TWO SUMMERTIME WHITES

Life’s too short. Enjoy some wine along the way.

Okay so it is now officially July. With temperatures across the country reaching the scorching levels, air conditioners running on overtime and parched throats, we are looking for refreshment. While water is fine for a while and all those energy drinks are supposedly good for you, I think something better, something more lasting and more memorable is really what is needed here. So here are two suggestions I have come across recently that will fit the bill. Oddly, they have something in common: they are both wine!

ALLAN SCOTT SAUVIGNON BLANC
From the Marlborough region of New Zealand comes a wonderful Sauvignon Blanc produced by the region’s first vineyard established in 1973. This wine is a true reflection of a New Zealand summer. Bright in the glass with a bold taste that shows the family’s dedication to quality. Purity is a good word to describe this wine as it is almost clear with a light bouquet. Grapes are harvested by machine and pressed during the night. It is fermented in tanks which are kept cool to maintain a uniform flavor and texture. As I said, it is almost clear in the glass with a very slight yellowish tinge of color. On the palate it is a cool, clean refreshing drink with a taste of some citrus and passionfruit. Crisp and dry, but light enough to enjoy more than one glass. This wine is best on its own, served chilled but not cold in a tall stemmed glass. Made with 100% Sauvignon Blanc grapes it is certain to be a consistent bottle and will impress.
Alcohol – 12% (so it is very light)
Closure – screw top (kind of typical of wines from this region)
Price – about $17
With a personal rating of a solid 9 out of an unattainable 10 grapes this wine is a real find and will be very popular here for the rest of the summer.

LA CHAPELLE du BASTION PICPOUL de PINET
A glass of wine in France is really an art form. Sipping a glass, overlooking a lake is part of a Frenchman’s normal hot summer day. This French import is actually from the largest wine producing region, Languedoc-Roussillon, known for producing good quality value priced wines of all types. An interesting note here is that this wine is actually named for the grape and not the place where it is produced. Picpoul de Pinet refers to the white wines made only from the grape called Piquepoul blanc. The vineyards are some of the oldest on the Mediterranean where the Piquepoul grape is in a constant battle with the winds. This grape has become one of the most food friendly in all of France. In the bottle and the glass it is a very pale yellow with slight greenish hues. A very pretty looking wine that will benefit from some aerating, its aroma shows off citrus and, with some imagination, peach. On the palate it is dry and refreshing, just what you want on a hot, summer day. You will get the taste of fresh grapefruit and other citrus from its clean taste. This wine does pair well with light foods like appetizers of cheese and crackers, summer fruits and salads. But like Allan Scott, it stands best on its own, chilled, by the pool or on the deck with loads of SPF50. When it comes to wine, few can outdo the French for lighter fare or relaxing.
Alcohol – 12.5%
Closure – Screw top
Price – About $13, which is a bargain.
This wine drinks well now and compares favorably with higher priced wines. Personally, I rate this wine a very strong 9 out of an unattainable 10 grapes.

Just only two suggestions that I have come upon recently. I guess that can happen more often than not as we wander through the magnificent world of wine.