By Jim Ginley

Saturday, May 8, 2010, Myrtle Beach - Mother's Day is May 9, and this is a good opportunity to show off your wine knowledge by giving Mom a good bottle of wine to enjoy.

For any celebration, I always suggest bubbly. American sparkling wines are good values and start at $5 for inexpensive bottles, but for a few dollars more you can enjoy Domaine St Michelle or Korbel. They both deliver good flavor and effervescence.

Better yet, move up to $15 and get a nice bottle of Piper Sonoma Brut or Mumm’s Brut Prestige. The Piper is pale gold with toasty notes and earthy, while the Mumm’s  is balanced with a peach hue and melon and spice hints. Both of these brands owe their heritage to French Champagne houses, Piper Heidsieck and Mumm.

A lighter alternative is Prosecco from the Veneto region of Italy. The Prosecco grape is light and the taste refreshing and fruity. Another bubbly from Italy is Moscato d’Asti, which is slightly sparkling, or frizzante.  It is sweet, low in alcohol, and great as an aperitif or just drink with the whole meal.   

Now that it is May warm weather is upon us, and whites are my other Mom-friendly choice. Chardonnay tops the list, and one that really delivers is a Chilean wine called Limari Valley Marques de Casa Concha Chardonnay 2008 from Concha Y Toro. The big name alludes to a big wine, and it is. This 90 point wine has apple, melon, and lemon notes with an invigorating finish, and sells for less than $20.

There is a Riesling from Loosen Brothers, called simply Dr L. It is an estate wine from the Mosel region, so you know it is sprightly with notes of apricot, lime, and mango which linger in the finish. It also happened to be included on the Wine Spectator Top 100 list for 2009.

All these wine I’ve mentioned are available at Green’s. If you’re pressed for time, the timeless and simple basket with wine, whole fruit, and some chocolate is a sure winner. You can get everything you need at a grocery-except the best wine value - for that, you have to go to Green’s!

Jim Ginley is a 30-year veteran of the local hospitality industry and serves as the wine consultant at Green's Discount Beverages in Myrtle Beach. He can be contacted at This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it .