Here we are less than a month from Labor Day and I’ve already taken an assignment to write about holiday wines. My brain, however, is stuck on sultry.
Even if the calendar didn’t remind me that summer’s far from over, the thermometer would. There has been no sign that temps are about to drop. Any cool-down in the near future will have to be the product of something fresh and delicious from my trusty party tub, which I use to ice down white wines and bubbly.
And I just happen to have a few crisp whites and dry roses in mind, which is the topic of my Creators Syndicate column this week. You may read the column in a newspaper near you, or click here for online access.
One of the new releases I talk about is an exceptional 2007 Sauvignon Blanc from Windsor Sonoma. This winery was Windsor Vineyards until Pat Roney (who also owns Girard) acquired it a couple of years ago and ditched the mail-order-only business model.
Windsor still does a bit of mail order, but the wines are now available at retail outlets nationally. Marco DiGiulio, one of the Napa Valley’s top consultants, oversees the winemaking and it’s easy to see his deft hand in this beautifully balanced and complex Sauvignon.
I am equally high on the Planeta Rose I tasted for this column. It’s a stunningly good first effort from the daring and inovative Planetas of Sicily.
Much as I love those crisp autumn nights by a crackling fire, I plan to chill and enjoy the rest of the summer.
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