Easter Brunch wine for a crowd

[beanodc]

I am looking for recommendations for what will go with baked ham, smoked salmon, asparagus, a spicy potato egg and cheese dish, and a couple of salads. I was hoping to buy two wines in the $12-17 range. I was thinking of possibly a reisling, sparkling or a rose. Any specific recommendations will be greatly appreciated. I am on the east coast in the US. Thanks for any help.

[beanodc]

Thanks for all the suggestions. Very helpful. Off to the Big Tent liquor store!

[Bill Hunt]

Gr, or Alsatian Riesling, Brut Rosé, Chenin Blanc with a few years, and off-dry.

Both the egg and the asparagus are not really wine friendly.

The salmon could benefit from a PN, or Syrah, but I think that you will have issues elsewhere, with either of those. Now, that Brut Rosé will handle things pretty well, so if I only had one choice, that would be it.

Not sure if you can find Iron Horse Brut Rosé, but it is a good sparkler, and should not break your budget.

Enjoy,

Hunt

[maria lorraine]

What Bill said.

Rose and Rose Bubbly are classic pairings. Regular bubbly also, Loire whites, Chenin Blanc, Pinot Gris, Gavi.

[invinotheresverde]

Good rec's.

I've never seen the Iron Horse under $30, though, which is way out of the OP's $12-17 budget.

[maria lorraine]

The Iron Horse Brut is on sale at many places for $15.

Other options are the Mumm Napa Brut Premier (regular and Rose, about $12-15 -- my favorite for the money), Gruet (about $12-15), Laurent Perrier ($20), Scharrfenberger Brut ($20), Roederer Estate Brut ($20), Perrier Jouet Grand Brut ($20), Taittinger ($20), Freixenet ($20), and Feuillatte ($20). Moscato d'Asti and Prosecco are other alternatives, though I'm not as fond of these as the others.

[Bill Hunt]

Just bought 3 bottles at a local shop in PHX, which is not known as being the cheapest for US$17/btl. Now, there was a "sparkler sale," but I thing that the regular price was US$22.

Hunt

[westsidegal]

the blanc de blancs is over $30 in LA
and the wedding cuvee is over $25 in Los Angeles
bevmo is selling the '04 brut for about $30

[invinotheresverde]

Ugh, MA is so freaking expensive.

[maria lorraine]

I know. That bites. I got my prices from national chains (BevMo, etc.). Are the national chain store prices higher in Massachusetts as well?

[invinotheresverde]

We don't have the national chains. Any alcohol vendor is only allowed three stores for the entire state, so the chains stay away.

[appycamper]

coppola sofia blanc de blancs is a sparkling wine with crisp fruit, citrus and honey notes. should be in the mentioned price range.

[westsidegal]

can't say that i cared for that particular wine, although it certainly does fall into the desired price range.

[SteveTimko]

MacArthur Beverages in Washington, D.C., has Morodee Rose. Yum, although it's $18 a bottle.
They also have the 2008 Kerpen Wehlener Sonnenuhr on sale for $18 and a Selbach Spatlese on sale for about the same price along with some Letiz riesling in the range that is not on sale.

Edit: They have a Strub in your price range as well.

[julesincoq]

Barefoot (California) sparkling. There are two... taste them both and pick the one you like the best. In Canada they are only $15 each so they must be super cheap in the states.

I would definitely do a sparkling white with brunch. Much lighter in alcohol and some of them are very good.

[westsidegal]

second julesincoq on this.
california sparkling wines
Portuguese vinho verdes
proseccos

imho, the name of the game at such gatherings is not to offend anyone's palate:
this normally means wines that are not sweet, not buttery, and not big.
to me, this is not the time to strive for an exquisite pairing that only the most sophisticated drinkers would understand; this IS the time to serve an EASY, wine that is flexible and compromising.

ymmv

[julesincoq]

And it is a brunch after all not a late lunch, so keep it light. You might even want to make a batch of mimosas

Jules

[westsidegal]

mimosas would be great

[Vinny Barbaresco]

I tend to go with lower alcohol wines at brunch. A nice 2008 Portuguese Vinho Verde or 2007 German Riesling (Kabinett or Spatlese) should pair well with the dishes your serving. For dessert a lively Moscato d'Asti from the 2008 or 2009 vintage would be fun.

All are within your prcie range.

[beanodc]

We are talking smoked salmon, baked ham, asparagus and spicy cheese potatoes and eggs - I really need help here! And that's before the desserts. Any other specific suggestions?

[kaysyrahsyrah]

I'm also thinking an aromatic white like Alsatian gewurtzaminer (Trimbach or Hugel) and a Cremant rose (Louis Boillot, Jean Louis Denois).