As spring erupts all over the Midwest and the Northeast, it's a good time to talk about sparkling wine. Not that you can't have the bubbly in February, but there's just something "sympatico" about spring and sparkling wine.

I recently tasted Mumm Napa's "Blanc de Noirs," a pale pink-hued combination of 80% Pinot Noir grapes and 20% Chardonnay. Expecting it to be somewhat off-dry, I was pleasantly surprised to find the wine very dry, with tiny bubbles, and pronounced citris overtones.

The Mumm Napa "Blance de Noirs" is an excellent choice to pair with warm weather foods, such as crab salad, smoked salmon, and lightly sauced pastas. The suggested retail price is $20.

^{(photo courtesy of Mumm Napa)}