Varietal: Chardonnay
Region: Chile
Cost: $9

Golden yellow in color with aromas of pineapple and papaya with hints of vanilla.  Pineapple, citrus, and a subtle acid on the palate.  Pairs well with roasted chicken and shellfish in a light cream sauce.

Recommendations: There was a distinct lack of white wine in my house recently, and so during a tasting at my local wine shop I picked up a couple of bottles of white to have around.  My wife doesn’t like Chardonnay with a heavy oak flavor, so when I saw the Terra Andina (of which I’ve had other varietals and enjoyed), I grabbed it.

Taking the advice of the tasting notes on the back of the bottle, and because we had both available in the house for an easy dinner, we paired the wine with a dinner of shrimp in a garlic alfredo sauce with some farfalle pasta.  The acid of the Terra Andina did a nice job of cutting through the cream sauce, and the citrus flavors, particularly pineapple, were a nice compliment to the taste of the shrimp.

While this is by no means a life altering Chardonnay, it’s a great one to keep around the house.  For the price, you’d be hard pressed to find a quality Chardonnay that will pair well with food and be enjoyable just by itself.  If you’re looking for a white wine on a budget, the Terra Andina Chardonnay is definitely one worth looking at.

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: Chardonnay
Region: California – Sonoma County – USA
Cost: $11

Light in the glass with aromas of tropical fruit.  Flavors of pear, apple, and pineapple with a creamy finish that pairs well with cream-sauced chicken, salmon, and mild cheeses.

Recommendations: While at Costco this weekend doing our monthly shopping trip, my wife and I picked up a bottle of the Simi Chardonnay to pair with the salmon we had already grabbed earlier in the shopping trip.  The back label of the wine claimed it would pair well with salmon, and I’ve always liked Chardonnay to cut through the fat of a good piece of salmon so it sounded like a good idea.

When we cooked the salmon, we put it under the broiler with a mustard herb crust that was, at least in my opinion, quite tasty.  My wife really outdid herself on that one.  As for the wine itself – meh.  The color was nice – a light golden color, and the flavors weren’t bad, pineapple, pear, and apple with just a hint of the creamy, buttery finish that I expect from Chardonnay, and while it did a good job of cutting through the richness of the salmon, I can’t honestly say that I would buy it again.

It’s a lowest common denominator wine.  What I mean by that is that if I was having a wedding, and I had to select a red and a white to offer, this is the kind of white I would choose.  It will satisfy the largest number of people, won’t cost a lot, and will go with chicken, fish, or cream pasta.  It’s a generic wine.  It reminded me a lot of a Yellowtail Chardonnay, which is another lowest common denomination wine.

So while the wine was ok with dinner, in the end, I know I could have done better for the price point, or at least the same for a few dollars less.  Not worth picking up.

Here’s the email that was sent to me:

The Chianti area has been one of the most important wine producing regions in Italy for over two centuries. It was the family of the Grand Duke of Tuscany Lopold I that began cultivating grapes during the 18^th and 19^th centuries in the region that would become modern Chianti.

The Chiantigiana (SR 222) is one of the most scenic and charming motoring routes in Italy, running directly south from Florence to Sienna cutting through the heart of the Chianti Classico wine zone. The road sweeps around rolling Tuscan hills and past thousands of hectares of vineyards, all producing outstanding Chianti Classico DOCG (the highest classification of Chianti).

The best time of year to visit Tuscany (Toscana) is at harvest time in September, or just before harvest to see the vines bowing heavily with ripening Sangiovese grapes. During September most towns in Chianti celebrate the Sangiovese harvest with wine festivals such as the Vino al Vino held on the third week in September (17-19) in the small town of Panzano in Chianti, where many local wines can be sampled by the glass.

For a truly inspiring tour along Chiantigiana road, make time to visit some of the ancient towns of Chianti and surrounding vineyards. Most vineyards are open to the public, but it’s worth checking before you visit.

Greve in Chianti

Greve is a principle market town 31km south of Florence (Firenze).  During the second week of September, the Rassegna del Chianti Classico festival takes place in Greve.

Feste dell’uva
This is a wonderful festival held in the pretty village of Vagliagli. There will be a parade and dancing, lots to eat and drink

The Chianti Classico wine festival is also recommended and takes place between the 10 – 12 September.

Radda

Radda in Chianti is principle market town in the Province of Siena in the Italian region Tuscany, located about 35 km southeast of Florence and about 15 km north of Siena.

Gaiole

Gaiole in Chianti is principle market town in the Province of Siena in the Italian region Tuscany, located about 40 km southeast of Florence and about 15 km northeast of Siena. Forbes magazine named it number one in its list of “Europe’s Most Idyllic Places To Live.”

Whilst here, visit the Brolio winery. You can book wine tastings for small or large groups at the Brolio wine shop and learn about the Chianti Classico area through its most representative wines.

Panzano

A small town with Etruscan origins, Panzano is situated on the Chiantigiana road between Castellina and Greve. The piazza is charming and a perfect place to sip a Prosseco.

The Vino al Vino wine festival takes place between the 17 – 19 September and there are a couple of winereies well worth a visit including Le Fonti and Fattoria Montagliari. The later has a fantastic restaurant with genuine Tuscan cooking and breath-taking views over the Greve valley.

Castellina

Castellina  plays host to The Grape and Wine Festival during the third week of September.  A visit to the Villa Trasqua winery can be arranged wth a guided cellar tour and tasting session for 20 euros

Tuscan Villas in Chianti wine region

To make the most of the region’s excellent wine and local ingredients, it is recommend that you hire a villa. You have the freedom to cook up tasty Italian treats and relax on a veranda sipping local wine admitting the Tuscan countryside.

Villa Bernardi in Panzano in Chianti is a beautiful and spacious Tuscan farmhouse property situated on a hillside outside of the village of Panzano. The property dates back to the 11th Century and has been restored carefully to retain its original features and character. Laid out over 4 levels, this property is ideal for family groups with plenty of space to gather. The saltwater swimming pool is reached by a stone path across the lawn and enjoys views across the Chianti countryside. Sleeps up to 10 people and costs from £6552 per week

Or if there is just two of you, then the Panorama at Cornino in Castellina in Chianti is ideal. A spacious villa in the Hamlet of Cornino overlooking the Chianti hills, Panorama provides a peaceful retreat close to the town of Castellina. This beautifully restored property is surrounded by olive groves and unforgettable views. The property sleeps 3 people and costs from £546 per week.

To Tuscany has a wide choice of villas in Italy to choose from throughout the Tuscan wine regions. Visit www.to-tuscany.com to see a selection of properties and check availability.

Varietal: Viognier
Region: Virginia – USA
Cost: $19

A nose of smoky papaya gives way to concentrated apple and white pepper tones with a lingering lemon finish.  Pairs well with seafood, grilled chicken, and spiced food.

Recommendations: The deeper we’ve gotten into summer, the more I’ve been drinking wines like Viognier.  Fortunately, living in Virginia, it’s easy to come by as we grow it quite well.  Back in February, at the Virginia Wine Expo, I was first introduced to Blenheim Vineyards, and instantly fell in love with both their Cabernet Franc and their Viognier.  In March when my wife and I spent a weekend traipsing around Virginia wine country, we made a point of stopping in at Blenheim as we had not bought nearly enough of their wine, specifically their Viognier, to last us through the summer.

This past weekend while enjoying a dinner of grilled scallops and rockfish flounder, my wife and I opened a bottle of the Blenheim Viognier we had chilling in our fridge.  I had forgotten that the Blenheim Viognier is a bit heavier than some other Viognier that I’ve had, but that’s not a bad thing.  Blenheim’s Vigonier is a bit more robust, holding up well to the seasoning that my wife and I applied to our dinner, while still showing the floral aromas that I associate with Viognier.

The lemon on the finish was definitely a nice compliment to our dinner, and overall the wine paired well with the meal.  What I like about Viognier is that even by itself it’s enjoyable, which for a lighter wine I’m sometimes hit or miss on.  The Blenheim Viognier is no exception to this rule.

The only downside to the Blenheim Viognier is that you can’t get it in your local store.  Fortunately, Blenheim does have an only store, featured here.  While we’re still in summer I definitely recommend giving their Viognier a try, and if you’re ever in the Charlottesville, Virginia region they’re one worth stopping in to visit.

The first wine I tasted was the Monthaven Chardonnay.  I’d had this one before and it was exactly as I remembered – a touch of oakiness on the finish, but a fairly straight forward California Chardonnay that will pair well with chicken and pasta with cream sauce.  Next up was the other white I had already sampled, the Silver Birch Sauvignon Blanc.  It doesn’t feature as much grapefruit as a Sauvignon Blanc from Chile, but it’s still crisp and refreshing with good citrus flavors and is great for hot summer days.

Next up was the first wine I hadn’t tried before – the Big House White.  A blend of Malvasia Bianca (51%), Muscat Canelli (14%), Viognier (13%), Gruner Veltliner (10%), Pinot Gris (5%), and Riesling (4%) the wine showed the Viognier on the nose with a very floral aroma.  Tropical fruits on the palate made it a refreshing wine and one that would definitely pair well with seafood.

Moving over to the reds we started with the Big House Red (which I’m not going to list all the varietals in…there are just too many.  You can check out my previous post on it here).  A good table wine that would be perfect for a quick glass after a long day of work and for blending in with pasta sauces while cooking, none of the varietals really stand out, making it seem to have a single note, but it’s still a good table wine.

Next up was the one that I was probably looking forward to the most, the Seven.  A blended Spanish wine of Cabernet Sauvignon (25%), Merlot (25%), Syrah (18%), Petit Verdot (8%), Tempranillo (8%), Grenache (8%), and Graciano (8%), there was a nice berry flavor with good tannins and a robustness that I found enjoyable and certainly made me want to pair it with some grilled red meat.

Finally was the Boho Old Vine Zinfandel.  Jammy is the best way to describe this wine, and it lacked the usual spice and pepper that I associated with Zinfandel.  That being said, this is a BBQ wine through and through.  If you’re making ribs for a summer cook-out, this is a good go-to wine.

All in all I had a great evening, the wines were all enjoyable, the location was spectacular, and the staff was incredibly helpful.  I want to thank Cork’d for hosting the event, and Lima Restaurant and Lounge for your amazing service.

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.

That being said, for the warmer months this is a nice alternative to the Sauvignon Blancs that I usually drink, cutting out some of the citrus and adding the floral notes and flavors of Viognier that I’m growing more and more fond of.  While Potomac Point is a bit off the beaten path, if you’re in the Northern Virginia area I do recommend a stop in and enjoying a bottle of La Belle Vie on their patio, otherwise, pick up a bottle at several local stores and enjoy it at home.

Varietal: Viognier (53%); Chardonnay (43%)
Region: Virginia – USA
Cost: $20

Tropical fruit and pineapple on the nose with  citrus and floral notes in the mouth.  Pairs well with appetizers before dinner or with seafood, grilled white meat, or spicy food.

Recommendations: The more Viognier I drink, the more I like it, especially when blended with Chardonnay.  Because of that, when my wife and I visited several Virginia vineyards back in March, our stop at the King Family Vineyards offered up a great combination of just those two wines.

The Roseland offers up just enough floral notes from the Viognier to make it a nice sipping wine for a hot day, but has enough body from the Chardonnay to make it a great wine to pair with dinner.  It short, it’s a very versatile white wine. We paired ours with a dinner of salmon and parmesan risotto and the acid of the Chardonnay cut the fat of the fish nicely, while the floral flavors of the Viognier helped to balance the heavily seasoned salmon.

I can’t say with any certainty that this is the best Viognier/Chardonnay blend out there, but I can say that it’s one that I enjoyed and certainly one that I would recommend you try if you pay a visit to King Family Vineyards (which I highly recommend).

Varietal: Chardonnay
Region: California – Livermore Valley – USA
Cost: $15

Light golden in the glass with pear and guava on the nose and flavors of fresh peach, guava, and pear with hints of lemon, herbs, and brioche with a creamy finish.  Pairs well with pork loin or pasta with cream sauce.

Recommendations: I’m always wary of opening a bottle of Chardonnay to share with my wife as she doesn’t like oaked Chardonnay (she doesn’t like the buttery finish).  However, when fixing a dinner of pork tenderloin, the bottle of Concannon Chardonnay called out to me.  I got a bit of pear on the nose, and flavors of peach.  The finish was nice and mellow, with just a hint of the typical buttery finish that you associate with Chardonnay that has spent time in oak barrels.

Paired with our dinner it was a winner.  The slight acid of the wine did a great job of cutting through the richness of the pork tenderloin, and the hints of lemon and herb complimented the herbs that we had added to the tenderloin.  While this wine certainly doesn’t break new ground, it’s a nice, solid Chardonnay that’s worth picking up and is a great pairing with pork.

Varietal: Chardonnay
Region: California – Carneros – USA
Cost: $18

Bright, concentrated citrus, pear, green apple, and nectarine with just a touch of oak on the palate.  Pairs well with chicken, pork, and seafood.

Recommendations: When this wine first showed up I was looking over the tasting notes and saw that it had spent 9 months in French oak and instantly thought that maybe my wife wouldn’t like this wine as she doesn’t typically like oaked Chardonnay.  Fortunately we opened it to pair with some grilled pork chops and she gave it a try.  She was glad she did.

Green apple and a bit of pineapple were noticeable on the palate, with just a hint of oak on the finish so that you know it’s not a stainless steel Chardonnay, but not enough to turn off those that don’t like oaked Chardonnay.  When paired with some grilled pork chops and sides of corn, potatoes, and green beans it was the perfect pairing to add a touch of acidity to counter the food, while still having some richness to compliment it.

For the price this is hands down one of the better Chardonnays I’ve had in a while and I definitely recommend giving it a try whether you’re a regular Chardonnay drinker or not.  A good wine and a great value.