Sippin’ Springtime Wines

It’s May in Miami, which can mean a number of things depending on how you look at it, especially for wine lovers. For one, this is the last month before our dreaded hurricane season starts up, giving us an opportunity to enjoy a few more rain-free afternoons before the summer storms arrive. Let’s hear it for the last days of afternoon picnics!

May also is the month to celebrate moms and abuelas everywhere on Mother’s Day, which is the perfect holiday for enjoying brunch and bottles of whatever wine they prefer. When the weather heats up, we need to cool down with something more refreshing than your average steak night wine, so step away from the cabernet! It’s time to spring into sippin’ sauvignon blanc and rosé.

We’ve sourced a few bottles (and cans!) of wine for any May mood. From simple options for the boat, beach or a picnic to something that can be enjoyed with a meal, these are some splendid springtime wines.

Don’t knock it till you try it should be your motto for wine from a can, especially when considering those from the McBride Sisters. The McBride Sisters Collection is the largest Black-owned wine company in the United States, founded by two sisters, Robin and Andréa, who grew up across the world from each other – one in Monterey, California, the other in Marlborough, New Zealand – and were reunited by an aunt in 1999 before starting their wine company six years later.

Their She Can 2019 New Zealand Sauvignon Blanc and 2018 California Rosé pay homage to their respective mothers (in fact, you can find the nicknames and initials of their mothers on the lioness’ face on the can). The rosé is full of ripe raspberry and a citrus finish with puckeringly refreshing acidity. She Can sauvignon blanc has signature New Zealand tropical fruit flavors and green notes, with firm acidity and minerality contributing to its structure.

Canned wines are made for easy drinking and easy accessibility, so grab a few and throw them in the cooler for any casual wine-drinking occasion. Enjoy them well chilled, and keep in mind that one 375-ml can is equal to half a bottle of wine, so take your time and appreciate each sip!

Napa Valley’s oldest winery was founded by Charles Krug in 1861 and purchased by the Mondavi family in 1943, and it is still owned by the Peter Mondavi Sr. side of the family today. At just under $12 a bottle, the 2020 Charles Krug Sauvignon Blanc – which has very pronounced ripe stone fruits like peaches along with nectarine and lemon citrus – is one of the greatest values on the market for this style of wine. Light bodied but bold in flavor, this Napa Valley sauvignon blanc is rich in history and in taste.

For something a little more subtle, the choice is obvious – Obvious Wines, that is! The 2018 No02 Bright and Crisp says you all you need to know about this wine in its name. The bottle is 100% sauvignon blanc from France’s Loire Valley, and Obvious Wines makes it easy for you by telling you it’s #LightBody, #Snobfree, and #Dry. On the back of the label, find food pairings and even more simple descriptions of the wine. Though the label makes understanding what’s in the bottle “obvious,” even the snobbiest wine lover can appreciate this light-bodied sipper’s balance of fresh citrus and white flower aromas, alcohol at only 12% and acidity. Don’t leave home for your springtime pool day without it!

We can’t mention rosé without including one from the South of France, so that is exactly why Miraval’s 2020 The Art of Rosé from Côtes de Provence makes this list. This is a quintessential Provençal rosé with elegance galore! Fresh red fruit and soft citrus flavors and aromas mix with flowers like roses and jasmine for a nose that is reminiscent of Provence. On the palate it embodies finesse, with a perfect balance of flavors reflected on the nose along with integrated acidity in a light bodied but intriguing wine. This bottle is the personification of a spring day on France’s Mediterranean coast, so take a sip and let it transport you there.

Gambino Vini’s 2019 Tifeo Rosato is made from Nerello Mascalese grapes grown in the volcanic soils of the slopes of Mt. Etna in Sicily. This light coppery salmon-colored wine is a complex and alluring Italian rosato that should be taken seriously, just like its namesake Tifeo, a divine creature in Greek mythology that is half human and half dragon. Medium bodied with rich red fruit like strawberry and cherry along with floral characteristics, bright acidity, clean minerality and a lingering finish make this more of a mealtime companion wine. Think strawberry salad or hard cheeses and charcuterie with your springtime picnic, and indulge in this unique bottle that is sure to impress your guests.