5 Spring Wines, with Seasonal Pairing Ideas

Celebrate the warm weather by toasting to the great outdoors with these delicious natural wines.

By Gloria Dawson

Perlage Riva Moretta 2007

wine, processco

This organic prosecco is perfect for popping open at cocktail parties. Bring it as a hostess gift or serve it yourself at the next spring get-together. This simple Italian sparkler retails for about $17. \r\n

Enjoy With:
\r\nGoat Cheese and Honey Dip\r\n
\r\nCucumber Crudité Dip

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Shinn Estates \"Coalescene\" 2008

Shin Estates, watermelon tomato salad, spring wine watermelon tomato salad

A favorite of The Daily Green staff, this wine has just a hint of peach in color and taste. This wine is a blend of mostly sauvignon blanc, with a mix of semillon, gewurztaminer, riesling, and chardonnay grapes; it retails for about $15. Try it with seafood, appetizers or on its own to appreciate the wine\'s complexity. \r\n\r\n

Enjoy With:
\r\nTomato, Melon and Cucumber Salad (shown here)
\r\nCamembert Cheese

Kunde Magnolia Lane Sauvignon Blanc 2008

Kunde, Sauvignon Blanc, spring wine kunde wine estate

If you\'re not usually a fan of the common big acidic tastes of sauvignon blancs, this wine might be one to win you over to the grape. This refreshing milder sauvignon blanc is perfect with seafood and retails for $17. The Kunde Estate has many unique programs at their gorgeous vineyard (shown here) that support sustainability and involve the community in nature.

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Enjoy With:
\r\n Seared Scallops with Saffron Couscous
\r\nTrout with Beet-Horseradish Yogurt Sauce and Green Garlic Oil

Nikolaihof Gruner Veltliner \"Hefeabzug\" 2007

asaparagus, gruner veltliner, spring wine warm asparagus salad

Unlike many wines that don\'t announce their organic and biodynamic stature, this wine wears its \"greeness\" on it\'s sleeve, literally, the bottle has a small paper sleeve attached to the neck of the bottle that reads: \"Wine from a Biodynamic Estate.\" This Austrian wine pairs well with the trickiest-to-match spring vegetables: asparagus and artichokes and retails for about $25.

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Enjoy With:
\r\nWarm Asparagus and Citrus Salad \r\n(shown here)
\r\nBraised Baby Artichokes with Olives

Clif \"The Climber\" White Wine 2007

Clif, raspberries, blackberries, spring wine raspberries blackberries

The people who brought you Clif and Luna Bars now bring you sustainable wines. This white varietal, mostly made from sauvignon blanc grapes, retails for about $14.

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Enjoy With:
\r\nA tangy fruit salad of raspberries and blackberries, drizzled with lemon juice (shown here)\r\n
\r\nLemon-Mint Chicken Cutlets on Watercress