By Kurt Wieneke Warmer weather has finally reached Indiana. It’s time to have a glass or two of white wine out on the deck. Wine always seems more enjoyable to me when I drink it outdoors. I don’t know why, but let’s chalk it up to: that’s where it comes from. After all, winemaking is a just a way of getting the grapes from the vine into the glass. Here are some white wines to seek out this summer: Riesling – The main thing to remember is to find one from Germany, where this grape shines best. Look for the three (increasing) sweetness levels listed on the label – trocken, kabinett, or spatlese. If none of these are listed, it’s probably a Qualitatswein or QbA in the fine print, which is the entry level and also a good starting point. A couple of German Rieslings to look for would be the ‘Dr. L’ Decked Out In White Wines balancing acidity. But, why not go traditional? A classic White Bordeaux is the real deal Sauvignon Blanc. Cotes du Rhone (White) – To be honest, I’ve kind of ignored white Cote du Rhone over the years. It was never on my radar – until last summer! Cotes du Rhone Blanc is basically a blend of southern Rhone white varieties: Marsanne, Roussanne, Grenache Blanc, Clairette, and Viognier, in varying amounts depending on the producer. It makes for a charming summer sipper, with notes of peach, chamomile, and blossoms. A decent Riesling or Sauvignon Blanc can be found in your local supermarket. However, the best place to find these white wines is from local wine merchant, or a larger liquor store chain. Once you do find one, hit the deck and enjoy the sunset! (Loosen Bros.) or the Leitz ‘Eins Zwei Dry.’ Albarino – This Spanish white wine (and grape) is a delight even to the most jaded of connoisseurs. If you like Chardonnay, you will also like Albarino because it has a similar textural profile. I call it ‘fatness.’ Pour a glass of chilled Albarino at your next outing and you’ll be traveling to Spain without the airfare. Sauvignon Blanc – You have many regions to choose from when shopping for Sauvignon Blanc – California, New Zealand, and, yes, even Bordeaux. As far as California, I really like Geyser Peak’s version which is very fruity with good Indiana Golf Journal
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