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- Subscribe - Contact Us - Rate Card - Place an Ad Valley&State Backpage O&E Sports Archives Classifieds Faith&Beliefs Obituaries Revels June 15, 2004 Off The Vine White wines can be quite a good find Lorn Razzano Now that it is starting to warm up and the old barbecue grill is smoking the white wine scene is upon us. I'd like to list a few of the favorite wines for the perfect summer afternoons and evenings. All of the wines listed are between ten and fifteen bucks per bottle. Have fun! Verdicchio - This is a wine from the Adriatic side of Italy. Known for their lovely flinty flavors and up, dry finish, the wine is just superb for grilled seafood and shellfish. This wine has long been a favorite with European white wine lovers. If you are tired of the drawn out butter flavors of everyday chardonnay, here's the ticket. Verdicchio is also a great partner with the heavier fish such as salmon. I think this wine is one of the best values for the money and worth a special search to find. White Spanish wines - Here is a very neglected segment of the wine business. Many people know of the big rich reds of Spain but few venture out to the whites. Look for the wines to be over 12 percent alcohol on the label and less than four years old. Spanish whites are just the thing to take the heat out of spicy food, especially Thai and Indian cuisine. Many Spanish white wines are well under the ten dollar mark and can be refreshing and clean. Pinot gris (Grigio) - This may be the fastest growing part of the white wine scene. Gris is the fun grape that can be surprising in its depth, full on the palate and cleansing in the finish. Lovely producers cover the Oregon scene such as: Tyee, Rex Hill, King's Estate, Bridgeview, Foris and Eyrie. Look again for the higher alcohol designation if you wish dry wines. Oregon Pinot Gris also comes in reserve status with more oak and longer, deeper palate sensations. The Grigio from Italy are splendid wines with vast sensations of dry tropical fruits and gorgeous palate gripping aftertastes. Chardonnay - This wine comes in many styles, prices and wood treatment. The Australian Chardonnay tend to the bigger styles. These wines have a "bigger is better" mindset and can be opulent and rich throughout the tasting sensation. French white Burgundies are large but with mutli layered taste sensations which go on and on, lacing the palate with explosions of fruit and subtle oak tones. Chablis from France are steely wines used to clean and invigorate the palate. California chardonnay comes in a rainbow of styles, alcohol levels and price ranges. I'd stay with the Napa Valley chardonnays and look for the wines showing 13 percent or under alcohol ranges. Best buys can come from Chile and Washington state, which can produce stunning chardonnay. Sauvignon Blanc - Look for Washington State wines, Napa Valley wines and the new kid on the block, New Zealand Sauvignon Blanc. I have been very impressed with New Zealand Sauvignon Blanc. I think these wines are beautifully made, well priced and go with about anything light on the grill. Give yourself a treat and find these gems. There are currently over twenty fine examples of New Zealand Sauvignon blanc in southern Oregon. Every one that I have taste in the last few weeks has been very good to superb! Have fun and don't be afraid to experiment. Riesling - This wine comes in two styles, dry and sweet. The American Rieslings will be dry as the alcohol levels rise. I love the Rieslings from Germany, especially those in the green bottles from the Mosel River. Soft, good balance of acid and sugar, these wines are just perfect for warm summer nights. Low alcohol fresh flavors and stunning backbones of dry apricots and peach lace these wines. Enjoy any of the wines I've listed, I think they are worth searching out. If you find a white wine you love, drop me a line, I'd love to try it! DailyTidings.com Home Page Valley&State | Backpage | O&E | Sports | Archives | Weather | Classifieds Columnists | Faith&Beliefs | Obituaries | Revels | Subscribe | Contact Us Copyright 2004 Ashland Daily Tidings and Ottaway Newspapers All Rights Reserved Click Here Site Search: .:Advertisements:. RESOURCES - Mail Tribune News - ODOT Road Cams