Varietal: Pinot Gris
Region: France
Cost: $16

Light in the glass with aromas and flavors of pear and baked apple.  Pairs well with smoked salmon, Peking duck, or mushroom risotto.

Recommendations: Looking to try something new, and having a distinct lack of white wine in the house, my wife and I picked up this bottle after a Friday night tasting at one of our favorite Richmond wine shops.  The following day we had the opportunity to open it when we made some shrimp kabobs for dinner.  It was a good pairing.

The pear and apple were quite evident on the palate, along with just a hint of sweetness and effervescence on the finish.  Normally I would be hit or miss on the sweetness, but the shrimp we grilled was well seasoned and the kabobs also had peppers and onions, so there was a bit of heat to the dish – not to mention some roasted red pepper risotto as a side.

The sweetness of the wine did an excellent job of cutting through the heat of the meal and the effervescence was incredibly refreshing.  While I don’t know that I’d drink this wine every day, for a hot day on the deck or for pairing with spicy food, it’s definitely one I’ll keep on my radar when I want to change it up from my usual spicy food pairing of Viognier.

One worth checking out if you eat a lot of spicy food or if you’re looking for a deck wine as we finish up the summer.

Varietal: Chianti
Region: Italy
Cost: $9

Ruby red in color with aromas of spice, cherry, and hazelnut.  Flavors of fruit and berry in a medium-bodied wine.  Pairs well with pasta, pizza, and most traditional Italian dishes.

Recommendations: I picked up this bottle last night after a long day of work.  I’d had other Ruffino wines before and enjoyed them and was just in the mood for Chianti and thought this would be a safe bet.  I should have grabbed another one.  While the color and the aromas of the wine were nice – ruby red and cherry – I felt the wine was lighter than I was expecting in the mouth.  The flavors were all there, berry, some cherry, and a noticeable tannic finish, but while Ruffino claims it’s medium-bodied, I felt it leaned more towards the lighter side.

While this bottle hasn’t turned me off of Ruffino wines, I definitely won’t be getting this one again, especially as there are other Chiantis out there for about the same price that have delivered for me in the past.  Kinda disappointing.

Varietal: Sauvignon Blanc
Region: California – USA
Cost: $11

Light color with aromas of citrus that are also found on the palate.  Refreshing and crisp, pairs well with seasoned white meat, creamy dishes, cheese, or by itself.

Recommendations: I’d picked up this bottle a while back with an idea of what I would be pairing it with – leftovers from Christmas dinner.  My wife took the leftover ham we had and combined it with some scalloped potatoes and cream soups to make a nice, hearty casserole that used up the leftovers and created new ones at the same time.

The crispness of the wine did an excellent job of cutting through some of the salt from the pork and the creaminess of the casserole itself.  That, coupled with the flavors of lemon, lime, and grapefruit (which surprised me with its presence), helped make a heavier dish feel less so.

My usual guide to whether or not I like a wine is if I can enjoy it without pairing it with food – a test that Sauvignon Blanc as a whole typically holds up to.  This one was no exception.  If you’re in the market for a light white wine that you can find in most grocery stores, this is a good one to keep in mind.  Definitely worth the $10 – $13 you’ll spend on it.

Varietal: Cabernet Franc
Region: Virginia – USA
Cost: $22

100% Cabernet Franc fermented in small lots and aged in French oak.  Bright flavors of cherry and blackberry with the typical spicy pepper finish.  Pair with grilled foods such as pork as well as pasta and tomato sauce.

Recommendations: Living in Virginia, we’re lucky enough to get a lot of quality Cabernet Franc, and this one from Gray Ghost is no exception.  I was very pleasantly surprised by how light this particular Cabernet Franc was, as it paired very well with the grilled boneless pork chops and roasted red potatoes that my wife and I paired it with.

The usual pepper finish was there, but much more subtle than many other Cabernet Francs, and there was much more bright fruit flavors on the palate than I was accustomed to.  Neither of these things is a bad thing.  I like this Cabernet Franc because I find that those that are heavy on the pepper finish are great to pair with food, but can be a bit rough to drink by themselves.  That’s not the case with this Cabernet from Gray Ghost.  This is definitely a wine that can be enjoyed well after the food is gone, or without any to begin with.

The only real complaint I have about this wine is that they’ve only produced 40 cases this year.  Certainly one worth trying whether you’re already a fan of Cabernet Franc or just starting to get into it.

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.

Varietal: Rioja (white)
Region: Spain
Cost: $8

A dry white wine with a crisp finish and slight acidity.  Aromas of almond and wildflower on the nose go well with the flavors and allow this wine to pair well with chicken, pork, seafood or on the deck.

Recommendations: As fans of the more traditional red rioja, my wife and I were intrigued when we saw this at our local grocer.  For the price alone we figured it was worth it, and I can say that his light to medium bodied white is certainly worth every inexpensive penny.

Paired with some fish, this Spanish white did a great job of adding acid to the meal without being overpowering.  The light, crisp flavors were refreshing and were great during and after the meal.  As I’m always on the look-out for a table wine, this one has certainly made it onto the list.  If you’re a fan of rioja, give this one a try.  If you’ve never tried rioja before and are looking for an alternative to chardonnay and pinot grigio for seafood, definitely give this wine a try.

Varietal:  White Table Wine (Chardonnay, Chenin Blanc, Moscato)
Region:  California
Cost:  $9.99

A light white with bright flavors and a soft, subtle, floral finish to it that will pair well with most any white meat.

Recommendations:  My father gave me this wine as my mother and he have become fans of both this and the red partially due to the price, and also because of the versatility of the wines.  I’d seen it in stores before, and even talked it over with my boss (whom blushes at even the thought of ordering it), but had yet to order it myself.

My wife and I paired this light white with a meal of honey-lime pork cutlets and bacon-cheddar risotto.  The sweetness of the honey on the pork was a nice compliment to the floral finish to the Menage a Trois, as was the richness of the risotto.

I’m not going to claim that the Menage a Trois white is an amazing wine that everybody should rush out and buy a case of, but as white table wines go, it’s actually very functional and versatile, which is what you want from your table wine.  If you’re looking to be blown away, you won’t be.  If you’re looking for a light wine that will pair with a Thursday evening dinner or out on the deck, you can’t miss with this inexpensive white.