SOMM Laguna

If you order a gin & tonic, you pretty much know what it’s going to taste like; not so much with wine though. There is definitely a comfort zone for the average wine drinker. They like what they like and stick with it. One of my goals is to get the average wine drinker to stretch a little and try something they wouldn’t usually think of. One of these wines is My Wine Pick of the Month – a Pinot Blanc from Alsace, France (click on the link on the home page). While it is related to Pinot Grigio (Gris), it is a different grape. I like it as it has more flavor or substance than the typical Pinot Grigio. If you like Chardonnay, I think you’ll like this too. It’s not oaky like a Californian but rather it has a light, refreshing appeal that I think you’ll enjoy.

As it is summer time, most of the wines I’ll be writing about will be lighter bodied whites. For those of you that still want to stick with a red there are alternatives to the California Cab. Tempranillo out of Rioja, Spain is a lighter version that should satisfy the tannin craving. Dolcetto out of Piedmonte, Italy has nice level of tannins but an overall lighter feel. A French Beaujolais might be a nice alternative too (especially something from the Morgon). Look for Morgon AOC on the label. In France, you need to be a geography major to figure out where and what kind of wine it is. Morgon is a town and a region sort of like a Napa. If you see a wine that has the description of Morgon AOC on the label, that means that the wine and the grapes need to come from that geographic area. You’ll also know that from Morgon AOC that the grapes are Gamay. The French don’t make it easy.

Until next time, enjoy the Pinot Blanc and the lighter bodied reds this summer. Stay safe everyone.

Featured Image by: cottonbro studio PEXELS