Wine festival has its standouts

Many of us spent the weekend sampling some of the hundreds of wines available to taste during the Durango Wine Experience, and we may be a little foggy for the effort.

However, one wine clearly shone among the many reds I tried. First Step Beverage Co. of Centennial poured this scrumptious little Spanish red from Catalonia at the Friday night Walk About. Made by Clos-Pons and called both Jan Petit and Alonia, it’s made from a 50-50 blend of syrah and grenache grapes grown about 60 miles away from the famous wine region of Priorat.

The wine is juicy with notes of earth and chalk and has just the right amount of acidity to balance out the sweetness of the fruit. On the lighter side of reds, it would go well with pork tenderloin, grilled chicken or a rich seafood dish. Best of all, it costs just $16.99. You can find it locally at W.J. Doyle Wine and Spirits.

For a less complex but zippier glass of Spanish springtime red wine, you might try the Flaco Tempranillo. Without the richness of barrel-aged wine, it’s light and fresh with bright acidity and the same versatility with food. The Wine Merchant carries it for $9.59.

Fine wines deserve proper glassware

Now that your whistle is wet for a tempting glass of wine, are you set to serve it properly?

Should you find yourself in need of the right stemware for your grapes of choice, local retailers Urban Market and Durango Coffee Co., both on Main Avenue, can help you out.

Urban Market carries the Italian brand Bormioli Rocco and offers a white wine/Chianti glass for $7.50, a Burgundy glass for $7.50 and a cabernet glass for $7.75. It also sell glasses by the case.

At Durango Coffee Co., the German firm Spiegelau is the glassmaker of choice and the store sells a white wine glass for $12.99, a Burgundy glass for $13.49 and a Bordeaux glass for $13.99.

Pamela Hasterok