more wine
and beer...
Homebrew:
tips from a pro
A guide to spirits under five bucks.
An interview with Robin Garr, veteran wine critic.
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When it comes to wine, you can't help but love summer. It may be the heat or the relaxing effects of impending vacation, but when temperatures rise, the wonderful world of wine becomes a slightly chilled and VERY affordable place. Summer is the accepted time for vintners and wine snobs alike to loosen up and embrace white wines as the seasonal norm. Gourmet and wine-specific magazines actually use phrases like "reasonably-priced" and "good value" while discussing bottles that mere mortals can swing on a weekday whim. Wine-savvy friends and other cork jockeys recommend five-dollar whites that answer the seasonal need for instant gratification — just in time for al fresco experimentation.
| "Wine-savvy friends and other cork jockeys recommend five-dollar whites that answer the seasonal need for instant gratification." |
It's also the time when "noted experts" trash-talk the reigning American white wine — the dreaded California Chardonnay — and endorse other white wines that can't match CalChard's overwhelming domestic market share. Whether out of viticultural boredom or support of the underdog, button-down wine authorities gush over herb-scented Sauvignon Blancs, insanely fruity Gewürztraminers, and crisp, food-friendly Pinot Grigios. And all of these treasures are priced well under ten American dollars.
In honor of the Long White Season, here's a quick overview of five non-Chardonnay wine varieties — nice, balanced drinks that richly deserve expanded palate play. Even if you're a dedicated Red Ranger — a one-note wino turned off by hyper-sweet box whites — these Chardonnay alternatives could restore your faith in the paler vintages. And maybe, just maybe, you'll be able to kick the "beer and red" rut before this year's heat wave lets up.
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