Wines for a warm evening......

Ok, so we've hit that wonderful time of year of "Indian Summer", or that stretch where we get a shot of warm, warm days and moderately war evenings, just right for enjoying some whites - and not just Chardonnay (we'll get to thoughts on Chardonnay in later episodes). The real test of any wine, especially a white, is that it can go with vastly different foods, and be perfectly enjoyable - so here goes......

With these warm evenings, and long days at work (it is harvest after all), quick meals are a neccessity. Friday night was reaaly warm, so we fired up the grill for some hot dogs, and served along with potato salad (from the store) and fresh fruit. Saturday was a little cooler, but we didn't feel like fussing over dinner, so we had thawed out some salmon filets, marinated them in terriyaki and honey, put a little seasoning and panko and quickly pan seared, and had this with a mixed salad, of assoted veges and greens that we got at farmer's market. You might think this would call for different choices for wine, but we served the same wines for both meals, and if you haven't had these wines, seek them out.

The first one, with the meal, is from Burford Family Wines, under their Melanto Terrace label - a 2008 Verdelho (They also produce Verdelho under their Lady Grace label as well). If you're not familar with this varietal, it's historic home is Portugal. Owner and winemaker, Peter Burford, sourced his fruit from Lodi (a growing center for Spanish and Portugese varietals), and this wine will quickly become a top house at your place, as it has mine. With it's light gold color and subtle fruit and floral aroma, the mouth explodes with wonderful white nectarine, light apricot and white grape notes, with a surprising structure and balance that one would most would think you would only get in a red wine. It was refreshing and engaging at the same time.

The other wine we had, mostly at the end and after dinner is an even more surprising, Dreirebe, a combination of three German varietals, from Mokelumne Glen Vineyards. The one we had was a 2006 Dreirebe Late Harvest grown out in Lodi. As one might expect, from a late harvest wine, it is sweet, but has a great balance with acid as well. The flavors of Persian apricots, white peaches with a hint of subtle spices one would find in a fruit cobbler, which is a great sipper for finishing a relaxed late summer meal.

While these are not large production wines, you can ask for them at you favorite wine merchant, or visit their websites (Frin more information about Burford Family Wines at www.burfordandbrown.com; you can contact Mokelumne Glen Vineyards at www.mokelumneglen.com). More on some more wines for these wonderful late season days and nights later......