Wine Occasion: Sunday Brunch

Sunday brunch is quite possibly the best time for friends to get together for a drink. This event will happen at friend’s house (or your place, if you happen to draw the short end of the stick), and expecctastions and formality are thrown out the window. Every country seems to have their own take on the beverage of choice for Sunday brunch – Bellinis in Italy, Mimosas in France, Bloody Maries in the US. Since I’ve never seen a Bloody Mary recipe incorporate wine (Thank Heaven!) so we’ll have a more international flavor here.

Wine Suggestions:

$ White – Candoni Prosecco Brut Sparkling Wine

Bellinis are made by combining Prosecco (an Italian sparking wine made from prosecco grapes in Veneto, close to Conegliano and Valdobbiadene) with peach puree. This is the drink of Venice, invented at Harry’s Bar by Giuseppe Cipriani and enjoyed by responsible drinkers like Ernest Hemingway, Sinclair Lewis and Orson Welles.

Bellinis are a great wake-me-up after a Saturday bender or a great refresher before a long hike / bike ride. The key thing here is that they’re easy to make (granted you have access to peach puree) and clean up is a cinch. A winning combo for a lazy Sunday brunch.

$ Red – Clos du Bois Rosé

Rosé is another great Sunday brunch wine – it’s a lightly pressed red wine that is chilled. You’ll often get the fruitiness of a red wine but the sharpness and coolness of a white wine. Since brunch is the combination of breakfast and lunch, wouldn’t it follow logically that a combination wine would be a perfect match?

$$ White – Chalk Hill Russian River Valley Sauvignon Blanc

Sauvignon Blanc is a great brunch wine because it doesn’t overpower food and typically pairs with lighter fare. Unless you’re having heart-wrenching brunch of sloppy joes or steak and eggs, a crisp glass of Sauvignon Blanc should be a delightful selection.

$$ Red – Macrostie Carneros Pinot Noir

The great thing about Pinot Noir is it pairs well with many foods and fits in many different situations. Because many Pinots drink lightly, it would be a perfect fit for a light Sunday afternoon brunch. Mainly, it won’t leave you feeling like you just had a full meal after two glasses of it.