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Crisp White Wines

Food, Wine

5 August 2019

Three Crisp American Whites for the Dog Days of Summer

Last Updated on February 9, 2020 by JaimeSays

I used to enjoy red wine more frequently than white wine, but after taking my WSET Level 1 and 2 tests, I am now an equal opportunist. For the first time in my adult life, I have a furnished outdoor space, and it is divine. I have a spot to drink my morning coffee and watch the birds, and a lovely spot for a nightcap. With the long days and high heat, I’ve been cracking into my supply of crisp whites. Served best well chilled, these are three great options to have alone or with a summer meal. All of the wines featured in this post were generously provided by the winemakers.

Big Max Sauvignon Blanc (2017)

Average Retail Price: $24.99

The first white wine that I ever enjoyed drinking was Sauvignon Blanc. Dry and crisp with refreshing acidity, it’s the red wine drinker’s white wine. Terlato Wines’ Big Max, a Napa Valley brand named after the lore of a Brown Bear that roamed valley in the 1960’s, beautifully embodies what one has come to expect in California Sauvignon Blancs.

Sight: Clear, pale lemon color with a watery white rim
Aroma: Lemon, Lime pith, green apple, white florals, and cut grass
Taste: Refreshing, long finish, melon, apple and slate
Food Pairing Recommendation: Sesame Chicken

Maybe you are in the mood for some Italian bubbles?

Wine by Joe 2017 Pinot Gris

Average Retail Price: $13.99

My instructor for my wine certification classes didn’t have much praise for Pinot Gris. A medium-bodied, medium-acidity, medium-alcohol white wine that is known as Pinot Grigio in Italy, Pinot Gris can get a bad rap for its arguable neutrality. Introduced to Oregon in 1966, this grape flourishes in the various wine regions of the state.

That is certainly the case with Dobbes Family Estate, Wine by Joe 2017 Pinot Gris. A more wallet-friendly wine than the estate’s namesake wine, Wine by Joe is also available in cans for on-the-go enjoyment.

Sight: Clear, Ruby Colored
Aroma: Cherry, a touch of tomato, and smoke
Taste: Dry with straightforward cherry and some vanilla, quick finish
Food Pairing Recommendation: Orichette with Hot Sausage

Dobbes Crater View Vineyard 2017 Grenache Blanc

Average Retail Price: $26.99

I had never tried a Grenache Blanc wine before I received this sample from Dobbes. A color mutation from the black Grenache varietal, these wines are full bodied and frequently aged in oak to reveal complex flavors.

This particular wine is labeled as under the Rogue Valley American Viticultural Area (AVA), the southernmost growing region of Oregon. Officially an AVA as of 2001, this area of Oregon is the convergence of three mountain ranges and four rivers and tributaries. The diversity of the slopes and valleys allow for many different grape varietals to thrive in the area. 2020 will be the decade mark for Dobbes Family Estate’s Grenache Blanc blend, meaning it would be the perfect time to visit one of the Dobbes tasting rooms.

Sight: Clear, pale lemon, almost watery white
Aromas Stone fruit, candied lemon/lime, melon with a touch of herbaciousness
Taste: Smooth with a soft mouthfeel, medium finish of orchard fruit, melon, and citrus
Food Pairing Recommendation: Seared Ahi Tuna
Three American White Wines for the Dog Days of Summer
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JaimeSays
WSET Level 2 Certified Wine Lover, DuPage County Brand Ambassador. DME + Orthotics By Day, Adoring Home Life and Travel by Night.
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Cocktail vs Mocktail Round Two! Is the cocktail in Cocktail vs Mocktail Round Two! Is the cocktail in the rocks glass or in the coupe?  Would you believe that other than the additional of a clear spirit, the only difference in these two drinks is that one is shaken and one is stirred? Seriously! The composition is the exact same, just one uses the non-alcoholic parts as a base and the other makes it the main event.  What are your guesses?  -3.5 Oz @lacroixwater Limoncello
-.5 Oz Fresh Raspberry  Syrup
-A Squeeze of Lemon
-1.5 Oz @catanpisco (optional) #catanpisco is the first Female Owned Chilean Pisco brand in the US! Available at @target and @binnysbev, this #pisco is 100%  Pedro Ximenez grapes and, at 40% ABV, falls under the Pisco Reserve umbrella.  I added the liquor and ice to a shaker and strained out the final product into the coupe glass. It’s fresh, vibrant, with a floral note  and buttery mouthfeel that plays well with the fresh, hardly sweetened, Raspberry Syrup.
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#dryjanuary #mocktails #mocktail #cocktailsofinstagram #cocktailvsmocktail #pisco #chilean #chileanpisco #piscodrinks #piscococktails #piscochile #catan #smallbusiness #familybusiness #nonalcoholic #nonalcoholicdrink #sommelier #beverageblogger #adultbeverages
Cocktail vs Mocktail Time! As you may have been ab Cocktail vs Mocktail Time!
As you may have been able to glean from my stories, I am using this month as a #dryjanuary.  First up, here is a cocktail vs mocktail recipe.  The White Cranberry Mimosa comes from Moersch Hospitality Group, the folks behind #SouthwestMichiganWineries like @taborhillwinery, @roundbarnwdb, and @freeruncellars. The mocktail is my alternative.  White Cranberry Mimosa:
1.5oz white cranberry juice
5oz Tabor Hill Sparkling Demi-Sec
Cranberries for Garnish  Cranberry Mocktail:
5 Oz Sparkling Water or Lemon-Lime Soda, depending on your preferred level of sweetness
5-6 Dashes @Feebrothersbitters Cranberry Bitters
Rosemary Garnish (optional)  #bartender #savesmallbusiness #southwestmichigan #lovewestmichigan #michiganwineries #lockdownsdontwork #winter #winelife #sommelier #sommstyle #sparklingwine #mocktails #alcoholfree #cocktailchallenge #michigan
I finally got to make a Riesling Holiday Punch wit I finally got to make a Riesling Holiday Punch with a Pear and Cranberry Ice Float for Christmas! 10 point deduction for waiting until it had been out a couple of hours and the perfect ring started dropping some cranberries. A great way to be festive if you’re having a pod NYE party: it’s low alcohol, tasty, and the recipe is in my 5 Ways to Enjoy Riesling Holiday post! •
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#riesling #germanriesling #pfalz #holidaypunch #icefloat #decorativeicecubes #decorativeice #cocktailideas #batchcocktails #muellercatoir #youcansipwithus #winelover #winecocktails #sommlife
If you haven't been to a @Fanniemaychocolate this If you haven't been to a @Fanniemaychocolate this holiday season, I HIGHLY recommend you stop by.  There are new candies (Double Dark Chocolate Sea Salt Pixies, anyone?), pre-made, and customizable holiday baskets, and the same great quality you've come to expect. An Illinois business celebrating 100 years, they know how to do holidays. If you've already done your holiday shopping, don't forget that Valentines' Day is 6 weeks into the New Year!  #chocolate #chocoholic #tradition #holidaytradition #supportillinois #institutions #saveillinoisrestaurants #openillinoisrestaurants #lastminutegiftideas #lastminute #holidaycheer #christmasshopping #christmasgifts #gifted #notsponsored #fanniemayisthebest #bestchocolatebox #chocolatebox #chocolatetruffles #wevegotacountrytosave
Not a zoo, no tickets, free entry and parking, and Not a zoo, no tickets, free entry and parking, and spell binding lights. @villageoflombard and @lombardparks put on this magnificent display every year in #lilaciapark.  TIP: bring your mask just in case it’s crowded. The nearer to closing time (9PM) you visit, the less crowded it is. 5 PM is quite jammed.  While you’re in town, stop at @noonwhistlebrewing to pick up a six pack of beer! I like their #swankysmack sour, and fruity IPAs, and I like to support a small business even more. Grab a to-go meal at @babcocksgrovehouse or  sit at #rosemaryandjeans for safe dining.  #shoplocal #holidaylights #yestoyorktown #lombard #dupagecounty #suburbanchicago #westchicago #westernsuburbs #noonwhistlebrewing #christmasdecor #christmaslights #outdoorlights
IF YOU LOVE CHOCOLATE AND LIVE IN #chicago, have I IF YOU LOVE CHOCOLATE AND LIVE IN #chicago, have I found a CANNOT MISS for you. If you are looking for a place to fill the gap of #mindyshotchocolate #drinkingchocolate, I have also found the place for you.  This evening, I had the pleasure of participating in a Chocolate History and Tasting  @northwesternalumni event hosted by @kelloggschool alumna and owner of @cocoaandcochi, Kim Hack. A former member of the #wine industry and certified #somm, her hourlong class was delightful and worth every penny.  I loved how she likened the craft of cacao harvesting to that of a grape harvest, and couldn’t believe the #chocolateknowledge she shared. As #sommeliers, We’re so used to genetic twins and identical fruits in a cluster, but chocolate is unbelievable. Each seed within a piece of fruit is genetically different from one another, based on whatever single speck of pollen was on a gnat when it pollinated the tree. It was absolutely fascinating and I highly recommend looking into a webinar or simply picking up some exotic chocolates for your loved ones.  Of everything we tried, the @manoachocolate Goat Milk Chocolate was my favorite, probably because it was a #darkchocolate that hits like a #milkchocolate. The @amedeituscany was a close second bc of the mouthfeel and finish, while the @marouchocolate and @amanochocolate were both incredibly creative and unexpected delights.  I pulled out @masiwines Amarone, @chwinery dessert wine, and @bodegasanvalero Grenacha for pairings, and I chose the #elbombero Spanish Wine as the ideal pairing. The high alcohol, rich dark fruit, and middling tannins did well with the first two chocolates, and I elected not to pair with the fruity and chili pepper chocolates because I’m not a madwoman! 😆•
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#cacao #cocoa #wineandchocolate #sweetandsalty #winepairings #chocolatelovers #chocolategifts #worldofchocolate #worldofwine #winestudy #wsetlevel3
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