Wines For Mother's Day Slideshow

Located amongst the foothills of the Alps, the Collio region of Italy is romantic and windswept. Famous for its impressive coasts, smooth hills, blooming plains, and snowy mountains, this area is also known for producing the most complex and elegant pinot grigios in the world. The Attems Pinot Grigio 2011 is lovely, rich wine with a straw yellow color and a well-balanced fruity finish. Attems pairs well with rustic Italian seafood dishes and spring salads.

From Wine Spectator: "The spicy quince and Asian pear flavors rest on a crisp, juicy body, with plenty of lime zest and grapefruit notes, especially on the finish."

Surprise your mom this Mothers Day with an exquisite white wine made from a varietal shes probably never tried before. The Arnaldo Caprai Grecante Grechetto 2011(from Caprai, the 2012 European Winery of the Year named by Wine Enthusiast) is made from 100 percent grechetto grapes, an indigenous variety grown only in Umbria, Italy, and will please any mom whos typically a chardonnay or sauvignon blanc drinker. Crisp and mouthwatering, the wine bursts with complex fruit flavors and minerality, and lingers on the palate for an exceptionally long finish.

From Wine Spectator: "Lemongrass, Meyer lemon, apple and tangy apricot flavors are aromatic, bright and very refreshing, with fresh ginger on the finish."

From Wine Spectator: "The citrus flavors are balanced by fleshy notes of peach and nectarine, with a spicy finish and plenty of pop from the vibrant acidity."

Says Jessica Certo, the sommelier at Del Friscos Double Eagle Steak House in New York City, lambrusco is a bubbly red wine from the Emilia-Romagna region in north-central Italy. "Traditionally simplistic and fruity, it can be slightly sweet, but the best versions are dry and a bit meaty. This Amabile lambrusco is a shoe-in for cured meats and hard cheeses, but also pairs well with a wide variety of foods from risotto to pizza," she says.

From South Africa, this chenin blanc stays true to its roots. This light, accessible wine has notes of pear, citrus, and honeysuckle with lots of floral aromas a perfect beginners wine to the start of a Mothers Day meal. (Not to mention that the bottle is itself a piece of art.)

The 2012 vintage, once poured, is a pale yellow wine that shines and sparkles. Tropical fruits like passion fruit, lychee, and banana are set off by floral notes of white roses. Ever so spicy with fascinating ginger notes, its no surprise to find it lively and alluring on the palate. Striking an excellent balance between acidity and brown sugar sweetness, this wine offers a great aromatic finish and is easy to drink. The Terrazas Reserva Chardonnay is an intense, fruity, and complex wine. It boasts fruit aromas of papaya and apricot, with floral notes such as white blossom and jasmine. Hints of fresh butter and caramel add complexity and roundness to the finish. Food pairings to consider with the chardonnay? Any seafood or chicken dish with a creamy base.

If your mom is someone who likes her bubbles, introduce her to the light-bodied, crisp, spritzy whites of northern Portugal. Floating somewhere between a still white wine and a sparkling, vinho verde has a light fizz to it and is typically low in alcohol (8.5 percent to 11 percent rather than your usual 11 percent to 15 percent). The delicate, crisp flavors of northern Portugal's Torre de Menagem Vinho Verde are hard to not fall in love with and make this example the perfect choice of drink for those warm spring days.

The Vilarnau winery produces cava on a small and exclusive scale, making it a unique pick for your mother. The Brut Nature (made with macebo, parallada, and chardonnay grapes) is aged for at least 24 months and offers pear and green apple aromas. The mouth is lively and creamy with balanced acidity keeping it fresh. The NV Brut Rosado, made with trepat grapes with a touch of pinot noir, has a red currant hue with aromas of raspberry and strawberry, along with tones of brioche and menthol completed by a creamy and slightly herbaceous finish.