Roughing it in style
By Adam Scoppa |
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It's June in central Ohio, and that means our tiny window for basking in nature's abundant, glorious sunshine is already shrinking. So, quick, get the hell outside! I don't care if it means leaving your workplace this very instant! Run to the hills, pitch a tent, get in a canoe, climb a tree, or, at the very least, swing lazily in your hammock. It's been nearly six months of cold drizzle spitting down from gray, dreary skies, and some of us have forgotten how great the outdoors can be. Still not motivated? Why don't you bring some wine with you?
Photo: Christopher Atwood
In the last issue, I briefly alluded to bottles bearing a Stelvin closure (screw cap) and how the wine inside them should not be neglected. In addition to being more efficient than corks in preventing oxidation flaws, it turns out their re-sealable design also makes them easy-to-carry camping companions. They're useful for mid-hike rest stops, as some cold white wine will make pork and beans much easier to choke down.
Here are a few to remember the next time you decide to bond with nature - no corkscrew required.
- Joseph Drouhin, one of Burgundy's foremost producers, goes screw cap for his 2007 Chardonnay. Minerally, almost herbal notes mingle with fresh apple in this tight and lean effort. Drink some with trail mix and you just might enjoy those weird pieces of dried fruit.
- New Zealand unapologetically embraces Stelvins, producing over three quarters of their wine in screw-capped bottles. In Fire Road's 2008 Sauvignon Blanc, the country's trademark angular citrus flavors are joined by a welcome bit of tropical fruit. When you actually catch a fish from your canoe with the line you attached to your toe, this wine works.
- If you happen to stumble upon an edible berry-producing plant in the woods, pick a whole bunch and try them with Crios Rose of Malbec. This Argentinean wine is a mouthful of berry flavor in itself: cranberries, predominately, with just enough of a tannin presence and a substantial, lingering finish.
- As the sun goes down and the night chill sets in, it's time for a campfire, a savory meal, and some red wine. Wall 2005 Zinfandel has a very dynamic flavor profile: soft and supple cherry flavors with a pleasantly spicy, earthy finish. Hill of Content 2005 Shiraz has a heavier and jammy style, with plenty of blueberry and cinnamon notes. Even burgers crisp as charred hockey pucks won't matter when you're drinking these flavorful wines.
The last thing you want is flat, sun-warmed wine sticking up your mouth while traversing the countryside. Even the reds might benefit from a slight chill during the day. The Wrap + Chill (Oenophilia - $9) is a wraparound, Velcro-sealed ice pack, ideal for keeping wine cool on the move. Barring said investment, spinning a bottle in a cool nearby stream for a few minutes ought to do the trick.
Uh-oh, you brought all sorts of wine but forgot to bring something to drink out of? That's okay, guzzling directly from the bottle will make your nature outing that much more of a rustic experience. Drinking from the bottle also fosters a cool communal atmosphere; just don't try this with career whiskey people. They'll laugh at you.
Great Camp Wines
Joseph Drouhin Chardonnay 2007
Burgundy, France - $17
Fire Road Sauvignon Blanc 2008
Marlborough, New Zealand - $10
Crios Malbec Rose
Mendoza, Argentina - $13
Wall Zinfandel 2005
Napa Valley, California - $14
Hill of Content Shiraz 2005
Australia - $16
Originally Published: June 1, 2009
