Heads up, folks: Mother’s Day is this Sunday. Yes, this Sunday; it’s early this year since May started out on a Sunday. So if you haven’t made reservations for brunch or dinner, you better get on that.
If you or the mom(s) in your life prefer to stay in on Mother’s Day (or you need a nice, consumable gift for the mother who has everything), I suggest picking up a bottle or two (or three) of wine to make the occasion more festive. That is, unless she is an expectant mom; if that’s the case, don’t bring wine because it will only make her angry that she can’t drink it.
For Mother's Day wine-giving (or wine-bringing), I suggest some “alternative” whites and rosés. A white I tried recently is a txakoli (pronounced cha-coh-lee), a Spanish wine that is crisp and light with just a bit of minerality that makes it somewhat sparkly. I tried the Berroia Txakoli, which is citrusy with a bit of honeysuckle. Other whites to try include Seven Daughters Crisp White, a California blend with tastes of tangerine and canteloupe; Chateau Ste. Michelle Dry Riesling from Oregon (not quite as sweet as the standard Riesling); and Bonterra Riesling, a California wine made from organic grapes (for the hippie mom).
Rosé is also a good call for Mother's Day (brunch or any time). South Africa has some great rosés, including The Rose Garden from Boschendal, which is a light pink wine that has hints of strawberry and raspberry. It’s a wonderful light wine and comes in a bottle with a lovely label.
Other rosé wines to try include ZaZa Garnacha Rosé from Spain, Sofia Rosé from California's Francis Coppola winery (it also comes in a particularly attractive bottle), and Charles and Charles Rosé from Charles Smith, a Columbia Valley, Wash., wine that has tastes of watermelon and strawberry.
If you're looking to lighten up any of these wines, mixing them with ginger ale (one can per bottle) and a splash of grenadine or St. Germain will turn any wine into a nifty light sangria that will help to keep celebrations sober(ish). Cheers!
