Whites

If inflation is getting you down, you might take comfort that Fred Franzia (owner of Bronco and the Grand Cru winery) once famously said, “There’s no wine worth more than 10 bucks a bottle.” And with Grand Cru Chardonnay, he delivers a white wine that’s remarkably well-balanced, fresh and tasty, and affordable in these times. A blend of 75% Chardonnay, 11% Pinot Grigio, 6% Viognier, and 8% termed “proprietor’s blend,” this wine is perfect for winding down after a busy workday.  According to the winery, “The Grand Cru Chardonnay is a light straw color with pear, melon, and vanilla aromas. Citrus and green apple flavors combine with a silky mouth feel.”

Because a grape like Sauvignon Blanc can be so influenced by its terroir, Joel Gott crafts this complex wine by sourcing fruit from a variety of regions. In 2019, Napa and Sonoma fruit accounted for the body and viscosity in the blend, while Lake County provided the citrus and marine-influenced Monterrey added the tropical aromatics. Vineyards in the Santa Barbara region contributed minerality and structure from the diverse and rocky soils of Santa Ynez and Happy Canyon. The growing season started a bit later in 2019, leading to a later-than-usual harvest of fresh and well-balanced fruit in September. This Sauvignon Blanc is both rich and crisp and will accompany a wide range of salads and casual dishes with chicken, fish or pork.

Castle Rock Sauvignon Blanc is fresh, crisp, and refreshing, a zesty wine that tastes great before or during a meal. The low price means you can keep plenty of bottles on hand for weekdays or for large gatherings. The grapes are sourced from California vineyards with excellent conditions for this variety. The winery describes “aromas of lemongrass, grapefruit and lemon thyme with a hint of minerality. On the palate, it is lively and fresh, with balanced acidity and flavors of pineapple and mandarin, with a lingering citrus zest.” Try it with seafood, chicken, salads, and vegetable dishes.

A crisp Chardonnay priced for everyday drinking that delivers flavor and pleasure. What’s not to like? With a bright golden color, Three Thieves Chardonnay is clean and crisp with a bit of everything we like in California Chardonnay - some citrus and some tropical fruit, a bit of toasty oak, a dab of creaminess to the texture, and a medium body. Partial malolactic fermentation softens tart flavors while keeping the flavors pure. Fermentation on American and French oak imparts a note of spice. Try this delicious Chardonnay with caesar salad, crab cakes, or pasta with creamy sauces. 

This Chardonnay is an expression of prime vineyards along the Central Coast, where a favorable maritime climate of sunshine, fog and ocean breezes leads to wines that balance intense flavors with bright acidity. In 2019, Central Coast winemakers hailed a return to the “old normal,” in which a cold winter, followed by a mild spring and summer, led to a harvest that started and ended much later than had recently been the case. Longer “hangtime” enhanced the acidity in the fruit, producing an elegant Chardonnay with a rich, ripe and fruity character. Try it with fish, poultry and lightly sauced entrees.

A perfect summer evening kicks off with a glass of Seaglass Sauvignon Blanc. It’s fresh, a bit tart and loaded with lemon, lime, pear, gooseberries, and even fresh-cut grass. The secret to the flavors is the terroir of the Los Alamos Vineyard in Santa Barbara County. Sandy soils radiate warmth, precipitating early bud break, while cool fogs and ocean breezes stretch out the ripening process. These conditions allow grapes to develop a wonderful balance of acidity, flavor, and minerality. Cold primary fermentation and no malolactic fermentation keep the delicate flavors forward, fresh, and crisp, and the affordable price makes enjoying a bottle easy on any occasion. Pair this wine with crab cakes, scallops, or seafood pasta for a lively lunch.

Seaglass Santa Barbara Chardonnay is sourced entirely from the Los Alamos Vineyard, named for its location in the Los Alamos Valley. Like Santa Barbara County’s two more famous valleys, Santa Maria to the north and Santa Inez to the southeast, the Los Alamos Valley funnels cool air in from the Pacific Ocean, making it ideal for varieties such as Chardonnay and Pinot Noir. Unlike those other two valleys, the Los Alamos Valley has yet to be designated as an American Viticultural Area (AVA), and so wines made from its vineyards must be labeled as Santa Barbara County. In order to highlight the coastal terroir, this Chardonnay is made in stainless steel without aging in oak barrels and without undergoing malolactic fermentation. These practices help emphasize the qualities of pure Chardonnay: stone fruit aromas as well as fresh flavors of green apple and zesty citrus. The refreshing acidity and vibrant texture make this wine a perfect complement for light pastas, grilled fish or summer salads.

Joel Gott’s California Sauvignon Blanc is a perennial favorite that excites the palate without pressure on the wallet. The juicy deliciousness and complexity in this wine come from blending fruit from a range of vineyards in Sonoma, Lake County, Lodi, Monterey, and Santa Barbara. After pressing, the juice underwent a long, cool fermentation in stainless steel tanks, with careful blending being the key to expressing the particular characteristics of each vineyard. This Sauvignon Blanc is crisp and flavorful and will accompany a wide range of salads and casual dishes with chicken, fish, or pork.

Dressage is a new label produced by Castle Rock in celebration of 25 years in the business. According to the winery, “the art of Dressage is about the harmony, elegance and balance between horse and rider.” As Castle Rock sees it, the same holds true for winemaking, with the winemaker working to harmonize the grapes, soils and climate into perfect balance. These elements come into sharp focus in this wine, a Chardonnay from select vineyards along the cool Central Coast. Awarded 86 points by the Wine Enthusiast, Dressage Chardonnay pleases with aromas and flavors of apple and citrus with tropical fruit, subtle oak, and vanilla notes. 

Bodkin’s Sauvignon Blanc is sourced from growers in Lake and Sonoma counties. A medium-bodied crowd-pleaser, the wine is relatively low in alcohol and bursts with refreshing citrus fruit flavors. The Bodkin winery recommends “live music, sunny days and fresh cuisine” as a suitable pairing. “To the victor go the spoils!” Wine lovers win out with this fresh and energetic Sauvignon Blanc.

Whether bone-dry or unctuously sweet, Riesling has so much we look for in fine wine: it ages well, it pairs well with food, and it’s tasty. Riesling can be enjoyed as an aperitif or as a dinner wine – especially a fine Japanese meal. Besides sparkling wine and Japan’s own Koshu, it’s hard to think of a better wine to accompany sushi, sashimi, tempura, or shabu-shabu. Seaglass Riesling comes from cool vineyards in Monterey and Santa Barbara counties, where the coastal breezes and low rainfall encourage the grapes to develop the aromatics, vibrance and minerality we look for in a Riesling. The distinctive blue glass bottle signals a casual spirit, but this wine will add a refreshing dimension not only to Japanese cuisine but also to spicy Asian or Latin dishes, smoked salmon, or lobster salad.