Here is an AP article about white wines to try for the holidays — right up my alley! Of course, I have tried the Whole Foods Market whites, and I particularly love the La Piuma Pecorino from Italy and the Domaine de Bernier Chardonnay from the Loire Valley in France.
Go out and pick up a white you’ve never had before and let me know what you think!
Really loving this Sauvignon Blanc from the Touraine AOC in the Loire Valley of France. With my wine study, I try and taste varietal wines from different parts of the world to see and taste the differences.
Wow…what a really pretty wine. Nice lemon citrus notes with a hint of apricot and green grass. Love the lush mouthfeel combined with zippy acidity. I prefer this style Sauvignon Blanc over the more grassy, tart New Zealand styles.
Cheers!
FINALLY! Two Italian whites I loved and a thumbs up to Petit-Chablis, too.
During my weekend trip to St. Louis, I went to the Frotenac Schnucks to check out their wine collection. This is no grocery store wine. Great wine selection, and I even got a sneak peak at their reserve collection in the back.
I picked up a Toscolo Vernaccia di San Gimignano and Vietti Roero Arneis and they did not disappoint. Crisp, minerally, clean, nice acidity, refreshing. The Pommier Petit-Chablis was also super nice with a rounder mouth feel.
Next time you are thinking about ordering a California Chardonnay or Italian Pinot-Grigio, give one of these varieties a try for a change of pace.
Back from vacation, which included enjoying lots of great wine at Topsail Beach, NC, I decided to open what will be one of my favorite summer sippers — the McPherson Cellars Les Copains. This white Rhone blend of Viognier, Grenache Blanc and Roussanne is killer.
The Viognier gives it a nice floral nose but it jumps with peach and apricot flavors, with beautiful acidity and balance. It’s a steal at less than $15.
Hello summer!
A fun look at wine from some of Austin’s best sommeliers. I was with this group the evening of the interview and enjoyed hearing their take on wines and customer service. Good sommeliers, like this bunch, are not snooty and will gladly help advise you find a wine you will love at the price you want to pay. Cheers!
(Great job @jdewps and @mattmcginnis)
As part of my wine study, I am trying to taste varietal wines to understand their flavor profile. So I am trying to pick up Pinot Grigio more frequently. I took this little number to an Oscar party and was wowed by it.
The St. Michael-Eppan Pinot Grigio has citrus, lemon flavors complemented by wet stone minerality. It had great acid with a round, soft mouthfeel. Made me feel like a million bucks!
I had the pleasure of eating at Lenoir last night during its opening weekend. The food is amazing, the atmosphere intimate, and the wine list small but perfect. Lenoir will certainly be among my favorite go-to places from now on.
Because it’s a three course prix-fixe menu for $30, my dear friend Kate and I dined on lots of terrific dishes, including a fresh green salad with a super light but savory buttermilk dressing, polenta with brussels sprouts and melted carrots, roasted Texas Gulf shrimp with kabocha squash and kale (with AMAZING xo sauce), black spice grouper with beets, chicken wraps with black garlic, and a spicy pork osso bucco.
The flavors were intense but perfectly balanced. I enjoyed a glass of Domaine Weinbach Reserve Pinot Blanc from Alsace ($13) to start, followed by a fruit-forward Touriga with my spicy pork.
My friends know that while I love delicious food, I also love value. I don’t care for restaurants that serve such small portions that you leave hungry. Lenoir is NOT one of these restaurants. Their courses were perfectly sized…enough to satisfy your appetite without overdoing it.
I have always been a fan of Todd Duplechan’s cooking and Lenoir does not disappoint. His wife Jessica was spot-on with her wine recommendations. I can’t wait to go back.
Cheers!
Yes, I really, really love White Bordeaux. Nice citrus from the Sauvignon Blanc combined with the softness of the Semillon, and I’m a happy girl.
I picked up this Chateau Vircoulon 2010 from Specs for under $15. Given that it reached nearly 80 here today in Austin, a crisp white wine was the perfect way to celebrate the end of the week.
Hope you have a great weekend.
How I love thee! A white wine from Loire Valley in France that tastes like citrus, minerals and wet rocks. Yes, my kind of Sauvignon Blanc wine. Love the acidity on the wine, although I wish there was more on the nose. I believe I picked this up at Costco at a bargain. Cheers!
Oh my goodness. I just opened this 2010 MandraRossa Fiano from Sicily. My kind of white wine. Tons of fruit (some tropical and citrus) on the nose, luscious mouthfeel with a hint of honey, but full of mineral and herbs, too. And the acid — wow! Love, love, love it.
I’ve been busy and neglected my Tumblr blog. I can’t think of a better way to get back into it than with a glass of this Fiano.
Clink!
A look at wines -- including many Texas wines -- as well as restaurants that serve regional wines. I am a Certified Sommelier and Certified Specialist of Wine.
For my day job, go to www.deniseclarkePR.com
