Last celebrated about 2 months ago on May 25, 2020, National Wine Day is a holiday in which millions of people celebrate by enjoying a glass (or 2) of their favorite wine. But looking ahead to the future, August 4th of this year marks the appropriately-named National White Wine Day.
Below are 15 vineyards and notes about their latest and/or greatest offerings.
Avaline is a new, clean wine brand from global icon and wellness author Cameron Diaz and successful entrepreneur Katherine Power (Who What Wear, Versed Skincare). Launching with a white and rosé, its wines are clean, delicious, vegan-friendly, made with organic grapes and free of unnecessary additives. With ingredient transparency on each label, Avaline aims to set a new standard for the wine industry.
Avaline White and Rosé (SRP $24) are available for purchase at select retailers in 43 states plus the District of Columbia and on drinkavaline.com. Avaline White is a dry wine with a crisp, fresh finish and comes from Spain. It pairs perfectly with fresh-cut flowers and your favorite meal. Avaline Rosé offers a light and fresh mouthfeel with notes of melon and zest and comes from France. It pairs well with the warmth of the sun and the company of your best friend.
The estate of Quinta de Azevedo, which joined the Sogrape Vinhos portfolio in 1980, has one of the most ancient and magnificent Portuguese manors dating back to the 11th century. Located in the Barcelos commune — a top quality area for wine production — the winery is one of the most modern in the Vinho Verdes region, with infrastructure built to produce the highest quality white wines, and the most up-to date technology for planting, cultivation, and sustainability.
The label’s Azevedo Loureiro Alvarinho White 2018 is a clear and bright with a young, greenish tone. An intense aroma with ripe citrine notes; limes and orange blossom to the fore. Refreshing on the palate with aromatic citrine notes and a firm, but very well-integrated, acidity. This wine has a balanced and crisp finish.
Silk & Spice wine is a modern twist of adventure and exploration captured in a bottle. Produced by the aforementioned Sogrape Vinhos, this distinctive red blend is inspired by the 15th century Portuguese spice route that introduced bold new flavors to the world. With its distinctive rich flavors and spicy aromas, Silk & Spice is a contemporary expression of Portugal’s indigenous grapes (Touriga Nacional & Baga) and unique
terrain.
The intense, deep ruby color delivers juicy flavors of blackberries and plums alongside sweet notes of vanilla, black pepper, pink peppercorn and hints of mocha. With one sip, discover a full-bodied wine balanced by soft tannins, acidity and a smooth long finish. This easy to drink, yet nuanced wine can be sipped alone but also makes for a heavenly match with grilled meat and tomato-based dishes. The eye-catching label dons a vintage map illustration that summons memories of voyages taken by fearless adventurers and courageous pioneers, including Portugal’s historic explorer, Vasco de Gama.
Joel Gott is a fourth-generation winemaker and has been producing rich and crisp varietals for less than $20 for more than 20 years. His 2019 Sauvignon Blanc has aromas of pineapple, mango and peach with citrus notes. On the palate, this wine opens with ripe, tropical fruit flavors followed by crisp, refreshing acidity on the mid-palate and a long, clean, balanced finish. Especially easy to find all over the States, Joel Gott Wines are available at Target, Trader Joe’s and local wine stores alike.
Beau is a luxury Champagne that combines supreme quality with impeccable, cutting-edge design. Its ground-breaking patented bottle is encased in a striking, handcrafted copper suit of armor and developed with 100 percent recyclable materials. Beau’s Global Creative Director and investor Tiësto is an internationally recognized DJ and Grammy- winning producer, and a well-known figure on the global nightlife scene.
Its BEAU Joie Brut Rosé (SRP $89.00) is 50% Pinot Noir and 50% Chardonnay, as aged 4 years on yeast/lees. Meanwhile its BEAU Joie Brut (SRP $69) is a a zero dosage Champagne (60% Pinot Noir and 40% Chardonnay), as aged 6 years on yeast/lees.
Bonterra Organic Vineyards 2019 Sauvignon Blanc (SRP $14.00) is a go-to beverage of choice for summer sipping. With aromas of kumquat and white peach on the nose, this wine offers flavors of bright melon and citrus with a subtle hint of grass and refreshing acidity for a vibrant, clean and lengthy finish.
For those looking for something more convenient and portable, Bonterra now comes in a canned format. In addition, Bonterra’s Bag-In Box is another carryable option from Bonterra.
La Crema Sonoma Coast Chardonnay 2018 (SRP $23.00), the 2019 vintage of La Crema’s Sonoma Coast Chardonnay, presents aromas of honeydew melon, hints of oak and juicy acidity. In addition, you can expect subtle hints of oak, as followed by flavors of white stone fruit, yellow plum and honeydew melon. On the palate, this wine is vibrant and concentrated with juicy acidity that drives a lingering finish.
This one is indeed featured on Vivino, the most downloaded wine app (43 million users worldwide and counting) and largest online wine marketplace.
The 2017 Oak Farm Vineyards Zinfandel is bold in color this Lodi Zinfandel has aromas of earthy eucalyptus and cedar. It has an elegant mouthfeel with flavors of dark fruit ending with a bright, rich, and structured finish.
Among this wine’s honors are Double Gold/Best Of Class at the 2018 New Orleans International Wine Awards, a Gold at the 2018 Harvest Challenge, and a Gold at the 2019 San Francisco Chronicle Wine Competition.
Originally founded in 1893, Teliani Valley combines the traditional methods of Georgian winemaking with the most up-to-date modern technology to ensure production of the finest quality natural wine. In 2004 the company partnered with the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development to update their facilities, building a new wine factory and cultivating vineyards in the best micro-zone in Georgia. The winery highly values strict quality control in all stages of their winemaking process, farming local grape varieties over 120 hectares of vineyard. Teliani Valley has won
awards internationally and domestically and seeks to continue their growth in those markets.
From its Guardians Saperavi reserve, you can expect a deep violet color with aromas fresh red and black fruit. Flavors of blackberry, cranberry and cherry are followed by spice notes and a hint of oak, finishing with balanced but firm tannin. It reportedly pairs well with lamb, steaks and beef braises alike.
Tarasi Minadze’s family has historically worked with wine and metal-making for many generations, and they continue to prepare wine in traditional
Imeretian steel vessels in the legacy of the region’s history. The cellar has been rebuilt and the family keeps vineyards over several local villages, harvesting local grape varieties with organic practices. Tarasi Minadze is a proud member of the Natural Wine Association, as based in western Georgia, near the flowing Rioni River.
Tsitska is 100 percent Tsolikauri, a grape indigenous to the region. It is a balanced and refreshing white with good acidity and notes of tropical and stone fruit. This wine is made in the traditional Imeritian way by fermenting Tsitska grapes in Qvevri.
The Dila-o (dee-la-oh) brand from the Teleda winery — which also makes the Orgo label — was created to introduce qvevri wines to a broad segment of the U.S. market by over delivering on quality for the price. Teleda is an artisan winery located in Eastern Georgia that specializes in the 8,000-year-old Georgian Qvevri wine making tradition and sources all their grapes from vines that are at least 50 years-old. The winery sits in the foothills of the Gombori range, with the Alazani River Valley and the Caucasus Mountains to the north.
The 2019 Dila-O Kakehtian Mtsvane offers a bouquet of floral aromas thanks to the Mtsvane, good acidity thanks to the Rkatsiteli, and lighter, softer tannins on the finish due to less time on the skins. It is a 50/50 blend of Rkatsiteli and Mtsvane grapes fermented and made in qvevri.
Scharffenberger Cellars has been pioneering premium Mendocino California sparkling wine since 1981, with grapes sourced from Scharffenberger’s own 120 acres of vineyards, as well as select vineyards in Mendocino County. Grapes grown in Mendocino County. Scharffenberger grapes also enjoy the deep soils and sunshine provided by the protected Anderson Valley. The winery stays true to its original winemaking philosophy, to create stellar quality, delicious sparkling wines that reflect the diversity of the premier Mendocino County viticultural appellation.
The Scharffenberger Brut Excellence appealingly sports a stunning rose gold label. This salmon-colored sparkler from California’s Anderson Valley offers flavors of fruity raspberry jam and wild strawberries elevated by fine bubbles and a thirst-quenching, acid-driven finish.
Landmark Vineyards is a Sonoma-based winery that is dedicated to producing handcrafted, ultra-premium Chardonnay and Pinot Noir, as sourced from some of California’s finest vineyards.
The 2018 Overlook Chardonnay is a complex and balanced mix of ripe fruit, savory flavors and crisp, textural elements. Meanwhile, the 2018 Overlook Pinot Noir — as French oak aged for 10 months — represents another splendid blend from some of California’s best cool climate growing regions in Monterey, Santa Barbara and Sonoma Counties.
La Marca Prosecco was made to share and toast life’s ordinary moments with our favorite people. With a crisp, fruit forward taste and bright acidity, its Prosecco is a light, refreshing sparkling wine that brings a bubbly sophistication and is the perfect bottle to share with loved ones bringing cheer to every occasion.
But great wine aside, La Marca’s now has a free online-based label maker tool that enables user to create a one-of-a-kind label. This tool doesn’t just have to be used for gifting, as anyone can use it to add a little something extra to any occasion or event.
Sonoma-Cutrer has been crafting wines since 1981 in the esteemed Russian River Valley growing region of Sonoma County, California. Its flagship wine, Russian River Ranches, was built in the on-premise and for almost 40 years has dominated the Most Popular Chardonnay wine lists. Furthermore, its winemaking process is designed to specifically to preserve the highest quality grapes, and the wines are aged in barrels made of specific French oak trees that are individually-selected to fit the winemakers’ needs.
As Sonoma-Cutrer’s founding and flagship Chardonnay, Russian River Ranches is a unique cuvée containing fruit from Sonoma-Cutrer’s estate vineyards, acclaimed as the finest in the region. True to the Russian River Ranches style, the wine is elegant and deftly balanced with a nice, bright acidity, specifically crafted to be paired with food. The Pinot Noir, contrast, has a beautiful, dark ruby red color. It is richly-textured and balanced with a beautiful brightness, carrying flavors of black cherry, tobacco and sweet barrel spice shine throughout.
Interestingly, Sonoma-Cutrer recently hosted a virtual media event alongside the Point Reyes Farmstead Cheese Company, which I had the pleasure of attending. I have never experienced a better combination of “wine and cheese” than via the combo of Sonoma-Cutrer and Point Reyes.
Last but definitely not least, J Vineyards & Winery is a California winery located in the Russian River Valley AVA of Sonoma County, California, as owned and operated by E&J Gallo since 2015. J Vineyards & Winery includes 9 distinct estate vineyards located on over 254 acres, where Pinot Noir, Chardonnay and Pinot Gris varietals all flourish.
Its vintage 2017 Russian River Valley Pinot Noir is a richly-aromatic, layered and deeply-expressive example of the classic style of Pinot Noir from this renowned region. Opening with aromas of supple leather, violets and cherry cola, the silky palate delivers complex forest fruit notes of blueberry, raspberry and dark cherry that merge with hints of freshly-turned earth, mushroom and allspice. Well-integrated, fine tannins and a long finish leave a lasting impression.
