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What Is Your Favorite White Wine?

YumSugar — Mon, 19 Dec 2011 13:12:56 PST

Many red wine lovers discredit the crisp, fruity flavors in white wine, but here at YumSugar, we are equal-opportunity wine drinkers. White wine varies tremendously from bottle to bottle and we want to know where your preference lies. Do you stray toward sweeter whites like Rieslings or do you prefer a drier white like a Chardonnay? Vote for your white wine preference below.

What You Should Know About New Zealand Sauvignon Blanc

Susannah Chen — Thu, 01 Sep 2011 03:30:59 PDT

"The Sauvignon Blanc grape owes a lot to New Zealand," wine writer Eric Asimov once wrote. He's right: New Zealand winegrowers have a talent for balancing fruitiness and bracing acidity in every glass, leaving behind a crisp finish that often contrasts the heavy oakiness of that other white grape, Chardonnay. Plus, its producers often favor the screw cap, something that belies a greater philosophy about wine that I couldn't agree more with: it should be enjoyed anytime, anywhere, for any occasion.

I asked wine buyer Carlo Wismer of San Francisco's The Jug Shop to talk shop about one of the New World's most popular white wines. He offered his thoughts on what makes New Zealand Sauvignon Blanc so popular; see them when you keep reading.

Happy Hour: 2011 Yellow Tail Moscato

Susannah Chen — Wed, 29 Jun 2011 16:28:40 PDT

What would you say is the fastest-growing grape in the country? If you guessed Sauvignon Blanc, Pinot Noir, or any of the other usual suspects, you're wrong. The answer's muscat, the sweetly fragranced grape that's often the bane of any drinker who's sworn off sweet wines.

That's right: according to AC Nielsen, muscat is the fastest-growing grape variety in the United States, and even global brands like Yellow Tail have caught on. The Australian wine company's newest label is its 2011 Moscato. As a longtime moscato d'asti lover, but a recent critter wine skeptic, I wasn't sure what to expect. The results were pleasantly surprising.

The wine, while relatively straightforward, managed to be incredibly peachy and floral without tasting soapy, then had a nice level of acidity and a small amount of effervescence to balance out the body and sweetness. "It'd be wonderful with sorbet," one taster commented. I instantly envisioned serving it in a Champagne coupe with a just-frozen-enough scoop of pear sorbet on top. For $6.99, you can't find a better value in this category. Muscat lovers: what's your favorite moscato frizzante?

Riesling: Love It or Hate It?

Katie Sweeney — Mon, 20 Jun 2011 03:39:25 PDT

One of the highlights of the weekend at the Food and Wine Classic in Aspen was a party on Saturday night hosted by Wines of Germany. At the event, I sipped countless Rieslings and was blown away by how much I enjoyed the crisp, refreshing, and somewhat floral whites. Rieslings are affordable, versatile, and very food-friendly. I drink them all the time, but am wondering: what's your take on the wine? Many people find them to be too sweet, but tons of dry Rieslings exist! Do you sip them?

Happy Hour: Tamás 2009 Pinot Grigio

Katie Sweeney — Wed, 08 Jun 2011 15:16:50 PDT

I believe there is a wine for every occasion, and sometimes you just need an easy-to-drink, affordable white wine. The next time you're looking for what I like to call a picnic white, reach for Tamás 2009 Pinot Grigio. I recently deeply enjoyed this Central Coast white, which sells for under $12.

With apple aromas, a crisp finish, a light body, and a touch of minerality, it's a wonderfully refreshing wine. I paired it with baked goat cheese and apricots, but it's smooth enough to drink without food. Added bonus: the bottle has a screw cap making it perfect for parkside sipping. What's your favorite picnic wine?

Happy Hour: 2009 Eco.Love Riesling

Susannah Chen — Thu, 26 May 2011 03:41:25 PDT

As the weather warms up, it's natural to gravitate toward crisp, clean New Zealand whites, as they're both refreshing and easy to drink on their own, and perfect as a pick-me-up on a weekend excursion or a sunny Summer afternoon. One new label to look for that easily fits that bill - and then some - is Eco.Love Wines.

Eco.Love hails from the country's South Island. Rather impressively, it focuses exclusively on grapes that have been sustainably farmed and produced in the country's first-ever carboNZero winery. The founders even purchase carbon credits to offset the company's CO2 emissions. But I was equally taken by their Riesling's layers of fruit: peach skins and petrol on the nose to start, followed by a puckery citrus and green apple palate, then a gooseberry finish.

As I dusted off more than a glass or two, I couldn't help but conjure up the ideal food pairing: lemon and pepper shrimp skewers, hot off the grill. At $17, I think I can fulfill that dream sometime very soon. Do you have a favorite earth-friendly wine?

Beyond Sparklers: 3 Still Wines From Chandon to Try

Katie Sweeney — Thu, 28 Apr 2011 14:52:34 PDT

If you're a fan of Californian sparkling wines, you've probably enjoyed a glass or two of Chandon. With over 200,000 bottles produced a year, an affordable price tag, and a tasting room that sees 2,000 people on a Saturday, it's one of Napa Valley's most well-known bubbly producers. What you may not know, however, is that the winery also makes some well-rounded and interesting still wines. I recently had the chance to sample its offerings, so to learn more about Chandon's Chardonnay, Pinot Noir, and Pinot Meunier, keep reading.

Happy Hour: 2010 Spy Valley Gewürztraminer

Susannah Chen — Wed, 23 Mar 2011 15:25:19 PDT

I've had a longtime love affair with the wines of New Zealand, not only for their affordability, but also for their lack of pretension. From Babich to Kim Crawford, I've quaffed my share of Sauvignon Blanc from the famed Marlborough region, but at a trade tasting yesterday, I got my first taste of the area's fine Gewürztraminer.

There was only one Gewürzt on pour, a 2010 Spy Valley, but it's quality, not quantity, that counts. The creamy, soft, and highly aromatic wine nearly won me over before it hit my lips, arresting me with its intoxicating scent of soft garden roses, ripe peaches, and just-peeled lychees. In one word, it reminded me of Spring. And at just $20 retail, I could easily envision the white paired with my favorite Thai and Burmese takeout.

New Zealand isn't quite as known for its Gewürztraminer as it is for Riesling and Sauvignon Blanc, but it's enjoyed some growth over the past several decades. Here's to hoping we see more of it stocked on wine shop shelves stateside. What's your favorite New Zealand white?

Santa Rita Hills: A New Wine Region to Try

Katie Sweeney — Wed, 16 Mar 2011 14:28:23 PDT

One of my favorite things about wine is that there's so much to learn about it! There's always a new varietal to taste or an exciting region to try. Recently I went to a tasting that featured wines from the Santa Rita Hills. This small, relatively young wine region is located in Central California and was named an official appellation in 2001. Thanks to its close proximity to the Pacific Ocean, this foggy district is perfect for growing Pinot Noir grapes. A cool coastal breeze and naturally rocky terrain only enhances its grape-growing qualities. Other varietals the area is known for are Chardonnay and Syrah. To see which wines from the province, which were featured in the film Sideways, I recommend, keep reading.

The Pros and Cons of Red, White, and Bubbly

Leta Shy — Fri, 04 Mar 2011 13:05:25 PST

Afer a long day, a glass of wine may just be what's in order, especially since so many studies have proven it to be so good for us. In fact, alcohol in general has certain health benefits, like reducing the risk of heart disease, stroke, and diabetes, as well as decreasing the risk of developing gallstones. However, all these happy benefits come with a huge caveat: they are only seen in moderate drinkers (which for women means one glass a day). Drinking too much alcohol can increase your risk of breast cancer as well as a host of other well-known alcohol-related problems.

Wine is one of the best ways to celebrate the benefits from one-a-day drinking. But not all wine is equal, and there are definite cons to go along with all those antioxidant pros in your glass.

Are you a fan of red, white, or bubbly? Read on to find out what the pros and cons of your drink of choice are.