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"Carry me, Caravan, take me away. Take me to Portugal, take me to Spain." I sing this Jim Morrison lyric in my head when I look for great wine at a great price.
   
Many years ago, I was sitting around with my brothers listening to music and an old song came on. My oldest brother turned to me and said, "This is the music I grew up on." Me being the youngest of five siblings, I turned to him and said, "No bro, this is the music I grew up on... literally!" We laughed and I thought of his old-world values. It seemed there was always this battle between us about which was better, new world or old world?
   
Wine is also categorized as old world and new world. Old-world wines are considered mainly from Europe, whereas new-world wines come from the Americas, Africa, Australia and so forth. Is there a difference? That’s like asking if there is a difference between today’s music and yesterday’s music. Absolutely! Both are great, although we all have our individual tastes.
   
For most things in life, I usually tend to lean toward the new — but when it comes to wine, I prefer the old. To me, old-world countries make the best wine. It would be hard for me to say which old country I like the best, but when it comes to price balancing with quality, I have to favour Spain and Portugal for making great-tasting, affordable wines.
   
One particular wine that I adore from Spain is called Celeste. This Spanish beauty made from 100% Tempranillo is full of ripe fruit flavours and soft tannins. Hints of black pepper, black liquorice and vanilla from French oak dazzle my palate. Pair it with my famous barbecue pork ribs or some soft pepper cheese and kalamata olives, and I’m up in the celestial heavens!
   
This weekend, I plan to invite my brother over for dinner. Maybe we’ll keep it old school by listening to the classics and pouring ourselves a nice old-world wine.
   
Chris is the Product Consultant at the cityplace Liquor Mart.