Wine List: St. Emilion To Syrah
St. Emilion is an area of Bordeaux that has been exporting wine for some eight centuries. There are more than one thousand wines within 6 miles (10 kilometers) of the village by this name that are entitled to call themselves St. Emilion wines. The two best, really top of the line, are Chateau Ausone, half Cabernet Franc and half Merlot grape variety and Chateau Cheval Blanc composed of the previous two varieties plus a touch of Malbec and a touch of Cabernet Sauvignon. See A Saint Emilion Grand Cru for a St. Emilion at a non-stratospheric price.
Sancerre, A Fine French White Wine
Sancerre, a very popular lunchtime wine.
Sancerre is a fruity, acidic white wine made in the Loire Valley of northern France from the Sauvignon Blanc grape variety. (For the record red and rosé Sancerres do exist, but when people say Sancerre, they usually think white.) White Sancerre can be a flavorfest, tasting of citrus fruits, gooseberries, gunflint, herbs, and smoke. It is known as a food friendly wine. Suggested food pairings include Sardines, Sea Bass, Sushi and Sashimi (Light Fish), and Fettuccine Alfredo. See A White Sancerre and A Red Sancerre for reviews of Sancerre wines.
Sangiovese
Italy's signature red grape variety is Sangiovese, a grape also grown in Argentina, Australia, and the United States, especially California. This is a food-friendly wine, that goes well with many Italian dishes. Sangiovese is the major grape in many fine Italian wines such as Chianti and Chianti Classico. See A Central Italy Sangiovese Under $10.
Sauvignon Blanc
A popular white wine grape Sauvignon Blanc is is widely grown in France, especially Bordeaux and the eastern Loire valley, as well as in Argentina, Chile, South Africa, Australia and New Zealand, where it is the signature variety, and in the United States, especially California. This is a food-friendly wine. See A Languedoc, France Sauvignon Blanc for a review of this wine.
Scheurebe
Scheurebe is a white grape; a cross between Riesling and an unknown grape variety. This variety grows mostly in Germany and Austria and is usually made into sweet wines. See A Scheurebe Spätlese, for a review of a sweet Scheurebe.
Silvaner
The unpretentious Silvaner is grown mostly in Alsace, France and Germany where it once was about 30% of the wine harvest. I'm told that this variety reaches its peak in the village of Limbach, Slovakia and in Franconica, Germany. I have never tasted the Slovakian version but you can access A Franconian Sylvaner for a review of this grape at its best. See Revisiting a Franconian Sylvaner for a second review of this grape. See I Love Organic Wine - An Alsatian Sylvaner and A Wine Lover's Weekly Review Of $10 Wines - An Alsatian (France) Sylvaner for reviews of French offerings.
Soave
Soave is a light white wine from the Tre Venezie region of northern Italy. Soave is heavily exported. Be careful, the quality varies measurably, many Soaves are bland, some are fruity. To step up in quality, try a Soave Classico. Suggested food pairings include Bass, Fried Fish, and Boiled Shrimp. See A Better Italian Soave Under $15 and A Wine Lover's Weekly Review Of $10 Wines - A Soave From Veneto, Italy for reviews of this wine.
Sparkling (Brut)
Sparkling (Brut) is a dry sparkling wine. Many different processes are used to generate the bubbles. As a rule of thumb, the smaller the bubbles, the better the wine. Suggested food pairings include Swordfish.
Sparkling Wine
Sparkling Wine is bubbly, and probably doesn't come from the Champagne region of northern France, and yet it may be quite good. One that we like is Spanish Cava. Suggested food pairings include Fried Fish. (Don't waste a top of the line sparkling wine on ordinary Fried Fish.)
Super Tuscans
Super Tuscans are powerful red wines from Tuscany in northern Italy, made in part from the Sangiovese grape and to a lesser extent from the Cabernet Sauvignon and other Bordeaux grape varieties. Their history is unique. Starting decades ago, innovative winemakers rejected old-fashioned Italian wine laws that then stipulated, for example, that Chiantis must contain both red and white grapes. These winemakers made their own wine in their own way. While few Super Tuscans were formally designated as top wines by the Italian wine authorities, many received an enthusiastic reception on the Italian and world markets. Super Tuscans often cost much more than wines carrying a fancier official designation, and believe me, they can be worth it. Suggested food pairings include Roast Beef. See I Love Upscale Wine - A Tignanello Super Tuscan Red for a review of a famous Super Tuscan wine.
Syrah
The northern Rhone valley of southern France has been home to the red Syrah grape, that is also the signature grape variety of Australia where it is called Shiraz. Whatever its name or location, this grape tends to make big wines. See A Midi Syrah for a review of a French offering. See A Southern Australia Red Blend (Under $15) for a review of a Shiraz-Grenache wine. See A Kosher Israeli Shiraz (Under $15) for a review of an Israeli offering.