The Good Wine Guru » deck wine

Ingleside Vineyards Blue Crab Blanc

George — Mon, 10 May 2010 16:00:08 +0000

Varietal: Blended White Wine (85% Chardonnay; 11% Seyval Blanc; 4% Viognier)
Region: Virginia – USA
Cost: $11

Light in the glass with floral aromas and flavors of apple, lemon and honey. Pairs well with crepes, cream based seafood dishes, crabcakes, and chicken.

Recommendations: Whenever I visit the Virginia Wine Expo I make it a point to swing by Ingleside Vineyards. Not because I think they’re going to come out with some new wine that’s going to blow my mind, but because I want to pick up their Blue Crab Blanc in bulk.

While the Expo is in February, this is the time of year that I make a point of having several bottles of Blue Crab Blanc chilled down. Whether it’s relaxing on the deck or a light lunch on a weekend, this is the perfect summer wine. While predominantly Chardonnay, the floral notes from the Viognier really sing and make this wine perfectly refreshing.

On Friday I paired this with a dinner of curry chicken over rice and the slight sweetness (1.2% residual sugar) did a great job of cutting the heat of the meal. In fact, while this will pair great with just about any seafood dish, I would argue it’s best suited for spicy meals if you’re going to pair it with anything.

If you’re looking for that perfect summer wine, you’re not going to find a better value than Ingleside Vineyards Blue Crab Blanc. For the price you can justify picking it up by the case instead of the bottle and it will go great with any occasion. This is my go-to summer wine and I think if you try it you’ll understand why.

Gray Ghost Victorian White

George — Thu, 17 Sep 2009 16:35:01 +0000

Varietal: Chardonnay
Region: Virginia – USA
Cost: $14.50

Light and fruity Chardonnay with no oak. Pineapple and tropical flavors with a semi-dry finish. Pair with spicy food or light fare.

Recommendations: Given as how my wife isn’t a fan of oaked Chardonnay, we were certainly intrigued by this one when we first tried it. The semi-dry finish wasn’t quite what I was expecting, but it wasn’t bad, it just isn’t meant to be paired with everything.

We paired this wine with a light lunch (cheese, crackers, hummus, wings, etc) and I really do believe that that’s the best way to enjoy this wine. This is a great white to enjoy out on the deck on a hot day or to pair with some spicy food while watching the game. As table wines go, it’s a good one.

If you’re looking for something that’s got a bit of residual sugar but isn’t sweet, this is definitely what you’re looking for. While summer is quickly leaving us, it won’t be long before we’re all spending time out on the deck again, so stock up now.

Ponga Sauvignon Blanc

George — Thu, 25 Jun 2009 14:00:18 +0000

Varietal: Sauvignon Blanc
Region: New Zealand
Cost: $9.99

Light and juicy with just enough grapefruit flavor to let you know it’s a Sauvignon Blanc wthout overwhelming you with citrus flavors. Great for seafood, sushi, appetizers, or on the patio.

Recommendations: While Terra Andina Sauvignon Blanc has take its place in my heart as my go-to summer deck wine, Ponga is certainly giving it a run for the its money. Light and crisp with just enough citrus to be refreshing without beating you over the head with it, this white from New Zealand was the perfect compliment to a lunch of cheese, crackers, hummus, and home made bruschetta that my wife and I enjoyed this past weekend. That being said, I would definitly recommend pairing the Ponga with a piece of spicy tilapia or even some sushi.

If you’re in the market for a deck wine and don’t want to spend a lot of money on it, the Ponga Sauvignon Blanc is a great value with a great taste. Half the fun of drinking it is just saying the name, but you’ll get a lot of enjoyment drinking this on the deck as the temperature continues to climb. Grab this one.

Ingleside Blue Crab Blanc

George — Wed, 18 Mar 2009 23:52:35 +0000

Varietal: White Table Wine
Region: Virginia – USA
Cost: $10.95 – $12

Floral bouquets lead into a very light, and refreshing wine that pairs well with chicken, seafood, spicy faire, or as an apertif.

Recommendations: My wife and I enjoyed this wine with a spicey shrimp dish, and the lightness and slight sweet finish did a great job of cutting the heat of the shrimp. If you’re looking for a robust white wine, this isn’t going to be the one for you, but if you’re looking for something that is light, works well with spicey food, chicken, and seafood, AND as a deck wine on a hot day, then you really should pick up more than one bottle of this Virginia White.

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