Wine Review Monday – Mateus Wines

Wine Review Monday – Mateus Wines and “do you remember when?”

I can’t remember the last time I had Mateus wine. Well, this weekend I was at a birthday celebration and there was a bottle of Mateus on the table.

Remember drinking Mateus in the 1970’s? It was quite popular and it was the wine we most often drank back then when we had company. I remember drinking the rosé wine which was sweet and it was easy drinking.

The ’70’s era was a simpler time and a simpler life. Not everyone went to a private or ivy league college, and it was well before any one even thought about becoming an expert in “their field” — you know what I mean? This was a time when most everyone drank Mateus, loved the taste, and drank it with everything or with nothing.

This was also the time when interest in wine started increasing and the trend toward wine making began to grow. Since I’m from New York, here is a tidbit of information — in 1973 the first grape vines were planted on a potato farm in the Long Island town of Cutchogue. Today Long Island, New York is the third largest wine growing region in America. Talk about a growing trend . . .

Mateus White Wine

In the here and now, Mateus has risen to the occasion with a crisp, light and fruity white wine which is what we were drinking this weekend. It is lower in alcohol than most white wines making it a very easy drinking wine. There is just a touch of fizziness which made it fun to drink and was quite refreshing. I thought the wine had just a tiny hint of sweetness (definitely not like the white zinfandel variety).

This can be a nice addition to your house wine for the summer. With its crisp acidity and fizziness it can be a good pairing with many foods as well as fresh fruits.

Mateus Rosé Wines

Mateus is also known for their rosé wines and is branded as the rosé wine specialist. Look for the Mateus Rosé, Tempranillo Rosé, Shiraz Rosé, and Sparkling Brut Rosé. The Rosés have won several awards in their categories in 2008 and 2009.

The Sparkling Brut Rosé is a pale pink color with fine bubbles. It has slight floral aromas along with notes of apple, pear, raspberry and toast.

Mateus Shiraz Rosé is the driest of the rosé wines and has fresh red berry aromas.

Mateus has reinvented itself and produces fresh and young wines that are very appealing and easy to drink for today’s contemporary lifestyles.

Mateus wines should always be served well chilled. Drink these young fresh wines as an apéritif, or with spicy dishes, grilled fish or light white meats and chicken; and also with fresh summer berries for dessert.