A chilled white wine blend is perfect for the summer months. Whether sitting on a patio or enjoying a sunset supper, these 10 wines are a perfect fit for the next sunny day…and we will have another sunny day – at least one!
Today’s Wine Wednesday list is a mix of Rhone style, Bordeaux style and proprietary blends. And just around the corner is BLEND, Seattle’s hottest wine event, which features wine blends from 40 of the state’s top producers. This exciting event is September 18 at Bell Harbor International Conference Center on the Seattle waterfront.
Winemakers blend wine made from different grapes in order to add more complexity to the flavor and texture of a wine. Often the goal is to balance out the flavor characteristics, resulting in a finished wine that is greater than the sum of its parts.
There are wine blend recipes that are handed down from generation to generation, offering a gold standard of what to expect each year from that vintage and mixture of grapes. Many vintners create new blends in an attempt to produce a new and exciting wine that has flavor characteristics like nothing else on the market. And if this list is any example you can enjoy an outstanding blended wine at a great price-quality level.
Think about this – it is the same juice used to make higher end varietal wines, just blended together to create a unique flavor profile at a very desirable price. The melded combination of flavors expertly crafted makes these wines outstanding food or sipping wines.
14 Hands Hot To Trot 2010 White Blend, Washington State – $11
With intense tropical and floral aromas, this Chardonnay, Pinot Gris and Viognier blend has flavors of fresh apple, pears and melon. The acidity of this wine is perfectly balanced and ends with a bright finish.
Camaraderie Cellars 2010 Trinquer, Artz Vineyard, Red Mountain – $17.50
A blend of two Bordeaux grapes and a Rhone varietal, this wine is ideal for a meal of Northwest seafood. A combination of Sauvignon Blanc, Semillon and Viognier, Trinquer (trank-kay) has aromas of peach and apricot leading to flavors of ripe pear and apple on the palate.
Davenport Cellars 2010 Snowflake, Columbia Valley – $16
Produced by a small, family-run boutique winery in Woodinville, this true white Bordeaux-blend is a treat for the mouth. A blend of Sauvignon Blanc and Semillon, this wine has flavors of citrus fruit and herbs that extend to the crisp finish.
Hedges Family Estate 2010 CMS, Columbia Valley – $14
A blend dominated by Sauvignon Blanc and rounded out with Chardonnay and Marsanne, this white has bright aromas of pear and apple leading to a crisp, balanced finish.
Maryhill Winery 2008 Winemaker’s White, Columbia Valley – $10
A bright mix of Chardonnay, Sauvignon Blanc, Semillon and Viognier, Maryhill’s Winemaker’s White Blend has aromas of green apple, pear and melon followed by a minerally finish in the end.
McCrea Cellars 2009 Sirocco Blanc, Yakima Valley – $25
A Rhone-style white blend of Grenache Blanc, Marsanne, Picpoul and Roussanne, this is the most unique blend on our list. Sourced from Bouchey Vineyards, the Grenache Blanc and Picpoul are from the only blocks grown in Washington state.
Novelty Hill 2010 Royal Slope White, Stillwater Creek, Columbia Valley – $16 A new wine produced by Novelty Hill, this blend is sourced from the winery’s family-owned estate vineyard, Stillwater Creek. Viognier and Roussane-based (followed by Semillon, Sauvignon Blanc, Chardonnay), this wine has layers of crisp apple, stone fruit and floral aromas.
Saint Laurent 2008 Lucky White Blend, Quincy Estate Vineyards, Columbia Valley – $12
Citrus and melon aromas greet you in this Sauvignon Blanc, Riesling and Chardonnay blend. The palate follows with flavors of apricots and floral before the clean finish. Pair it with cool summer dishes or enjoy it on its own.
Waterbrook 2010 Mélange Blanc, Columbia Valley – $13
A “kitchen sink” of varietals, the 2010 vintage is a blend of Riesling, Pinot Gris, Gewurztraminer, Chardonnay, Sauvignon Blanc and Viognier. Lead by aromas of mango, peach and nectarine and followed by notes of apple, leading to the bright finish.
Wilridge Winery & Vineyard 2010 Estate Mélange Blanc, Wilridge Vineyard Naches Heights, Columbia Valley – $19
Only the second white wine produced by Wilridge Winery, their Mélange Blanc is a blend of classic French white grape varietals, Pinot Gris, Roussane and Viognier. Not available in retail stores, this wine can only be purchased at the winery, tasting rooms (Seattle and Yakima) or their website.
Next week, we’ll share 10 red wine blends to try. Drink up and stay tuned!
