Bring on the Whites

Spring brings with its arrival a bounty of newness. From the crisp, fresh smell of a spring morning to the weekend crowds gathering at the local farmer’s market to pick out the freshest produce, there is a certain brightness in the air. It also signals the release of a whole new slew of white wines. This spring brings with it the 2008 vintage and although it was a very difficult vintage for many growers in Northern California owing to late frosts, wildfires and other pesky factors, there are some amazing white wines coming from the 2008 vintage.

April frost kicked off what would result in a dramatic 2008 growing season in Northern California. Some growers lost entire crops to the frost. If that weren’t enough, the wildfires that raged through California in June and July took their toll on the grapes. Then a heat wave in late August left many rushing to pick their grapes as everything ripened at once. Despite these challenges, many are finding that the 2008 vintage is serving up some great wines and although we will have to wait a bit for the reds, some of the white wines are just now making an appearance.

One of the first 2008 white wines that I tasted this year was the 2008 Crocker & Starr Napa Valley Sauvignon Blanc. Retailing for about $28 and with limited availability, this Sauvignon Blanc rarely disappoints. The style is a bit fleshy and floral with good crisp acidity and it has all the flavors we love – peach, melon, pear and nectarine. A great start to tasting our way through the 2008 vintage! www.crockerstarr.com

After spoiling ourselves with the Crocker & Starr, we decided to seek out some more widely available whites from the 2008 vintage and found ourselves trying the 2008 Cline Pinot Grigio. The fruit for this wine comes primarily from the Sonoma Coast and Carneros. This is a very approachable and refreshing white and a great buy at $12. www.clinecellars.com

Another great Pinot Gris, this time from the Napa side of Carneros, is the 2008 Etude Pinot Gris. Although the winery is located on the Napa side of Carneros, the grapes for this wine come from Etude’s estate vineyard in Sonoma Carneros and from a vineyard in Napa Carneros. The result is a bright, crisp wine with hints of citrus and peach flavors and good stone minerality. This is another one that is a bit hard to come by and a splurge at $24. www.etudewines.com

This is just a small sampling of what’s to come with the 2008 vintage. It seems that the vintage is off to a strong start and we’re looking forward to more to come. As we all taste our way through these wines, we’d love to hear your favorites from the 2008 vintage in Northern California.

Written by Linzi

Super Bowl Whites

The typical Super Bowl fare can be a bit tricky for wine pairing. Beer usually comes to mind when you think about nachos, guacamole, onion dip or whatever else tops your list of halftime munchies. But there is no reason that you can’t enjoy a great glass of wine with your chips and dip. In fact, there are many great dry, crisp white wines that are a perfect pairing. This week, I tried out three wines that I’ll be bringing to my Super Bowl party. They are affordable, easy to find and great with anything from salsa to buffalo wings.

A to Z Wineworks 2007 Oregon Pinot Gris
A light and refreshing wine, this Oregon Pinot Gris has intense aromas of tropical fruits (pineapple and mango), nectarines and citrus. It’s a very balanced wine with good acidity. $13/bottle

Joseph Drouhin Laforet Bourgogne 2007 Chardonnay
This is a crisp and refreshing Chardonnay from Burgundy with flavors of citrus, apple and pear. The wine spends a bit of time after fermentation in old oak barrels imparting a bit of the richness typical in a Chardonnay. $12/bottle

Kendall Jackson 2007 Vintners Reserve California Riesling
This is a moderately-sweet Riesling that is very well-balanced with aromas and flavors of honeysuckle, peaches and apricots. A great value wine that will pair perfectly with spicy Super Bowl appetizers. $8/bottle

Written by Linzi

Great Wine Values Under $12

Everyone is looking for a great value these days, especially when it comes to everyday indulgences. What makes a great value wine? For us, it means a well-priced wine that absolutely over delivers in quality. We look for a wine that you can enjoy at home but also a wine you want to share with friends and serve at your next dinner party. This week, we searched for a few of our favorite California wines under $12 that are truly outstanding wines for the price. Here’s our list. We’d also love to hear about your favorite California wines under $12. Share a comment with your favorites.

Pomelo 2007 Sauvignon Blanc

This wine is loaded with lots of citrusy goodness! Winemaker Randy Mason makes this second label and although it’s very different in style than his higher priced Mason Sauvignon Blanc, the same quality can be found in the bottle. With loads of grapefruit and pineapple, this is a lively and refreshing wine that is sure to please any palate. $10

Bonterra 2007 Sauvignon Blanc

The fruit for this wine comes from Lake County and Mendocino County. Fresh flavors of tropical fruit, lemon and even a hint of kiwi make for a well-rounded and easy drinking Sauvignon Blanc. We also love the fact that Bonterra sources its wines from organic vineyards. $12

TuTu 2006 Pinot Grigio

Winemaker Rob Lawson makes this 100% California Pinot Grigio in the Italian style. This crisp, fruity wine has great aromas of pear, apricot and nectarine with bright flavors of lemon, melons and fig. As they like to say, “Tu Tu is a serious wine that does not take itself too seriously.” $12

Clif Bar Family Winery 2007 The Climber White Wine

Winemaker Sarah Gott blends Sauvignon Blanc, Pinot Blanc, Chenin Blanc and a touch of Muscat to make this highly aromatic white wine blend. The result is a full-flavored, crisp white wine with just a touch of tropical fruit sweetness from the Muscat. A good portion of the fruit for this wine is sourced from organic or sustainably farmed vineyards. $12

Cellar No. 8 2005 Zinfandel

Cellar No. 8 is known for its big and enticing red wines. The majority of the grapes for this juicy Zinfandel come from Lodi and Lake County. With loads of blackberry, spice and other jammy fruits, this zin has good structure and a long finish. We agree this one definitely over delivers for the price! $10

Cline Cellars 2006 Zinfandel

Cline wines are always a good value for what’s in the bottle. With lots of dark berry fruit flavors and hints of spice, this yummy Zinfandel is no exception. Based in the Carneros region, Cline Cellars has a strong focus on sourcing from organic grapes and the Cline family has been a pioneer in sustainable farming practices. $12

Red Truck 2006 Cabernet Sauvignon

A fun wine that’s perfect for a night in or to bring to any party. This lush, berry-loaded Cabernet is a power-house of blackberries, blueberries and a touch of vanilla. We also recommend Red Truck’s Santa Barbara County Chardonnay. $11

Written by Linzi