Best Wine for . . . Girls Who Hate Wine
by Rebecca S. Rea
I am not a lush. My version of getting sloshed involves one martini glass of fruity-flavored liquor drowned by Sierra Mist or Coke. This said, wine and I are not usually on speaking terms.
One fine April evening, however, I was introduced to an Argentine hard cider called Gran Sidra Real. While most wines are thick, bitter, and attack my sinuses, the Real was kind to both my nose and tongue — no face-making followed my first sip. Or my next. Or all the ones which followed after.
Real is sweetly crisp. Hints of apricot, strawberry, and tart apple carry a gentle aftertaste, and its quiet blonde color captures light in a glass. With all the flavor and little of the fight that comes with many varieties of wine, Real is a superb choice for those who do not have either head or taste buds for most alcohol.
Since the company that produces this cider is based out of Argentina, getting a detailed history of this particular drink is only possible if one is fluent in Spanish. Little matter — as with all good food and drinks, language and cultural barriers are surpassed when the tongue is occupied with more pleasing activities.
Gran Sidra Real is a fairly new special cask apple cider produced by Saenz Biones y Cia. S.A.I. y C., a Buenos Aires company with more than 100 years experience creating fine wines and ciders. Available at Argentine specialty stores; imported by Di Diego Wine & Food Corporation.
Drink Info:
Can Be Purchased:
El Gaucho Meat Market, 2715 Manhattan Beach Blvd., Redondo Beach, Ca 90278
Monte Carlo Delicatessen, 3103 W Magnolia Blvd, Burbank, CA 91505
Price: $8
RedFence Rating: 9 (out of 10)
