Zesty White Wines - Glass

Zesty dry white wines; refreshing; dry and crisp.

Included in this category are: Albarino, Unoaked Chardonnay, Garganega (Gavi), Gruner Veltliner, Pinot Gris / Grigio, Sauvignon Blanc, Verdicchio, Verdejo, Vermentino.

Food Pairings: White meats including Chicken, Pork Chop and Turkey. Fish including Tilapia, Sea Bass, Perch, Sole, Haddock, Trout, Cod, Redfish, Halibut, Snapper, Mussels, Crab, Lobster, and Clams; Green herbs including Parsley, Basil, Mint, Tarragon, Thyme, Fennel, Dill, Chives, and Rosemary. Spices including White Pepper, Coriander, Fennel, Turmeric, and Saffron; Look for softer more briny and sour cheeses like Goat’s milk cheese, Yogurt, and Crème fraîche;Sauté green veggies or mix vegetables in more fatty vegetarian dishes so that the acidity of the wine shines through. Here are some example dishes for inspiration: Asparagus quiche, cucumber dill yogurt salad, green hummus, white bean casserole with zucchini and white lasagna. (Pork Chop, Snapper, Crab Roll, Falafel Slider, Veg plate)

Dry Creek Chenin Blanc; 2015 Sonoma, CA

A classic summertime sipper, our wonderfully crisp and refreshing Dry Chenin Blanc perfectly represents our love for this classic grape variety. In the glass, fragrant aromatics such as white peach, melon and citrus are immediately appealing. This vintage displays the classic Loire character of earth and crushed minerals that give the wine depth and nuance. There is an underlying chalky quality with some spicy undertones that really make this wine shine. The palate is equally fine with excellent acid lifting the ripe apple and zesty citrus flavors. Perfectly balanced and harmonious from start to finish, our Chenin Blanc is quite possibly the value of the century for a white wine of this quality and character.

Additional information on chenin blancs:

• What is Chenin Blanc? A light-bodied white wine similar to both Pinot Gris or Sauvignon Blanc. What makes Chenin Blanc wine unique is its ability to taste amazing either as a sweet or dry wine.
• Fruit flavors of berries, fruit, citrus; other aromas of honey, ginger, burnt sugar, caramel, saffron, apple blossom, orange blossom; medium-high to high aciditiy.
• As a white wine, Chenin Blanc has a wide range of flavors. Part of the reason for this has a lot to do with the winemaking style. Winemakers in the original growing region for Chenin Blanc in France stop the fermentation before all the sugar is used up. This technique has some benefits: it reduces the resulting alcohol level, makes the wine sweet and increases the wines’ ability to be aged. The Quarts de Chaume AOC in the Loire is famous for some of the sweetest and longest lived Chenin Blancs in the world.
• As a white wine, Chenin Blanc has a wide range of flavors. Part of the reason for this has a lot to do with the winemaking style. Winemakers in the original growing region for Chenin Blanc in France stop the fermentation before all the sugar is used up. This technique has some benefits: it reduces the resulting alcohol level, makes the wine sweet and increases the wines’ ability to be aged. The Quarts de Chaume AOC in the Loire is famous for some of the sweetest and longest lived Chenin Blancs in the world.

Santa Julia Pinot Grigio; 2016 Mendoza, Argentina

Yellow color with green tones. Very delicate. Aroma of ripe fruits such as pears, apples, melon, and some tropical notes of tropical fruits like pineapples and bananas. Good balance and nice acidity with a long and fresh finish.

Additional information on Pinot Grigios:

• There are 3 Main Types of Pinot Grigio: Minerally & Dry; Fruity & Dry; and Fruity & Sweet. These are mostly discernable by the regions they are from. Santa Julia is from Argentia, lending it to the category of Fruity & Dry.
• Fruity and Dry Pinot Grigios: You’ll be able to pick out lemon, yellow apple and white peach among the flavors that you smell. This presence of more fruit in the aroma tells us that these wines grew in a more sun-friendly climate. Besides just the fruity aromas, the wines have less intense acidity and more of an ‘oily’ textured mouthfeel. This is because winemakers often add a special bacteria after the alcohol fermentation that ‘eats’ sharp acids and ‘poops out’ smooth acids. This process is called Malolactic Fermentataion — where Malic acid is the harsh acid and lactic acid is the smooth oily one.

The Loop Sauvignon Blanc; 2015 Marlborough, New Zealand

A concentrated, deep, super-ripe gooseberry core with apricots and citrus fruit add complexity, while fresh minerality balances the fruit to help make it very food friendly. Vibrant, aromatic and complex. (New World Sauvignon Blanc)

Additional information on sauvignon blancs:

• The primary fruit flavors of Sauvignon Blanc are lime, green apple, passion fruit and white peach. Depending on how ripe the grapes are when the wine is made, the flavor will range from zesty lime to flowery peach. What makes Sauvignon Blanc unique from other white wines are its other herbaceous flavors like bell pepper, jalapeño, gooseberry and grass. These flavors come from aromatic compounds called pyrazines and are the secret to Sauvignon Blanc’s taste.
• Most Sauvignon Blanc wines are made completely dry, although a few producers in regions like New Zealand and California have been known to leave a gram or two of residual sugar to add a richer texture.