Pick your poison: red or white. Or maybe you would like something of the bubbly variety. The Miami International Wine Fair had it all. Choose a country then choose a wine. The Miami Beach Convention Center was transformed into a map of wine importers, wine makers and the average joe looking for that perfect glass of vino.
After sampling more than my fair share of variety I formed my own conclusions about where the wine industry is going.
"Try the Malbec" one sharply dressed man beckoned me. This was not the first I had heard of this delectable beverage. It was the talk of the town. "Miami is one of the largest markets for Argentinan wine." I nodded, not surprised. The South American country produces more that 70 percent of the Malbec grapes in the world. I am assured by more than one import group that this is the wine to watch for; with a growing popularity in restaurants it is sure to be popping up on more shelves of local wine stores.
Then there was Reserva 1831 a sparkling wine that is filled with flecks of gold. It retails at $130 a bottle, I'm not gangster enough to drink this on a regular basis, but it's fun and fresh.
Next: Miami Winery. President Alexis Parades assures me that not only is the fruit grown in Homestead, but the wine itself is fermented and bottled in Miramar. They do not use any grapes but instead make a wine out of lychee, guava and mango. Across the room I found the Florida Orange Grove Winery, which also produces wine from such fruits.Florida-based wines. are delicious and different.
