BELGIUM – CIRCA 1900: Wine of Angels. . (Photo by Buyenlarge/Getty Images)
August 4 is National White Wine Day—not that you need a reason to imbibe this summer-time favorite style. But you might need a reason to explore off the beaten path, so here are a few to try.
A six pack of white for National White Wine Day
Alessandro di Camporeale “Vigna di Mandranova” 2018, Sicily. Medium bodied and redolent of lemon curd and herbs. Yellow plums and cherries, anise and wild herbs. A little bit saline and a lot exciting.
Brendel “Noble One” Chardonnay 2019, Napa. Nice and easy, this chard made from organic grapes is clean, unoaked and lets the green-apple tones shine.
Duca di Salaparuta “Lavico” Etna Bianco 2021, DOC, Sicily. Roasted lemon and dried herbs in this savory medium-bodied white made of Carricante, a Sicilian native grape, from slopes of the volcano. Spicy and saline, a tart finish despite the glycerol mouthfeel. You’ll want grilled seafood with this.
Duchman Family Winery Roussanne “Oswald Vineyard” 2021, Texas High Plains. Round yellow-apple tones with some hazelnut components and savory herb undertones. Cooked lemon like compote or curd, creamy and lactic. It gets more mellow after opening and develops an almost sultry character. Drink with roasted white meats, but also great with pistachio nuts (!).
Ferrari-Carano Fume Blanc (Sauvignon Blanc) 2022, North Coast (Sonoma). Tart yellow-plum fruit and young cherries then some young peachy/melon thing going on. A little smoky, Old World vibe. Herbal and savory. Aged in neutral oak, means low intervention from wood spice. At 13.9%, a wee high in alcohol, so have this with some grilled white meat and charred zucchini.
Mazza/Chautauqua Cellars Riesling ”Nut Road Vineyard” 2020 Finger Lakes AVA. Grapes are sourced from a loamy-soil microclimate near Lake Seneca. Classic petrol notes on the nose with some cooked, savory lemon—very rich and leads into a tropical-fruit-inflected palate with guava, lemon and some apple notes. Comes off as having a little RS, but overall dry and mineral-y.
From late to desert to mountains, a topographic map of white wines
Pasini San Giovanni Peschiera del Garda 2019 Lugana DOC. Yellow fruits set the stage for this wine made from the Turbiana grape (related to Verdiccio) grown on the south shores of Italy’s beautiful Lake Garda. A saline streak plays a role, keeping the otherwise medium-bodied wine on the zippier side. Made by a third-generation family of winemakers, certified organic. An attractive squat bottle makes a good presentation for a party.
Pedernales Cellars Trebbiano 2022, Texas High Plains. Honeysuckle and white flowers on the nose leading to some savory greenness on the medium-bodied palate that sings of lemon and lime. This Italian grapes does well here. A little sharp, so don’t serve too cold.
Silk and Spice. Portgual. From Sogrape Vinhos, a venerable producer, a medium- to full-bodied and lush blend of Portuguese native grapes: 50% Bical, 35% Arinto and 15% Alvarinho. Tropically inflected with peaches, melon and white flowers. The juice spent some time on the lees, contributing to a creamy, lactic mouth.
South Shore Wine Co. (Mazza) Gruner Vetliner 2019, Lake Erie, Penn. From one of the oldest wine brands in the Lake Erie region, this is a medium-bodied, white-fruited wine that goes with any causal occasion and a variety of eats. Fresh and meant to be drunk young. A little bit of spice on the finish adds some interest. This is a great match with Chicken Tikka and other spicy dishes.
VARA Albarino 2022, New Mexico. Shows a savory herbal nose, followed by a deeper fruit profile of cooked citrus and yellow fruits. Super tasty with seared scallops and garlic scapes.
Teliani Valley “Winery 97” Tsolikouri 2019, Lechkhumi, Georgia. Juicy yellow fruits—Golden Delicious apple and quince—interplay with aromatic herbs (thyme) in this intriguing medium-bodied wine from the western side of Georgia. Mouth-watering acidity.