Latest news with #Burgundy-style
USA Today
3 days ago
- Lifestyle
- USA Today
10 unconventional wines to drink now instead of your usual go-to
Wine bars like Little Thing in Seattle, Washington, are excellent for finding unconventional wines – Photo courtesy of Lesley Balla Staring down a wine list or a bottle shop shelf can feel like sensory overload. So many names, regions, and varietals — it's tempting to play it safe and stick with what you know. But here's a little secret: Stepping outside your comfort zone could land you a new favorite. The best wine bars and shops, such as Little Thing Wine in Seattle, Washington, highlight lesser-known regions and grapes, as well as unconventional wines that deserve to be discovered and savored. At Little Thing, if you say you love sauvignon blanc or chardonnay, owner Dylan Joffe might offer something similar (and usually better) if she doesn't have either on her shelf. Joffe was the wine buyer for another popular shop for years before opening her Beacon Hill outfit. Every month, she offers a new selection of wines for the shelves and through the wine club. Little Thing is precisely what the wine industry needs right now: A place that attracts a new generation of wine drinkers with alternative wine picks while also catering to palates more set in their ways. Advertisement Below, Joffe offers some alternative wines for moving beyond standard varietals, often pointing to domestic wines, emerging regions, and low-intervention wines with an eye towards sustainability. The best part: No matter where you buy them, these wines are usually super affordable, often priced under $40. If you like chardonnay Chenin blanc is a good alternative wine if you like chardonnay – Photo courtesy of SrdjanPav / iStock Via Getty Images 'Chenin blanc is the first one that comes to mind,' says Joffe. 'Chenin and chardonnay are chameleon grapes that can be anything the winemaker wants them to be. They can both take on things like oak, or they can shine in stainless steel. They can be sweet or dry, and they can both be used for sparkling wines.' Aligoté and roussanne are two other grapes she'll point to for chardonnay fans. 'Aligoté is like the black sheep of white grapes,' she adds. 'It's what Burgundy farmers drink after a long day of farming chardonnay. If you like Burgundy-style chardonnay, this is a much more price-focused option, and we're seeing small pockets in the U.S.' If you like sauvignon blanc Picpoul is a great alternative for sauvignon blanc drinkers – Photo courtesy of Reva Keller / Little Thing Wine 'Sauvignon blanc can be really different from many locations, but what most people like about it is the green, herbaceous, grassy quality. It's a bright, citrus, minerally, vibrant, easy-drinking wine,' says Joffe. 'I like to point people to things like Perdu Picpoul. Picpoul, a grape largely from Picpoul de Pinet in the Languedoc region of France, means 'lip stinger' in French. These wines can be super acidic and food-friendly,' she adds. Joffe also likes dry rieslings from Germany, Austria, or Alsace, even domestic ones, for sauv blanc fans. "And if you want to take a chance, high-acid rosés made with cabernet franc or sangiovese have some lovely herbaceous qualities to them." Advertisement If you like pinot noir Pinot noir lovers might like other light-bodied varietals like gamay – Photo courtesy of LordHenriVoton / E+ 'What makes pinot so adored is that it's lighter bodied in the world of red wine," says Joffe. "These wines have beautiful red fruit and earthiness, good acidity. It's hard to find all of that in one other varietal.' Alternatives she likes to offer are gamay, frappato, and pretty Washington state grenache that "feels pinot noir" to her. Advertisement 'Gamay, which is synonymous with Beaujolais, has similar qualities to pinot noir, albeit with a little crunchiness. Meaning it's like biting into juicy, ripe fruit," she adds. "Gamay is twinkly; pinot is more serious. We're seeing some fun gamay production coming from the U.S., specifically Oregon." Frappato is a red grape from Sicily, Italy, that Joffe feels is 'pinot-adjacent.' It has pretty red fruit, but instead of earthy, it leans towards spice and tobacco. 'In general, Sicilian reds are different than pinot noir, but this is an easy jump to make. It's very volcanic, so you get that mineral smokiness that can be intoxicating if that's your thing.' Pinot noir alternatives Gurrieri Frappato, Sicily, Italy Advertisement For many people, cabernet sauvignon is the only wine they know, so they gravitate towards it. It's an intro grape to wine, easy to remember, and easy to wrap your head around. 'People get attached to cab because it's an obvious grape in the best way possible,' says Joffe. 'Liking cab is code for liking full-bodied red wines.' Cabernet sauvignon is bottled and labeled as such in the U.S.; that's why we know it. In Bordeaux, however, it's blended with many other varietals. 'If someone comes into Little Thing looking for a cab, I'll lean towards different blends, like a lovely Spanish blend or one out of Lebanon or central Italy. Wines out of these regions are fuller-bodied with tons of tannin, acidity, and vibrancy.' Cabernet sauvignon alternatives Tenuta di Valgiano Palistorti Rosso, Tuscany, Italy
West Australian
03-08-2025
- West Australian
Bali brunches
Perth has fallen hard for the bottomless brunch, with restaurants and bars across the city and suburbs jumping on the trend. However, if you read the fine print, most brunches offer bottomless drinks, not unlimited food. For a non-drinking foodie like me, a trip to Bali is the best place to brunch. The St Regis Bali Resort – nestled on a pristine stretch of beach in Nusa Dua – launched brunching in Bali in 2009 with the Boneka Sunday Brunch. The international restaurant set the benchmark for offering both buffet and unlimited a la carte signature dishes. Its brunch lives on, as does its signature dish, the river lobster omelette. Should your holiday not include a Sunday, elegant indulgence is available on Saturdays at the St Regis Bali Brunch in the bright and airy beachfront restaurant, Kayuputi. The menu is entirely 'a la minute' menu, with food cooked to order to ensure freshness and minimise waste. No queues, no missing out. Fresh juice, smoothies and iced teas are included. My husband arrives in Bali to assist in my weekend of brunching, because there's only so much one person can try. I do know my limits. After we are seated, out comes a basket of freshly baked bread and pastries, glasses of overnight muesli topped with acai sorbet, then a beautifully plated selection of house-made charcuterie. Gochujang beef tartare with dried egg yolk, pickles and salad for brunch? Yes please. Next, we're onto the a la carte entrée choices including soup, sashimi, the popular pan-seared duck foie gras, and collagen-rich floating fish bone marrow. I go for a more traditional poached free-range egg with braised Savoy cabbage, country ham and truffle hollandaise. Just like an infomercial, but wait, there's more, a full complement of main and dessert options. In the name of research, I order the house-made potato gnocchi with dry-aged wagyu and creamy blue cheese, and my husband has surf and turf of wagyu rump and lobster vol au vent. It's not a Bali brunch without a carvery and this one has succulent beef wheeled right to our table. How can we say no? We have barely made a dent in the menu but move on to desserts, a delicate apple mille-feuille with apple sorbet, and a rich but airy coffee souffle. Sorry, cheese trolley, not today. On Sunday it is a case of déjà vu as we settle in for brunch at The Mulia, known for the towering female statues that surround its magnificent pools. The Mulia has offered the Soleil Sunday Brunch since opening in 2012. I first tried it in 2016, ate way too much, and felt nauseous all the way to the airport. More than 80 per cent of the menu has become a la carte to reduce food waste but there is still a mind-boggling range of appetisers, desserts and carvery dishes. A la carte appetisers include fried local calamari and Spanish chorizo croquettes. I go for a taste of France with Burgundy-style Javanese escargot baked in pastry. I avoid carb-loading on sandwiches, crostini and pizza. A serve of carbonara with Roman-style hand cut tonnarelli, pancetta and an oozy egg on top will do just fine. There are additional pages of grilled meats, Indonesian, Thai and Vietnamese favourites, plus waffles and breakfast options. Let's dwell on that over an included mocktail. Back in the serve yourself zone, there's a seafood tower of prawns and oysters on ice, a make your own Caesar salad option, and a carving station loaded with roast beef, chicken, duck, tortilla, quiche and more. Dishes also randomly appear at the table, such as the popular tender chargrilled octopus. The dessert selection requires restraint, but I am not about to say no to cute individual tiramisu and crème caramel … and maybe a skewer of local kueh to dip in the chocolate fountain. It is easy to see why this Mediterranean and pan-Asian brunch is popular for celebrations, with staff bursting into renditions of happy birthday at regular intervals. Near us, a big group of Aussies are celebrating a 60th. Up to 90 per cent of Soleil's diners during peak season are not resort guests but it certainly helps to have a room to waddle back to for a nap. Non-staying guests can hitch a golf buggy ride back to The Mulia's entrance. + Sue Yeap visited as a guest of the St Regis and The Mulia. They have not influenced this story, or read it before publication. fact file The St Regis Bali Brunch is $103. Add an alcohol package for $154, or premium alcohol with champagne for $257. The Boneka Sunday Brunch is $80. Add the alcohol package for $117. The Soliel Sunday Brunch is $88 without alcohol, $149 with alcohol. Prices are subject to change.
