Verdejo, Viognier and Vermentino – three white wines to broaden your pallet a little. If you like Chardonnays and Sauv Blancs, these ‘V’ wines might be worth a try. Verdejo (Ver-day-ho) is from Rueda, Spain (northwest of Madrid). The region of Rueda makes almost nothing but white wines and this varietal could be a nice alternative for those of you that like Sauv Blanc. The Protos below sells for about $16.
Viognier (Vee-Oh-Nay) is from Southern France (Rhone and Languedoc) as well as some nice versions coming out of California (Paso Robles). While a lot of Viogniers tend to be a bit pricey, this blend from Languedoc, France can be had from TJ’s for under $10. It was served at a wine tasting that I recently did and it was very well received. Try this with chicken or pork.
Vermentino is produced throughout central Italy as well as Sardinia. Vermentino is also an alternative to Chardonnays and Sauv Blancs. The Castellani is from Tuscany and sells for about $15. The Colli del Limbara Fria is from Sardinia and is a bit of a step up at $24. I really enjoyed the Sardinian version (imported by Kermit Lynch*). It was interesting to compare the same grapes from two distinctly different parts of Italy. Next time you are having Italian food, see if the wine list has any Italian whites (not including Pinot Grigio) – they’ll likely pair nicely with the food.
Next month, as the weather gets cooler, we’ll start getting back into reds. This past weekend, I did a virtual tasting which included a Pinot Noir from California, a Cab Franc from Loire, France and an Amarone from NE Italy. It was fun trying these wines side-by-side and a good way to do taste comparisons. Stay safe everyone and Love the Wine you’re with!
- *I like Kermit Lynch wines. They are usually from smaller producers, a bit unique and always of good quality. Look for their name on the back label.
Featured Image by: cottonbro studio PEXELS
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