Wonderful Whites

Filed in archive Food and Wine on August 15, 2007

It's hard to believe that August is half-over. I know that technically there is more than a month of summer left (well, in the Northern Hemisphere at least), but to me it seems that fall really is just around the corner. I'm hoping to enjoy at least a few more warm evenings on the deck sipping a lovely glass of white wine before the leaves start to turn colors. If you feel likewise and are also looking to try some new white varietals, you're in luck.

The Rochester Democrat & Chronicle suggests a few "obscure" whites that you might enjoy. Here are just a few of the reccomendations:

Vignoles (vhin-YOLES) is a local celebrity. It is a hybrid vine that also goes by the name Ravat. If sweeter wines please your palate, you will love this one. Look for flavors of apricot, lemon, pear, honey and melon. And the best examples are right in our own back yard. Keuka Springs Vignoles ($9.99), Lakewood Vignoles ($9.99) and Wagner Vignoles ($7.99) are lovely specimens. They're great with food, but these are my favorite just for sipping on the porch.

Verdicchio dei Castelli di Jesi (vehr-DEEK-kyoh). Who cares if it's hard to pronounce? The wine is awesome. From the Marches region of Italy, it is crisp, dry, elegant and light. It's also nice with a wedge of Parmigiano and fresh pears. Try Montesecco Verdicchio ($14.99), Di Gino Verdicchio ($11.99) or Tenuta di Montalto Verdicchio ($10.99). Now that's Italian.

Verdejo (vehr-DAY-yoh). This Spanish treasure is very "Sauvignon blanc-like." It has grapefruit, pear and lemon flavors in a bright package of acidity. To me, this is the Lays potato chips of wine. Try to take just one sip. This grape grows primarily in Rueda, Spain. Look for Con Class Verdejo ($11.99) or Naia Verdejo ($11.99). They are not hard to find. Also, Con Class makes a Rueda label, which is a blend of Verdejo and Viura ($9.99). This wine is obligatory when serving fresh Gazpacho.

But that's not all - the article discusses a few more wines, so if you're intrigued, check it out.