That’s Amoré

February certainly has a reputation for being the month to celebrate the things and the people we love, doesn’t it? Of course, Valentine’s Day is in the middle of it all, with flowers and chocolates, hearts and champagne taking center stage. But there’s another “love fest” that is equally important to many people — the Super Bowl. And there is perhaps no greater act of love than a non-sports-loving spouse who prepares a veritable feast for his or her football crazy partner and a houseful of their “closest” friends. 

While some might argue than an ice-cold brew is the best match for traditional Super Bowl fare, there are a number of red wines that pair unexpectedly well with beef chili, chicken wings and fully loaded potato skins.

Argentina’s Malbec and Spain’s Tempranillo are the two most versatile red grapes on the market. Both make wonderful complements to a wide variety of food, especially hearty dishes that are spicy or salty. The Malbec grape, originally from the Bordeaux region of France, was first planted in Argentina in the late 19th century. It adapted so well to the terroir, especially in the Mendoza wine region, that it is now the signature red varietal of Argentina. 
One of the oldest family owned wineries in Mendoza is Bodega Valentin Bianchi. As a sideshow to the Super Bowl gridiron action on TV, it might be fun to taste four of the winery’s Malbec offerings: Elsa Malbec, that sees little oak; Valentin Bianchi Malbec, that spends six months in French and American oak; Famiglia Bianchi Malbec, with a year in new French and American oak; and its flagship Malbec, Particular, that is aged for 18 months in new French and American oak.

You can do the same thing with Spain’s Tempranillo grape, which is also a natural match with many highly seasoned foods, especially dry sausages, salted nuts and pizza toppings, such as olives, pepperoni, peppers and anchovies. Since most Spanish red wines are 100 percent Tempranillo, it’s all about the amount of time the wines spend in oak and the type of oak that determine each wine’s depth and richness. You can compare three Tempranillos from Bodegas Navarro López — Gran Rojo Tempranillo, that spends little time in oak; Old Vines Crianza, aged six months in a combination of French, American and Hungarian oak; or Old Vines Reserva, which sees 12 months in French, American and Hungarian barrels.
Of course, as important as the Super Bowl is to many of us, it would be remiss not to address the grande dame of February — Valentine’s Day. So, here are a few words about some sensational pink rosés that will make quite an impression (especially on the one who prepared that amazing football feast for you just two weeks prior).

Gustave Lorentz, located in France’s Alsace region, bordering Germany, is a venerable family owned winery rightly praised for its Le Rosé and Rosé Cremant d’Alsace. Both are made with Pinot Noir grapes, however, the Cremant undergoes the same process that puts the bubbles in champagne. 
Italian Moscato is all the rage right now, but an even “hotter” and “pinker” wine is gaining popularity. Mochetto, an effervescent relative to the sweet Italian wine, is a marvelous bright pink “frizzante” wine from Italy. It’s mostly Moscato with a small amount of the Italian grape Brachetto added to give more “weight” to the wine.

RESOURCES:
Quintessential Wines, www.quintessentialwines.com, 707-226-8300