Around this time of the year, wine takes a backseat to food. But we must hydrate, must we not? And so, consider this bridge wine. Bridge, you say? From where to where? How about from the long, hot, sunny days of summer (and sometimes autumn) here in North Texas, to the shorter, darker, cooler days of winter.
You can still have some of that sunny and cool sensation, especially with foods we like to eat at this time of the year — turkey, cranberries, mashed potatoes, stuffing (or dressing, depending on where and when you grew up), and pecan or pumpkin pie.
Famiglia Carafoli “L’onesta” Lambrusco di Sorbara, from Italy, is a light cranberry-colored Lambrusco, making it a versatile companion for all of the above. You can also kick back and enjoy it with a plate of nachos, a cup of queso (and chips) or a bowl of popcorn.
Slightly fizzy (or petillant if you’re not averse to the fancy French word), it registers as a dry wine. With a lower alcohol punch (11%) than most wines, it has a good, honest dose of fruit, the kind you get when you pick a ripe peach off your grandma’s tree in the backyard. Give it a shot this year, as they’re still shipping wine from Italy to America, even in 2020, and at the amazing bargain price of $14.99. Found at Whole Foods in Lakewood, but available around town.