France, $11.99
2010 E. Guigal Côtes du Rhône, Rhone Valley, France, $14.99
2009 Frederic Mabileau ‘Les Rouilleres’, Loire Valley, France, $17.99

Herb-Roasted Spring Chicken Recipe >

2012 Matua Pinot Noir, Marlborough, New Zealand, $12.99
2012 William Hill Chardonnay, North Coast, California, $14.99
2012 K Vintners Viognier, Columbia Valley, Washington, $24.99

Veggie Flatbread Recipe >

2011 Burgáns Albariño, Galicia, Spain, $12.99
2012 Château Les Valentines ‘La Caprice de Clementine’, Provence, France, $14.99
2013 Anton Bauer ‘Gmörk’ Grüner Veltliner, Wagram, Austria, $15.99

Cheers!
– Eric Taylor
Bottles General Manager

Great Kosher Wines for Passover

Happy Passover from Bottles! We’re excited to feature a great selection of new wines that also happen to be Kosher. Swing on by and shop our newly expanded Kosher wine display for a huge array of great choices from Israel and around the world. Keep reading for a few of our favorites out of the many Kosher wines we carry in store!

Arfi Winery’s ‘Gabriel’ Chardonnay has a fantastic balance of acidity and fruit, to create a complex and stunning Chardonnay.

Château Jaumard is a classic Bordeaux with firm tannins and a slightly spicy finish.

Hai’s ‘Noah’ Merlot is a wonderful example of a full and lush merlot with notes of plum and blackberry.

Last but not least, Tabor’s ‘Mt. Tabor’ Shiraz will complement a roast with a light body but bright notes of raspberries and blackberries.

Happy Passover!

Our educated staff is more than happy to help with all your wine pairing and holiday planning needs. Visit us at 141 Pitman Street, Providence, Rhode Island

Drink | A Wine, Beer & Spirit Blog by Bottles

A blog by Bottles in Providence with cocktail recipes, party ideas, and everything wine, craft beer, and spirits