I thought there’s no better time than the week before the fourth of July to explore a refreshing summertime grape. Most people think of Sauvignon Blanc, Pinot Grigo or even Chardonnay as summertime wines. However, next time your at the store check out an Alvarinho, which is used to make Vinho Verde, from Portugal or an Albariño from Spain. Same grape, pronounced two different ways.

Alvarinho grapes are grown in the Monção region of Portugal, while Albariño grapes are mostly grown in the Rias Baixas, northwest Spain. These grapes are rarely grown in other regions around the world, although recently there have been plantings in North America to test the appeal among consumers. These grapes are also called Albarín Blanco or Cainho Branco. They arrived on the Iberian peninsula with the help of the Cluny monks in the 12^th century. The name “Alba-Rino” means “the white from Rhine” so its thought these grapes originated from the Alsace region in France and could be a clone of the Riesling grape. However, recorded use of Riesling grapes didn’t occur until several centuries later. So the origins of Alvarinho a.k.a. Albariño may remain a mystery.

In Rias Baixes, the climate is generally cool, windy and rainy. Vines are trained on pergolas to ensure air circulation through the vines. This avoids the the threat of rot, mildew and other fungal diseases. The vines grow in granite and chalky soils, just miles away from the Atlantic Ocean. Albariño grapes develop thick skins so only small amounts of juices are extracted from the grapes.

These grapes are extremely aromatic, similar to a Viognier or Gewurztraminer. Typical descriptions include: almonds, apples, peaches, apricot, citrus and flowers. These wine typically feature a biting acidity that pairs nicely with seafood or shellfish. Albariño from Spain or Alvarinho from Portugal should be consumed while young and fresh. These wines won’t benefit from cellaring.

Vinho Verde literally means “green wine.” If you look closely you might notice just the slightest green tint to a Portuguese Vinho Verde. However, you will definitely notice a few small bubbles in your glass as the wine is slightly effervescent. A refreshing treat on a hot summer afternoon.

Photo By: Mark Dotson

After missing a few weeks at our local wine tasting it was like we were back home on Saturday. The previous couple of weeks, we were either out of town or just too busy for wine tasting….terrible, I know. In fact, we hadn’t been in the store for two or three weeks and there were several new arrivals so we purchased a mixed case of few favorites and new discoveries. Here are a few that stood out to me at Saturday’s tasting:

Colombelle 2007 ($7.99)
This summer wine is a steal for the price. It’s a blend of Colombard and Ugni Blanc and features aromas of orange and banana leaves. This wine is very clean and crisp on the palate with hints of grapefruit and mango.

Chateau St. Michelle 2007 Dry Riesling ($9.99)
We saw a lot of this wine over the past few days. It was part of the Saturday line-up, but Jonathan and I had sampled it the evening before with our Indian food. While not completely dry, it is the perfect match for spicy Indian food. A bouquet of flowers fills the nose and carries over to the palate along with hints of green apple and peach.

Beso de Vino Garnacha Rosé 2008 ($9.99)
This producer was the highlight of the tasting for me. Inexpensive, unique wines! The Garnacha Rosé was packed with strawberries both on the nose and palate. I’m trying more and more rosés and this will be one we pick up in the future. 

 Beso de Vino Macabeo 2008 ($9.99)
Same producer and a very unique wine. Macabeo is white grape and is typically found in Spanish Cava. It’s rare to see the cava grapes as wine on their own. So I was intrigued. This Macabeo offered a floral palate with a very lively taste. We purchased a bottle. It should be perfect for a summer evening on the patio.

I received good news yesterday. I was selected to attend the Wine Academy of Spain’seducation program in Chicago. It’s a three-day program that explores the main Spanish wine appellations, wine laws, styles, grape varieties, soils and intensive sampling over 50 wines. I’m thrilled to attend this course for free since it’s normally quite pricey.

I feel as if I need to spend the next two weeks studying up on Spanish wines and all there is to know. I’ve taken smaller wine classes in the past, but nothing to the magnitude of this program. I think it will be challenging, but very rewarding in the end. And now, I’m just so darn excited!

Winery: Nicolas Potel
Wine: Cuvée Gérard Potel 2007
Location: Burgundy, France
Purchased: The Corkscrew
Price: $19.99

I read somewhere recently that you need to spend $500 to find a good bottle of wine from Burgundy. That is, tasting 10 bottles to find the one you like. I am beginning to see this line of thinking. Perhaps, Jonathan and I were lucky with our first “cheap” bottle of Burgundy because we really like it. So we upgraded, but without the same results. Nicolas Potel is a bottle of Burgundy I will not be purchasing again.

Nicolas Potel resembled a stereotypical Pinot Noir in the glass, showcasing light cherry colors with extremely transparent appearance. The overwhelming aroma for me was barnyard or farm smells. It was not something I find pleasing in my wines. I read about how Burgundy wines can carry a barnyard smell, but I don’t recall encountering one this strong. For me, it was very off-putting. There was also the slightest hint of cola smells and aromas of earth. I thought this wine tasted thin and was slightly tannic and tart. Granted, it was a young wine and could lay for a couple of years to age and mellow out the tannins. This bottle of wine had no finish….zip, zero, zilch. The lack of a finish was shocking.

Here is the winemaker’s statements regarding his winemaking philosphy:

My philosophy towards winemaking is to insist on low yields, as little intervention in the vineyards as possible, rigorous selections and extended skin contact. I strive to remain true to the characteristics of each vineyard, while producing a balanced complex wine emphasizing fruit and fruitiness.

Jonathan and I are visiting friends and family this week in Texas. I knew it would be hot, but I wasn’t prepared for the brutal sun and 90 plus degree temperatures. I went for a jog this morning at 6:45, and it was already hot, humid and sticky. I’ve adjusted quite nicely to summers in the Midwest, and that’s one thing I don’t miss about Texas. I thought it only appropriate to make a few suggestions for wines to enjoy during the summer.

One of my favorite summer activities is to sit on the porch in the evening and sip on a bottle of wine, watching the sunset. Jonathan and I often spend 20 or 30 minutes on the porch reading the newspaper or catching up on the day before we start cooking dinner. Summer is the perfect time to try a few new white or rosé wines as an escape from the heat .

*Vinho Verde: This is one of my favorite summertime wines. From the Minho region in Portugal, Vinho Verde is inexpensive and slightly effervescent. This is a wine to drink young and serve well chilled. Aveleda Fonte is one of my favorite Vinho Verde’s.

*Sauvignon Blanc: For me, New Zealand Sauvignon Blanc is a must during the summer. The citrus aromas are eye-popping. New Zealand Sauvignon Blancs pop in your mouth with lemon-lime, kiwi and mineral flavors. I like to think of it as sunshine in my mouth. Most New Zealand Sauvignon Blancs can be found for under $25. Some of my favorites include Kim Crawford, Starborough and Oyster Bay.

*Rosé: I will admit it, I used to associate Rosé with the sweet, pink white zinfandel wines made in California. So when I started seeing Rosé wines in tastings and on wine menus I began asking questions. Turns out I was completely wrong. My introduction to Rosé wines began slowly and continues to develop. I find it one of the most intriguing and varied of the lighter bodied wines. Here are a few that I enjoyed recently: Mas de Gourgonnier, Fèlix Massana Rafols Rosé and Crios de Susana Balbo Malbec Rosé.