Last week I hosted a tasting for some wine-loving friends and neighbors. I served only white wines from around the globe.
One of the great joys people find in wine is being able to introduce people to wines and vice versa. I had guests who loved some wines immediately, others didn’t care for a wine until I suggested a specific food pairing- sweet, salty, savory- and with a quick bite, often their assessment changed.
Here are four of the riskier, ‘dark horse’ wines I served that were really fun, and I wanted to share them with you. Each is a dry white wine with lovely expression, and each pairs beautifully with food. They are delicious, artistic expressions of geography and oenology and are not only fun to try, but easy on the wallet.
Better yet, they took a group of people by surprise. Most people adored one of these four- people were surprised how good they were, or had never tried an unusual geography or grape like this before. Every one of these wines is worth your time to explore!
In no particular order:
Cantina Terlano’s Alto Adige Pinot Bianco, 2012, Terlano Italy. 13%ABV, street price around $14.
Martin Codax Albariño 2011, Rias Baixas, Spain. 12.5% ABV, Street price around $12.
L&T Durnberg Grüner Veltliner 2012, Falkenstein, Austria. 11.5% ABV. Street price around $10.
Leitz Rheingau Troken Reisling 2012, Germany. 12% ABV, Street price around $17.
Each of these, perfect for food with subtle aromas and delicate minerality, under $20 and pretty easy to find.
When your friends ask you for a “dry white wine” won’t they be amazed when you bring a perfect expression from an area they won’t expect?
Tell me which ones you have tried and what you thought, please? I look forward to hearing from you!
à votre santé!
jvb uncorked 
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