Tag Archives: pinot gris

Winter Whites

If you are a non-denominational wine drinker, you may choose to drink crisp and fruity Sauvignon Blancs and pretty-in-pink Provence Rosés during the dog days of summer. Then as soon as the first bite of winter’s chill hits the air, you switch to rich and dark Cabernet Sauvignons and Syrahs to warm your soul through those bitter winter months.

However, there are those of you who eschew the “wine rules” and want to continue to enjoy your white wines between November and March. Yet, a Sauvignon Blanc might not be ideal – you want a white wine that will wrap you in a warm embrace. You are looking for richer, fuller bodied white wines that have the depth and structure of reds, but with the fruit flavors, aromatics and lack of tannins that white wines bring to the glass. If this sounds like you, read on because I have some excellent recommendations for the best types of white wines you can keep drinking all winter long.

Chardonnay

Chardonnay is an incredibly versatile grape and can make wine in lots of different styles, from steely and restrained (Chablis, France) all the way to rich and buttery (California). For winter drinking, select a Chardonnay from a warm climate area like California, Australia or Chile. These wines are often aged in oak and have a big, round texture with tropical fruit flavors of pineapple and mango, along with obvious oak influences.

Daou Vineyards Chardonnay 2018 ($16)

Viognier

Viognier has the creaminess of Chardonnay, but with more floral aromas and less acidity – think honeysuckle, peaches and roses. For a richer style, select a Viognier from California, Australia or Rhone, France.

Yalumba Viognier Eden Valley 2016 ($15)

Rhône whites

Rhone-style white wines are made from a blend of white grapes that hail from the Rhone Valley in France, although many warmer wine regions make this style of wine, such as Paso Robles, CA. The primary grape varieties in these blends can include Roussanne, Marsanne, Viognier, Grenache Blanc and Pinot Blanc. These are rich, bold whites with mouthwatering flavors of lemon, apricot, oranges and pastry.

Tablas Creek Vineyard Patelin de Tablas Blanc Paso Robles 2017 ($20)

Pinot Gris

Pinot Gris (hailing from France) is actually the same grape variety as Pinot Grigio (hailing from Italy), but the wines are produced in different styles. Whereas Pinot Grigio is light bodied with citrus flavors, Pinot Gris is richer and creamier with flavors of honey, ginger and clove alongside fruity pear, peach and nectarine.

Eyrie Pinot Gris Willamette Valley 2017 ($20)

Image result for Eyrie - Pinot Gris Willamette Valley 2017

Gewurtztraminer

This grape from Germany and Alsace, France is intensely aromatic and often made with small amounts of residual sugar, giving it a touch of sweetness. The texture is almost oily on the palate and it displays warm aromas and flavors of ginger, incense, honey and allspice with a very characteristic rose petal aroma and tropical fruit flavors of pineapple, grapefruit and apricot.

Trimbach Gewurztraminer 2016 ($22)

Image result for Trimbach - Gewurztraminer 2016

So light a fire in the fireplace, snuggle up under a fuzzy blanket and wrap your hands around a delicious glass of winter white wine to warm your soul. Cheers!

Organic v. Biodynamic v. Natural Wines – What’s the difference?!

As consumers are becoming increasingly concerned about environmental sustainability, health and food sources, a market is emerging around organic, biodynamic and natural wines. However, these terms can be confusing and difficult to differentiate, so I will attempt to explain these terms and provide some wine recommendations for each category.

Organic

Organic wines are those produced from grapes grown without the use of pesticides, fungicides, herbicides or chemical fertilizers, and must adhere to stringent requirements and certification processes set forth by a governing body (with different governing bodies having different requirements).

Organic vineyards are much easier to sustain in wine regions with stable climates and low disease pressure. Regions that are dry and windy, such as Alsace and the Rhone in France, suffer less from mildew, rot and harmful insects, making it easier to adopt organic practices. In fact, Europe produces almost 90% of all organic wines on the market. However, organic wines tend to be a little more expensive because organic vineyards produce lower yields of grapes, meaning growing and production costs are spread across fewer bottles of wine.

One of the biggest differences with organic wines is that the addition of sulfites to wines is prohibited. Sulfites have been used in winemaking for hundreds of years as a preservative to protect wine from oxidation and spoiling. Some level of sulfites are naturally occurring, so all wines contain sulfites, but organic wines contain less. A very small percentage of people have a sensitivity or allergy to sulfites that can cause headaches and other symptoms, and organic wines may help alleviate that problem. Keep in mind though, this does not mean that organic wines prevent hangovers!

Biodynamic

The father of biodynamics was Rudolf Steiner, an Austrian spiritual scientist, cultural philosopher and social reformer (and all-around oddball genius). His idea was to apply a holistic “circle of life” approach to the farm, encouraging biodiversity and self-sustainability. Biodynamics views the vineyard as one solid organism or ecosystem that must be treated holistically. Chemical fertilizers and pesticides are forbidden, and only natural materials (e.g., manure) may be used. There is are governing bodies that set standards and certify vineyards as biodynamic.

Biodynamics differs from organic agriculture in its belief that farming can be attuned to the spiritual forces of the cosmos, including linking harvesting to the phases of the moon. There are nine natural biodynamic preparations that can be used in the vineyard, some of which sound bizarre, such as burying cow manure in a cow’s horn over the winter, unearthing it in the spring, diluting the aged manure in 34 liters of water, and then spraying the mixture over the vineyard. Although there is some mystery as to how these concoctions work, they do seem to work.

Natural

There are no legal requirements, standards or certifications to label wines as “natural”, which makes defining it difficult. They are often organic or biodynamic, and usually produced by small independent growers.

Natural wines are unadulterated, made with very little intervention – no additives, sulfates, commercial yeasts, filtration, or oak influence. This results in wines that have funky, gamey, yeasty aromas and flavors, and are hazy in appearance. They tend to have more sour flavors than fruity flavors. Some can be very good and others can be downright weird. There is a certain thrilling unpredictability to natural wines.

Wine Recommendations

2017 The Eyrie Vineyard Pinot Gris, $18

2016 Rogue Vine Grand Itata, $20

2015 Tikal Natural, $20