Little-Known Summer Grapes
ALVARINHO
Same grape as Albariño, but from Portugal. Alvarinho/Albariño actually comes from the same growing area on either side of the border (southern Galicia/northern Portugal). We recommend:
Aveleda 2021 Alvarinho • Vinho Verde, Portugal • Reg $14.99 | Mixed Case $11.99
100%Alvarinho. White peach, white flowers, citrus with hints of pineapple. Great structure. Dry, crisp finish. Winery says to enjoy with vegetables au gratin, oysters, asparagus with butter sauce, and oily fish like tuna or salmon.
BOBAL
The Bobal grape is native to Utiel-Requena DOP, about an hour inland from Valencia on the eastern coast of Spain. It is rugged, hot and dry with very little organic matter in the soils. Despite being one of the harshest growing areas in Spain, Bobal thrives! We recommend:
Vera de Estenas 2021 Bobal • Valencia, Spain • Reg $22.99 | Mixed Case $18.39
100% Bobal from 50-100 year old vines. Aromas of black plums, black cherries and raspberries with mineral notes. Bright, earthy, well-balanced and complex. Medium-bodied with flavors of red & black plums, black cherries. Great acidity on the fresh finish. Great with poultry, pork and light enough for fish dishes.
CARIGNANO
Carignano = Carignan (in France) = Cariñena (in Spain). Most commonly found in Languedoc-Roussillon and in vineyards around Barcelona, this version comes from Sardinia. The grape is known for its dark purple flavors and special herbal notes. We recommend:
Argiolas 2021 Cardanera • Sardinia, Italy • Reg $23.99 | Mixed Case $19.19
100% Carignano from Isola dei Nuraghi IGT. Strawberries, black raspberries on the nose. Fuller-bodied. Flavors of black cherries, raspberries, blackberries. Good acidity. Super fine tannins. Note of caramel on the finish. Phenomenal wine.
CARMENERE
Originally a blending grape from Bordeaux, Carménère is (experts think) a distant relative of Merlot. It’s usually medium-bodied with red fruit flavors and a famous note of green pepper on the finish. It is now grown almost exclusively in Chile as well as a tiny bit in northeast Italy, California, and Washington State. We recommend:
Terranoble 2020 Carmenere Gran Reserva • Valle de Maule, Chile • Reg $22.99 | Mixed Case $18.39
100% Carménère. Berry compote on the nose, note of herbs. Smooth, super complex, medium-bodied. Flavors of ripe black- and blueberries, black cherries on the finish. Traces of green pepper corn on the finish. Fantastic value for the money.
ELBLING
One of the oldest varietals from the steep hills of Germany’s Upper Mosel. Refreshing, with almost an effervescence. Low alcohol = 11.5%. We recommend:
Hild 2021 Elbling Trocken • Mosel, Germany • Reg $22.99 | Mixed Case $18.39
Trocken = dry in German. Zippy. Full of energy. Citrus. Lime. Stone fruit. Fresh finish.
Photo credit: Zorzon (former J. Strecker import) — Friuli, ItalyFRIULANO
A white grape native to Friuli-Venezia Giulia (northeast Italy, border to Slovenia), this grape is usually a little more luscious in style (but not always) with flavors of apple, pear, citrus & crushed rock minerality. We recommend:
Scarpetta 2021 Frico Friulano • Friuli, Italy • Reg $14.99 | Mixed Case $11.99
100% Friulano from gravely soil vineyards in Friuli, northeast Italy on the border to Slovenia. Light, aromatic & crisp. “This Friulano is clean with a zesty white grapefruit flavor, and pairs well with grilled fish, green vegetables and salad.” —winery notes. Cheers to summer sipping outside... deck, beach, block party!
GARGANEGA
The wine is universally known as Soave (which is the sub-region in Piedmont, northwest Italy), but the grape (which you would be hard-pressed to find on most labels) is Garganega. Stone fruit, melon, citrus with a note of salinity on the finish is what this varietal is known for. We recommend:
La Cappuccina 2021 Soave Classico • Veneto, Italy • Reg $21.99 | Mixed Case $17.59
100% Garganega from 60-year-old vines grown in higher-altitude, hilly vineyards with rocky, black, volcanic soils. Floral aromas (wisteria & acacia) together with citrus peel. Fresh with a savory note & wonderful minerality.
GRACIANO
Originally a blending grape from Rioja (used in small amounts in Gran Reserva wines), this grape is now grown in Washington State — Horse Heaven Hills. Bart Fawbush, owner/winemaker at Bartholomew pictured.
Bartholomew 2019 Graciano • Horse Heaven Hills, Washington • Reg $33.99 | Mixed Case $27.19
100% Graciano. Plums, blueberries, earth. On the palate add in licorice & leather. Medium-body with lots going on! Lively. Great food wine. Great summer wine. Can serve slightly chilled. Refreshing!
GRECO
Brought to southern Italy — Campania (the shin) & Calabria (the arch) of the boot — more than 2,500 years ago by the Greeks, this white grape is known for flavors of citrus, stone fruits & good refreshing acidity. We recommend:
Santa Venere 2021 Ciro Bianco • Calabria, Italy • Reg $19.99 | 25% OFF = $14.99
100% Greco from the sub-region of Cirò in Italy's arch of the boot. Ripe citrus fruit (lemon, lime, tangerine), white peach, thyme, wet stone. Soft, fruity middle. Has sort of a Viognier quality. Beautifully acidic. Nice dry finish. Perfect summer white. Go exploring!
MELON DE BOURGOGNE
This wine is simply called Muscadet, but that’s the appellation (Muscadet Sèvre-et-Maine). The grape is Melon de Bourgogne. It’s grown in vineyards near the Atlantic Ocean around Nantes in the Loire Valley, and it’s known as a world-class oyster wine. We recommend:
Batard Langelier 2022 Muscadet Sèvre & Maine • Loire Valley, France • Reg $18.99 | Mixed Case $15.19
Kind of minerally on the nose. Seashells. Stone fruit. Aged on the lees = richer-style. Add in apple-pear-citrus on the palate. Absolutely great, prickly acidity. Long, pleasantly dry finish. Terrific Muscadet. Oysters. Crustaceans. Sip.
MONICA
Monica is originally from Spain but is now grown almost exclusively in Sardinia. It’s lighter in body, fresh, intended to be enjoyed young. We recommend:
Pala 2021 Oltreluna Monica • Sardinia, Italy • Reg $22.99 | Mixed Case $18.39
Red berries, red plums, soft fresh earth. Silky smooth. Add in black cherries on the finish. Complex. Elegant. Harmonious. Smooth. Easy-drinking.
NEGROAMARO
This red grape is native to southern Italy and today is grown almost exclusively in Puglia (heel of the boot), particularly the sub-region of Salento. It’s known for being medium to a little fuller in body with yummy flavors of dark fruits with an herbal note. Easy-drinking.
Falvo Masseria Li Veli 2022 Negroamaro • Puglia, Italy • Reg 18.99 | Mixed Case $15.19
100% Negroamaro from Salice Salento DOC. Dried plums, red cherries, and classic Italian earth & herbs: thyme, oregano, rosemary. But faint. Super pleasant. Takes you there.... Pleasant long finish. Super pleasant acidity. Medium+ bodied. Would be a delicious red with salmon.
Photo credits: Vins du Languedoc>PICPOUL
Picpoul is the grape (one of the oldest known grapes in Languedoc where it is primarily grown). Picpoul de Pinet is the AOC, located on the central coast of Languedoc-Roussillon (about 45 min south of Montpellier) just inland from a lagoon called the Bassin de Thau, one of France’s premier oyster regions, and this minerally white is a perfect pair! Look for the classic tall, thin, green bottle. We recommend:
Gerard Bertrand 2022 Picpoul de Pinet • Languedoc, France • Reg $19.99 | Mixed Case $15.99
100% Picpoul Blanc from limestone terroir bordering the Mediterranean Sea. Limestone, unripe stone fruit on the luscious nose. Lime, lemon, seashells, herbs... sort of garrigue. Long finish. Chalk goes forever. Perfect seafood wine! Enjoy with oysters, stuffed clams, and pan-fried white fish.
VERDEJO
This fresh, acidic white is grown in Rueda, a region in northcentral Spain. The acid is toned down by its lovely flavors of citrus, tropical fruits, and sometimes melon.
Bodegas Protos 2021 Verdejo • Rueda, Spain • Reg $15.99 | Mixed Case $15.99
Pineapple, tropical fruit up front. Followed by apple, pears, white plum. A little note of earth. Acidity is killer. Fun wine.
VERDICCHIO
From vineyards on the Adriatic, the most famous growing area for Verdicchio is DOC Verdicchio dei Castelli di Jesi. We recommend Verdicchio from the famous winemaker Maurizio Marchetti, known for his high-end, organic Verdicchio:
Marchetti 2022 Tenuta del Cavaliere Verdicchio dei Castelli Jesi Classico • Marche, Italy • Reg $17.99 | Mixed Case $15.19
100% Verdicchio. Stainless steel aged. "Floral notes, including acacia and almond blossom, along with honeyed citrus. Round and mouth-filling, yet clean and crisp ... with a hint of floral spice on the finish.” —winery notes.
And there are more… many more little-known summer varietals to check out! Stop by and we’ll get you set up to go exploring.