Great Summer Wines That Won’t Hurt Your Wallet

Adam Weiner — Mon, 27 Jul 2009 01:45:10 +0000

It’s summer, and it’s hot. Here’s a few of my favorites that are guaranteed to please, without breaking the bank. Keep in mind I will not discuss specific vintages, as availability varies based upon your area and the specific wine shop that you frequent.

Naia Verdejo, Rueda, Spain: Naia is from the Rueda region of Spain, made from the Verdejo grape. Verdejo has been the traditional white varietal on the left bank of Rueda since the Middle Ages. This wine comes from one of my favorite Spanish importers, Jorge Ordonez. The majority of the grapes in this wine come from vines at least 26 years old, with a small portion coming from 90 year old ungrafted vines. All vineyards are located in the town of La Seca, which locals consider the “Grand Cru” village of Rueda. This wine typically shows aromas of lemon curd, mineral, and a slight floral note. The chalky minerality frames the citrus flavors. You can typically find Naia for around $15.

Sinnean Pinot Gris, Oregon: Nothing like a good Pinot Gris on a hot summer day. Pinot Gris tends to be a bit fuller bodied than other whites, with a distinctive copper and gray hues in color. While it’s Italian counterpart (yes, Pinot Gris and Pinot Grigio are the same grape) tends to be lackluster and over-produced, this wine kicks some ass. This wine typically shows aromas of pineapple, grapefruit and lime, with a faint touch of honey. Tropical fruit flavors and strong acidity balance this wine on the palate. Sineann is amongst my favorite wineries in Oregon, making some of the sexiest Pinot Noirs around. This Pinot Gris is sourced from the Willamette Valley and the Hood River Valley. While availability of this wine may be limited, it is usually around $16-$19.

La Cappuccina Soave, Veneto, Italy: La Cappuccina was founded over a century ago by the Tessari family. The winery is named after a 15th century chapel where the Capucin monks celebrated religious services. This wine is made from the Garganega grape, and shows floral aromas with notes of almond. This medium bodied wine is perfect to pour for all of your Pinot Grigio loving friends. Most people drink Pinot Grigio because they like the way it sounds. People drink this wine because they like the way it tastes. Let’s go, people. Start drinking some real Italian white wine. You can find it for about $12.

Pierre Peters, Le Mesnil Sur Oger, Champagne: No summer is complete without bubbles. All snobbery aside, you must realize you CAN’T GO CHEAP ON BUBBLY! Awesome sparkling wine requires not only exceptional grape quality, but extended aging and tedious production methods. Yup, that means that good bubbly will cost you. Pierre Peters is one of my favorite Champagne producers, which falls into the category of “Grower Champagnes.” If you are into Champagne, you MUST learn about the growers. Grower Champagnes are grown, produced, bottled, and marketed by the producer. There are stringent guidelines that producers must follow to belong to this prestigious association. So all of those celebrities can take their Cristal and shove it you-know-where. Louis Roederer produces between 300,000 and 400,000 bottles per year! Pierre Peters offers several bottlings, but their straight-up Grand Cru Blanc de Blancs is simply superb. This wine shows no influence of oak, letting the Chardonnay show its true potential. The laser beam of acidity is balanced beautifully with the toasty yeast notes. This will run you about $60. And worth every penny.

Adam's Wine Guide » Summer Wines

Great Summer Wines That Won’t Hurt Your Wallet