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Happy Hour: Pomelo Sauvignon Blanc

YumSugar — Mon, 14 Sep 2009 14:00:25 -0700

I ate plenty of thick-skinned, giant pomelos in my youth, but it wasn't until Aspen this Summer that I had my first taste of Pomelo wine. Ever since, the refreshing white has been my go-to everyday Sauvignon Blanc.

Produced by California's Mason Cellars, Pomelo is made entirely out of Sauvignon Blanc grapes - but with its effervescent, citrus-peel aromas and pineapple flavors, the wine could've fooled me into thinking it had real fruit.

My favorite part? At $10 a bottle, I never have to think twice about picking up as many bottles as I want at my neighborhood wine store. Have you ever tried Pomelo? What other Sauvignon Blancs do you prize for their extreme value?

Happy Hour: 2008 St. Supéry Sauvignon Blanc

YumSugar — Mon, 01 Jun 2009 14:00:52 -0700

Generally speaking, I love red wines as much as whites, but summertime is the one season when I have a preference for white wine. Few things surpass the gratification of sipping a smooth, crisp, cool white while basking under the warm sunshine.

St. Supéry's 2008 Napa Valley Sauvignon Blanc ($18) is exactly what I'm talking about. Perfect for pairing with picnic foods like roasted beet salad, grilled vegetable muffalettas, or provoleta, this pale, straw-colored Sauvignon Blanc has notes of lime, grass, tropical fruits, and pear. It ends with a tart, clean finish.

Do you find yourself drinking more Sauvignon Blanc during warm weather? Have you ever tried St. Supéry's version?

Happy Hour: Montes Limited Selection Sauvignon Blanc 2008

partysugar — Wed, 08 Apr 2009 16:15:28 -0700

While some women prefer to drink red wine, in the springtime I constantly crave a chilled glass of my favorite white wine, Sauvignon Blanc. Last weekend I enjoyed an incredibly refreshing offering from Chilean winery Montes. With its crisp, bright flavor, peachy aroma, and grassy undertones, I was thoroughly impressed with the limited selection Sauvignon Blanc ($12). Although it's wonderfully easy to drink and affordable, this wine doesn't lack complexity or character. It's slightly minerally with a lovely acidity and smooth, lasting finish - basically everything you want in a Sauvignon Blanc. It paired perfectly with homemade shrimp pesto pizza, but the flavor is so fresh, this wine would be delightful on its own. Has anyone else sipped Montes?

Definition: Fumé Blanc

YumSugar — Fri, 03 Apr 2009 13:00:53 -0700

Fumé Blanc

An American wine term, Fumé Blanc is synonymous with the wine varietal Sauvignon Blanc.

The name was first coined in 1968 by winemaker Robert Mondavi, who made Sauvignon Blanc inspired by a Pouilly-Fumé he'd tasted from France's Loire Valley. Looking to differentiate his wine from the sweet-style Sauvignon Blancs in the US, Mondavi changed the name on his label. Rather than copyrighting the name, Mondavi allowed anyone to use Fumé Blanc to market dry-style Sauvignon Blanc.

Fumé Blanc, which often has notes of tart fruit, pairs well with creamy cheeses and fish, and is best drunk young.

Source

Happy Hour: Sula Sauvignon Blanc

YumSugar — Mon, 19 May 2008 12:30:43 -0700

I'm certainly no expert at pairing wine with Indian food, but at least now I'm not totally clueless. This weekend, I went out for a delicious dinner of samosas, saag paneer, and chicken jalfrezi and figured it was only fitting to order an Indian wine.

We ordered a bottle of the very reasonably priced Sula Vineyards Sauvignon Blanc, easily identified by the playful mustachioed sun on the label. Sula is based in India's Nashik wine-growing region and was founded by computer-engineer-turned-vintner Rajeev Samant.

This wine has the familiar flavor of California Sauvignon Blancs but with less sweetness. The earthy, grassy elements mellow your palate after a particularly spicy mouthful, but it also has a slightly tangy and spicy finish, making it a crisp counterpart to creamier foods like curry and paneer (cheese). In fact, it tasted so right with everything we ordered that I couldn't believe it was only $16; even if it were pricier, I'd definitely get it again. How about you: Have you ever tried an Indian wine? Would you?

Happy Hour: Robert Pepi 2006 Sauvignon Blanc

partysugar — Wed, 07 May 2008 15:14:22 -0700

During the week I normally drink a glass or two of wine with dinner. When I'm in the mood for white, I simply purchase whatever bottle is cold and on sale. That's how I ended up with this bottle of Robert Pepi's 2006 Sauvignon Blanc. The crisp, refreshing flavor of this wine is incredibly delightful. It has a lovely citrus aroma with a smooth texture and slightly sweet finish. It's a perfect Monday through Thursday white that would pair well with spicy pizza, fresh pasta, or fried seafood. At only $11 a bottle, it's too affordable not to try.

Happy Hour: Trecini Sauvignon Blanc

partysugar — Wed, 03 Oct 2007 15:28:33 -0700

The other day, I attended a fabulous food festival called a Taste Of Petaluma. The day was a whirlwind of tastes and sips from over 40 restaurants, wineries, and cafes. There was a wide range of offerings, such as carne asada tacos, crab won tons, goat cheese ice cream, award winning chili, lots of merlot and even a rum punch. The best taste came at the end of the day when I sampled a flight of Trecini wines at the Vine & Barrel. I loved the Russian River Sauvignon Blanc so much that I bought a bottle to enjoy later that evening. It was a deliciously smooth and crisp white wine. Fruity aromas and a pale straw color enhanced the clean freshness of the finish. I paired it with pizza, but it would be exceptional with seafood or spicy Asian cuisine. At only $15 a bottle, this is an excellent everyday wine.

Happy Hour: 2008 St. Supéry Barrel Fermented Chardonnay

YumSugar — Wed, 03 Feb 2010 16:15:48 -0800

Over the weekend, I jumped in a car with some friends and hightailed it to Napa Valley, where we enjoyed brunch at Thomas Keller's casual family restaurant, ad hoc. With full stomachs, we headed up Highway 29 to Rutherford to hit up some wineries. Visiting Napa wineries isn't unlike barhopping; the experience depends more on the tasting room staff and the crowd than it does the actual wine. After one underwhelming winery stop, we pulled into St. Supéry, which makes some of the best Sauvignon Blanc around. That's when our fate changed. Ryan, the expert pouring our wines, took turns cracking jokes and recommending interesting wines - including a Petit Verdot, a varietal usually reserved for blending. When he asked if we'd want to try his favorite, how could we resist? The 2008 Chardonnay, sold only at the winery, lived up to his hype. It smelled exactly like bananas on the nose, with a creamy, lush mouth feel. I loved it so much, I took one home for the road. Have you had a similar experience while wine tasting? Share it with us below!

13 Under $20 Wines Perfect For Hostess Gifts

partysugar — Wed, 18 Nov 2009 16:15:34 -0800

Do you have an iPhone? Then stop what you're doing right now and download the Nirvino (my preferred online drinking community) wine ratings guide. With over one million wines listed by name, price, grape varietal, flavor profile, region, and producer, the wine application is an amazing resource to always have at your fingertips.

Not only does it provide food pairing suggestions, but there's also lots of fun lists to browse. Food Network's Aida Mollenkamp shares her favorite wines to drink while cooking, Sommelier Mark Bright rounded up his top bottles from Whole Foods, and yours truly has even created a list!

I headed to Safeway to pick out the best wines - all of which are under $20 - for hostess gifts. I've tasted and enjoyed these wines and would bring them to a party. Be it a birthday bash at Hog Island oyster farm, an intimate Thanksgiving dinner, or an upcoming holiday soirée, there's a bottle for every occasion. To check out my list, keep reading.

Happy Hour: 2008 Rocca di Montemassi Calasole Vermentino

YumSugar — Wed, 06 Jan 2010 16:00:00 -0800

I'm expanding my wine knowledge in 2010. This means trying new kinds of grapes, as well becoming more familiar with European wines. Recently I got to know Vermentino, a white grape grown in Corsica, Sardinia, and coastal Italy and France. The dry white wine is like a cross between Viognier and Sauvignon Blanc. It has the floral, fruity bouquet characteristic of Viognier and the tart finish found in many Sauvignon Blancs.

I wasn't able to locate more bottles of the Calasole online, but while dining at La Ciccia, a local Sardinian restaurant, I spotted a Vermentino on the wine list. Its acidity paired well with my fregola-and-pecorino dish, cutting through the fat and creaminess. Tonight, I'm dropping by a local wine shop in search of Vermentino. I can't get enough of it. Have you recently fallen for a new wine variety?