I thoroughly enjoy drinking a glass of Pinot Grigio on a warm summers day, and this grape variety can come in varying styles; either as a light, crisp white wine, or it can be a full-bodied white with more aromatic notes and flavors. In sampling the 2012 Settecieli Pinot Grigio, this wine had very soft aromas which were almost nondescript, and they consisted of a slight hint of citrus, and some earthy aromas. The flavor profile for this wine was of soft hints of lemon, earthiness, and a trace of minerality. This was a light Pinot Grigio with high acidity which brought a nice crispness, and the color in the glass was a light yellow straw. I paired this wine with skewered shrimp and scallops brushed with a light wasabi and soy mixture. The combination of the food and wine was very nice.

Jon

On a recent trip travelling north on the Silverado Trail in Napa Valley, I stopped by a number of wineries, sampling as I went. One of the wineries that I had the privilege to visit was Clos Du Val (located in the Stags Leap AVA), where they had some outstanding wines. The wine that I began my flight with was the 2011 Three Graces White blend, part of the Winemakers Signature Series. This wine is a blend of Roussanne (50%), Chardonnay (39%), and Sauvignon Blanc (11%), which produced a delightful and easy to drink white wine.
The combination of the Roussanne and Chardonnay grape varieties gave this wine a wonderful burst of lemon and lime on the nose, followed by more subtle hints of tropical fruit, floral, and melon aromas. On the palate the Three Graces brought forth the wonderful citrus of lemon and lime, along with pineapple, apples, honeydew melon, and a soft, nice finish. This was a very nice wine to drink on a fantastic summers day, with a clean mouthfeel, and balanced acidity. Later that evening I paired this wine with pan-seared ahi tuna, accompanied with fresh sourdough bread. What a great way to finish a day in the Napa Valley!

Jon

Silverado Vineyards was established in 1981 by Ron and Diane Miller, and they haves been producing estate grown wines that are excellent in quality. Over time, the Miller family has put together a diverse variety of six family-owned sustainably farmed vineyards, each selected for its ability to contribute nuance and character to the wines.
The 2010 Silverado Sauvignon Blanc is produced using 95% Sauvignon Blanc with 5% Semillon grape varieties. The Semillon helps to smooth out the characteristics of the Sauvignon Blanc. On the nose this wine displayed aromas of citrus, melon, and herbaceousness. The flavor profile brought out soft hints of grapefruit, with honeydew melon, figs, and a noteworthy herbaceousness. This was a nice Sauvignon Blanc with good acidity, a medium finish, and I paired this wine with grilled shrimp.

Jon

The continual renaissance of Spain’s wine industry is something that all wine lovers should be grateful for. The many wines coming out of Spain today are of good quality, and yet they continue to remain affordable. I was given a bottle of the 2010 Capítulo 8 Aňada Garnacha from the La Mancha wine region, and this was a delightful wine for those of us who had the opportunity to sample it. This wine had a nice ruby red color in the glass, and the aromas were of cherries, red berries, spice, leather, and an earthiness. The flavors that followed were of tart cherries, boysenberries, raspberries, tobacco leaves, black olives, leather, cloves, and the taste of dirt as you travel down a dirt road. This was a somewhat complex wine, with layers of flavors that just kept coming out the more that we drank it. This Garnacha was medium bodied, with approachable tannins, and a long finish. This is a wine to find and enjoy.

Jon