Wow, it has been a summer for the record books!
Records have been broken for the number of days over 100° and the lack of rain.
You know the heat has been extreme when 90° sounds refreshing. The silver
lining of all this heat and drought – I have a new appreciation for white
wines.
Usually
I’m a red wine drinker. I love Cabernet, Pinot Noir, Rioja from Spain, and
Sangiovese from Italy just to name a few. A spicy Syrah or Zinfandel is great
with BBQ. A Pinot Noir is perfectly paired with salmon, but unfortunately this
summer has been so relentless in its heat that red wine just isn’t as appealing
as usual. The solution – trying more white wines, and I have been quite
pleased. I’ve already written about the fabulous Verdecchio from Fazi
Battaglia. Here are a few more whites I’ve tried and fallen in love with this
summer.
§ Sauvignon Blanc:
I’ve sampled these from all over the world this summer-from California to
France to Argentina. In this hot summer you can’t beat the crispness of this
wine. It is wonderful as an aperitif or with a salad. Just think of lighter
sauces, cooking methods for the hot summer and chances are you will have a
match. It is also fun to share a couple bottles of Sauvignon Blanc from two
different regions, say California and New Zealand or New World verses Old World,
and discover the how the region and wine producing style affects the grapes.
Some of my favorites right now: Portillo (Argentina), Kim Crawford (New
Zealand), Joel Gott (California).
§ Pinot Grigio/Pinot Gris:
In Italy it is Pinot Grigio and Oregon it is known as Pinot Gris, but it is the
same grape. You may find the Oregon variety to have a bit more body to it. I
had a chance to sample some fantastic Pinot Gris while in Oregon earlier this
summer. Arbor Brook was a favorite of mine. An easy drinking everyday Pinot
Grigio I have enjoyed this summer is Riff Pinot Grigio. It is definitely light
bodied good for sipping by the pool or served with antipasto or light seafood
dishes. I found this treasure at my local Whole Foods for $11.99 a bottle.
§ Torrontés:
If you haven’t tried this white wine from Argentina, you are in for a treat.
Argentina is known for their Malbec, but the Torrontés is becoming more readily
available with the increase in wine exported from Argentina. This white has
moderate acidity with wonderful fresh aromatic nose. One that I love recently
was Callia Alta Torrontés. When pairing this food think Asian, Mexican, and
especially guacamole.
Serving
temperature of your wines is always important and that includes the whites.
Serving your white wines straight from the refrigerator is too cold. Let them
sit out for about 15 minutes. You want the serving temperature to be in the
45-55° range. If the wine is too cold you miss out on the full taste and aromas
that the wines have to offer. Good Chardonnays can be served a little warmer
according to Kevin Zraly, he suggests 55-60°. And don’t forget your reds need a
bit of a chill too. He suggests serving lighter reds like Pinot Noir,
Tempranillo, and Sangiovese at 55-60°. Fuller bodied Merlot and Cabernet
Sauvignon at 60-65°
This is
just one more thing that I love about wines-there are so many to try and enjoy.
Don’t be afraid to try different wines for different seasons. Six months from
now when the temperatures will be at the other extreme you will probably find
me by the fire with a rich, warm Malbec.
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