Drink Up!
By David Setley
On May 10, 1913, the House of Representatives passed a resolution requiring all federal employees, including the president, to wear a white carnation the next day in honor of mothers. May 11 was the second Sunday in May that year. The following year, Congress requested that President Wilson declare the second Sunday in May as Mother’s Day. Initially, Wilson commemorated this as a day to honor the mothers of fallen soldiers. Later, the holiday was extended to include mothers and maternal bonds in general, including aunts, daughters, and other women who serve a maternal role in the family.
In 2025, Mother’s Day is celebrated on May 11. Although flowers are often associated with the day, many women we celebrate may also enjoy a bottle of wine on their day of (hopefully) relaxation. I don’t typically encourage you to judge a wine by its label, but each of the wines I’ll recommend today is both lovely and delicious.
Let’s begin with a wine from Spain, called Evodia. This red wine has the classic aroma profile of the varietal — cherries and violets — and the flavor is equally lovely. The tannins are soft, and the palate is long-lasting. The 100% Garnacha grapes used in making this wine are organically grown with no chemical herbicides or pesticides. There are fewer than 100 parts per million of sulfites in this wine, as no sulfites are added to those naturally occurring in the grapes. The label itself is absolutely lovely, making this wine a total winner for your Mother’s Day gift. As a long-time business professor, I always told students to strive for the win-win scenario. The Evodia Garnacha is the win-win-win wine scenario.
Moving on to Italy, the Allumea wines might make you mom’s favorite. These wines have become incredibly popular and feature labels that make the recipient feel like they’ve received a bouquet of flowers. Allumea is derived from the Italian word for “enlightenment.” These wines are produced with biodiversity and the sustainability of Mother Nature as the driving force. The Allumea Grillo-Chardonnay is a white blend (70% Grillo, 30% Chardonnay) from Sicily that is perfect for moms who favor white wine. The flavor and aroma are dry, mildly citrus and tropical, without the buttery oaky notes common in California Chardonnay. The Allumea Nero d’Avola – Merlot Blend is equally perfect for the mom who enjoys a rich, full-bodied red wine. This wine has the intense flavor and aroma of black cherries, coffee, and chocolate with notes of Italian baking spices. It is sure to become mom’s go-to wine for pizza and pasta. Finally, from the Abruzzo region of Central Italy, comes the Allumea Rosso Terre di Chieti, a 100% Montepulciano d’Abruzzo red wine. If mom’s preference is a lighter-bodied red with flavors of red berries, plums, and pepper, this is a clear winner. The soft, well-structured tannins make it the perfect choice for meat dishes, lasagna, Italian cheeses, or mushrooms. All three Allumea wines are organic, with minimal sulfites and minimal intervention. In addition, all three are vegan-friendly and feature a beautiful label with multicolored flowers and butterflies. Mom will love these wines!
Speaking of butterflies, the L’Effet Papillon wines from the Rhone Valley of southern France all feature a beautiful butterfly on the label and equally beautiful wines in the bottle. L’Effet Papillon Red, a blend of Grenache and Syrah, is a deep ruby red with aromas of black berry fruits, baking spice, and a touch of black pepper. On the palate, the wine is smooth and almost velvety with the great flavors of dark raspberries and cherries.
Or, try the L’Effet Papillon White, a lovely white wine made with 50% Grenache Blanc and 50% Macabeu. This wine is crisp, dry and smooth with floral aromas of jasmine and orange zest, featuring flavors of fresh melon and apricot. This wine is elegant and versatile. In addition, it is sustainably grown and vegan-friendly. Drink it on its own, or pair it with pork chops and fennel, or a cassoulet if you’re ambitious! Perfect for Mother’s Day dinner.
If Mom enjoys sparkling wines, I have two choices for the perfect gift. The Montinore Estate Vivacé Prosecco and Montinore Vivacé Prosecco Extra Brut Rosé are both wonderful sparkling wines from the Veneto of Northern Italy. Vivacé is Italian for “in a brisk and spirited manner.” That word beautifully describes this crisp, aromatic sparkling wine produced from grapes grown organically in the company’s vineyards within the Prosecco D.O.C. Montinore is among the wine industry’s leaders in biodynamic and organic wine production. These Proseccos will put a little extra vivacé in Mom’s step! Once again, the labels will delight Mom.
I hope these recommendations help you find the perfect wine in the perfect package for the moms in your life. To all the women who serve in the role of mother to your family, Happy Mother’s Day! Thank you for all you do 365 days a year. As always, if you have questions or comments, contact me at dsetley@passionvines.com or stop by the Somers Point store. Until next time, happy wining!
David Setley is enjoying his retirement from higher education as a wine educator and certified sommelier at Passion Vines in Somers Point, New Jersey.
