Together with The Chopping Block's staff, I’ve recently sniffed, slurped and spit wares from Chicagoland’s finest wine purveyors to bring you our new wine list! As always, we focus on small production, hand-crafted wines, specifically chosen to enhance the dishes you prepare at The Chopping Block or at home.
Here are just a few of my favorite new wines.
Let the Good Times Roll with Wine from Spain
Spain’s unique grapes and winemaking styles are perfect for summer sipping, to pair with tapas, barbeques, grills and with the Cajun dishes, such as Crawfish and Andouille Sausage Etouffee, that you’ll prepare during our Virtual Vacation: Trip to NOLA on Friday, May 21 at 6pm CST.
Cava, Caves Naveran Brut Rosado 2019, Catalunya, Spain $21.00
Primarily Pinot Noir, this dry rosé bubbly is a delicious pairing for rich appetizers and a festive addition to lighter entrées, even meat!
Mencia Rosado, Liquid Geography 2019, Bierzo, Spain $18.00
Flavors of strawberry, red currant and white pepper combine in this dry rosé, with dynamic acidity for a satisfying cocktail and complement to a wide range of dishes, from appetizers to lighter entrées.
Rioja Riserva, La Antigua Clasico 2010, Spain $33.00
An opportunity to experience a fully developed red, reserved in barrel and bottle for complex plum, pepper and meat flavors and firm tannin. Serve with meats, rich vegetables and poultry.
For Grillin & Chillin’
Kick back with this easy drinking red bubbly, rich enough for Grilled Cheese-Stuffed Burgers prepared during our Virtual Sunday Dinner on the Grill on Sunday, May 30 at 4pm CST, yet sweet enough to enjoy with a swing in the hammock afterwards.
Lambrusco di Castelvetro Amabile, Cleto Chiarli NV, Lombardy, Italy $14.00
Ripe berries and bitter-sweet chocolate flavors combine in this rich, red bubbly, with sweetness balanced by refreshing acidity. Pair with barbeque, grills, chocolate and good times. For drinkin’, not for thinkin’.
Liven Up your Summer Seafood
The refreshing acidity of these wines act like a squeeze of lemon to liven up the palate, whether during our Shellfish on the Grill Demo on Friday, June 18 at 6:30pm, with sushi or your seafood grill or next Asian carry-out.
Macon Pierreclos Blanc, Thevenet 2018, Burgundy, France $27.00
100% Chardonnay, from this grape’s homeland. Dynamic and dry, with green apple and mineral flavors for a classic cocktail and enhancement to lighter seafood, poultry and many recipes involving butter.
Riesling Spatlese, Huff 2018, Rheinhessen, Germany $20.00
A classic Riesling, “late picked” for inviting and juicy peach flavor, mineral accents and refreshing tartness for a sweeter cocktail and complement to foods prepared with fruit, spice and/ or smoke. Delicious with all cheese, especially blue!
Rosé, Portlandia 2020, Willamette Valley, OR $19.00
Dry but rich in strawberry and watermelon flavors and mouthwatering finish, this blend including Pinot’s Noir and Gris was grown in one of the world’s finest Pinot regions, the Willamette Valley.
From South America: Watch for my wine class “South America’s Revolution of Wine”, coming in July. In the meantime, enjoy these exciting flavors from the land of great quality/ value - Chile.
Sauvignon Blanc, Errazuriz “MAX” 2017, Aconcagua, Chile $18.00
Dynamic and dry, combining fresh herbs and minerals, for a rich cocktail and complement to all dishes prepared with herbs, olive oil and/or goat cheese.
Carmenere, Casa Silva 2019, Central Valley, Chile $22.00
The “lost grape of Bordeaux” emerged as Chile’s signature red, plump and chewy, with ripe fruit flavors accented by meat and smoke. A natural for red meats and all grills and roasts.
Give these wines a taste in an upcoming wine class with me, either in-person at Lincoln Square or virtually wherever you may be!
- Virtual Wine and Cheese Tasting Saturday, May 22 5pm CST
- How to Bluff your Way through Wine at Lincoln Square Friday, June 4 6:30pm
- Virtual Wine Tasting: The Family Pinot Saturday, June 19 5pm CST
If you are local to Chicago, most of these new wines are already available for sale at our Lincoln Square location. Stop by during our new retail shopping hours of Wednesday through Friday 12pm-5pm or Saturday 10am-4pm. If you prefer to order via curbside pickup, check out our online selection and email your order to lincoln@thechoppingblock.com. Cheers!
