Posts Tagged ‘white table wine’
Odds are pretty good that while in your wine shop you’ve seen wine labeled as table wine. What does that mean though? Is it a generic term or are there requirements? What’s a good use of table wines and how do you pick one out? Can things not labeled as “table wine” be used for the purpose?
What Is Table Wine?
Depending on where you live table wine can mean a lot of different things. Here in the United States it’s a wine made from grapes with a maximum alcohol by volume content of 14%. Other than that there’s not much that determines what is or isn’t a table wine and it’s somewhat left up to the vineyard or winery to determine whether or not they want to label their wine as a table wine.
In Europe the standards are a bit more stringent with different categories of table wine existing within the overall “table wine” genre.
Varietal: 22.7% Malvasia Bianca; 15.9% Gruner Veltliner; 15.7% Sauvignon Blanc; 9.2% Gewurztraminer; 7.9% Riesling; 7.3% Chenin Blanc; 6.1% Muscat Canelli; 5.2% Viognier; 4.5% Verdelho; 4.4% Albarino; 1.1% Pinot Gris
Region: California – USA
Cost: $10 (SRP)
Winemaker’s Notes: Big House wines are a rebellious mix of non-traditional grape varieties destined to give the imbiber a new experience. To wit this year’s prisoner is a captivating blend of aromatic whites that span the distance of the Alps themselves. With a nose that carries the vibrancy of spring and white flowers and lychee fruit that surround the senses. The palate opens up to tropical fruits, dried apricot, and white peaches. This wine finishes strong with a cleansing citrus zest that lingers. Pairs with fresh fish, Asian cuisine, or even Sunday morning fruit salads.
My Review: I’m a big proponent of tables wines, and I feel as though that’s a niche that Big House wines has embraced and possibly even tried to make their own. Looking at the list of wines that are put into the bottle it’s almost disappointing to not see one labeled “kitchen sink”. There are times when a wine can try and do too much and end up falling flat, and while I’m not going to go so far as to proclaim the 2010 Big House White an amazing wine, for a $10 table wine, you can do a lot worse.
Varietal: 98% Chardonnay; 1% Muscat Canelli; 1% Malvasia Bianca
Region: California, USA
Cost: $11 (SRP)
Winemaker’s Notes: The nose reveals lemon blossom, pineapple, and peach aromas with smoky oak nuances along with enticing vanilla spice and toasty brown sugar flavors. The creamy, mouthfilling palate creates a lush impression and is balanced by a rich, lingering finish. Enjoy this delicious wine with rich seafood, poultry, pork dishes, white-sauce pastas – like fettuccini Alfredo, or flavorful, softripening cheeses.
My Review: I’m always wary when a Chardonnay sample shows up at my house as my wife has a distaste for oaked chardonnay, whereas I enjoy them – it makes buying Chardonnay tricky in the house. While she’s willing to try pretty much anything I pour into a glass for her, I prefer to give her things I know she’ll enjoy, so with her out of town, I took the opportunity to open the bottle of 2010 Robert Mondavi Private Selection Chardonnay since I knew it had spent time in oak and didn’t want to trouble my wife with it.
Varietal: 100% Chardonnay
Region: Charlottesville – Virginia – USA
Cost: $14
Winemaker’s Notes: Aromas of honeysuckle, pineapple and citrus herald this clean crisp wine. Notes of caramelized pear, melon and peach are followed by a smooth, subtly sweet finish. Aged 5 months in French and American oak.
My Review: I don’t think it’s any secret by this point that I’m a fan of the wines produced by Blenheim Vineyards and their winemaker Kirsty Harmon. Because of that, during the Virginia Wine Expo back in February, my wife and I made sure to grab several bottles of wine from the Blenheim booth, and last night we opened up one of them to go with our dinner.
Varietal: Blended White Wine (Chardonnay, Viognier, Muscat, Sauvignon Blanc)
Region: California – Rutherford
Cost: $17
Winemaker’s Notes: Floral bouquet on the nose with a dominance of honeysuckle. Honey, herbs, and floral notes on the palate. Pairs well with swordfish, chicken, and cheese & crackers.
My Review: So, in case you don’t remember, I had some Conundrum back in October when I attended a media dinner at Fleming’s Steakhouse. Because I enjoyed it so much, when I came across it at my local Costco while doing some shopping, I couldn’t resist grabbing a bottle of it. I should have grabbed more.
After a terrible experience with the Lucky Duck Sauvignon Blanc, my wife and I wanted something good to pair with a dinner of broiled herb chicken and butter noodles. The 2009 Conundrum was a great pairing. While the winemaker’s keep the exact blend a secret, it’s easy to pick out the notes of Viognier, Chardonnay, Muscat, and Sauvignon Blanc, even if you can’t guess at the actual percentages. Read the rest of this entry »
Varietal: Blended White Wine (41% Vidal Blanc; 34% Chardonnay; 15% Traminette; 10% Viognier)
Region: Virginia – USA
Cost: $15.99
Slight floral notes with flavors of melon and citrus and a hint of sweetness. Pairs well with white meat, appetizers, spicy food, and hot summer days.
Recommendations: My parents live near Potomac Point Winery, so while it’s been a while since I’ve had a chance to go and visit them in person, I am fairly familiar with them and their wines. Because of that, I’m a big fan of their La Belle Vie, always keeping some on hand as the warmer months roll in as it works great as a deck wine.
The floral notes on the wine would lead you to believe there’s more Viognier in it than there is, and while there’s just a hint of sweetness, it’s countered nicely by flavors of citrus and a touch of melon. The wife and I paired this bottle with a dinner of pork chops from the oven, some corn, and a pasta side, but really the ideal pairing for this wine would be either a cheese and meat platter on the patio or a dinner of good Thai food. Read the rest of this entry »
