Summer Sips - Pinot Blanc: An Affordable Alternative

Hello Friends,

Although it’s not summer yet, this past weekend’s blistering temperatures felt otherwise. So much so that I was compelled to reach for a summer selection a little early. Out of all the refreshing and light whites I have in the wine fridge, a Pinot Blanc caught my attention. This white wine alternative to Chardonnay, Sauvignon Blanc, etc., makes for a nice summer sipper and can be found at a pretty decent price point – usually $10 - $13 per bottle. This price range will usually land a light, crisp, and easy drinking example and that is what we are looking for. We won’t get into the particular bottle pictured, just Pinot Blanc in general, since it is a lesser known varietal wine that can satiate your thirst on a hot summer day, and can easily be paired with many food dishes.

Ahhh ... Refreshing

A little bit about Pinot Blanc: Pinot Blanc is a white wine grape variety that is a descendant of Pinot Noir and Pinot Gris. Pinot Blanc thrives in cooler climate regions and generally produces refreshing wines of finesse and balance with tree and citrus fruit flavors, and sometimes soft tropical notes and subtle streaks of minerality. The wines produced from Pinot Blanc usually range from dry to off dry. Most Pinot Blanc is best consumed young when it’s fresh, fruity and crisp – perfect for the warm summer temperature. Most examples are light to medium in body with minimal to no oak influence. Personally, I prefer Alsatian examples; however, Pinot Blanc is also grown in California, Germany, and Italy, to name a few other places to check out. Try an Alsatian Pinot Blanc served well-chilled as an aperitif wine or pair it with seafood, fish, or white meats. It is also a great wine to take along on a picnic. I have yet to see a Virginia example, however, I believe our friends up north in the Finger Lakes produce Pinot Blanc. If anyone knows of a local example drop me an email. The wine pictured can be found at most local Total Wine store and retails for $12.99. With that said, try a bottle of Pinot Blanc and send me some feedback.