Lake County, California is less well known than its neighbor to the south, Napa County. Situated between Napa and Mendocino Counties, this wine district began with just 100 acres of grape vines in 1965. Today, the Lake County Wine Region boasts over 100 acres of vineyards. Among the wineries there are Guenoc and Shannon Ridge.

I recently tasted Shannon Ridge's 2006 Sauvignon Blanc. I confess that this grape is one of my very favorite and I'm continually amazed at how many different flavors this grape can assume, depending on where it is grown. For instance, Sonoma Valley Sauvignon Blancs tend to be bone-dry with grassy overtones. In contrast, those from New Zealand are lively and fruity, with flavors of pineapple, mango, and other tropical fruit.

The Shannon Ridge wine combines the best of both of these profiles. It's dry, but still has pronounced citrus-lemon and grapefruit-flavors, with maybe just a touch of peach or apricot. This wine is available in most states at a suggested retail price of $16. It's a great choice for a summer picnic or to accompany a summer salad or pasta.

^{(photo courtesy of Shannon Ridge)}