Happy almost 4th of July! Jack and I just got back from a long week in Chicago so didn’t have time to get my flag-cake on… (not that I’ve ever made a flag cake, but there’s always next year). Since the internet seems to be blowing up with food coloring, I thought I’d take a different approach to “red and white” and share a few of my favorite summer wines. These are all very food-friendly. I’ve made some pairing suggestions but, really, they’re very versatile – perfect for any weekend picnic or cookout. (Also, they’re all under $20). Available at (wine-carrying) Whole Foods stores, now through mid-July:
Innovac!ón Chenin-Chardonnay 2013, Argentina $9.99 I’ve been a fan of Innovac!ón wines for a long time. This 70% chenin/30% chardonnay has notes of white flowers, apple, pears and tropical fruits. The flavor is fresh and soft with well-balanced acidity. (It’s also 1 liter bottle so it’s a super bargain). pair with: Heirloom Tomato Avocado & Chickpea Salad Grilled Veggie Skewers Edamame & Corn Succotash Frey Agriculturist Organic Blanc 2013, California $11.99 This one wins my award for “prettiest bottle.” Frey Vineyards is America’s first maker of certified Biodynamic® wines. This organic white is a blend of chardonnay, sauvignon blanc and riesling. It has notes of honeysuckle, tropical fruits and orange blossom. pair with: Mango Zucchini Lettuce Wraps Grilled Peach Salad w/ Mint Pesto Strawberry Quinoa & Feta Salad Les Hauts de Bel Air Bordeaux Blanc 2013, France $10.99 A beautiful pale yellow Bordeaux Blanc… This white has delicate aromas of sandstone, rosemary and thyme backed up by pepper, fresh peaches, and grapefruit zest. pair with: Quinoa Apricot & Arugula Salad Anna’s Tomato Gazpacho with Mango Chickpea Niçoise Salad with Roasted Potatoes
Soleil des Garrigues Ventoux 2012, France $10.99 This one is our favorite red lately – it’s made up of 70% grenache, 15% syrah, 10% carignan, and 5% cinsault. Its aromatic bouquet features red licorice, white pepper, raspberry and sweet cherry fruit. pair with: Grilled Polenta with Zucchini Salsa Rosemary Lemon Pasta Feta & Harissa Fattoush Salad Querciabella Mongrana Maremma Toscana 2011, Italy $19.99 A blend of 50% sangiovese, 25% cabernet sauvignon and 25% merlot, this smooth super Tuscan blend is vegan, spicy and full of juicy black fruit. pair with: Grilled Potato & Arugula Salad Grilled Herb Garden Pizza Grilled Panzanella with Poached Eggs Sanford Flor de Campo Pinot Noir 2012, California $19.99 This medium bodied balanced wine delivers bursts of bright red raspberries and cherries with an earthy hint of pepper. pair with: Tomato, Feta, & Honey Toasts Kale & White Bean Crostini Slow Roasted Tomato Pasta
This post is created in partnership with Whole Foods.
