2022 Esporão Reserva Branco
Alentejo, Portugal $23
As a lover of Portuguese wines, I constantly recommend them for a combination of uniqueness, quality, and affordability. One of my top picks for all three of these criteria are the wines from Esporão. Their Reserva line hailing from an area called the Alentejo, truly represents Portugal in a glass. This lusciously fresh white is crafted from a blend of local grape varieties named Antão Vaz, Arinto, and Roupeiro. What results is a wine with vibrancy and complexity that pairs with a variety of dishes including delicate grilled fish and spicy pulled pork. Dry yet fruity, it’s a white wine for warm days and cool nights.
2022 Lapostolle ‘Grand Selection’ Sauvignon Blanc
Valle Del Rapel, Chile $15
Having had the privilege to travel to Chile multiple times, one of my most memorable visits was to Lapostolle’s winery in Apalta. Founded in 1994 by French owners Alexandra Marnier Lapostolle and her husband Cyril de Bournet, of the famed, centuries-old French wine and spirits family, Lapostolle has become a key player in Chile. Their Chilean wines range from affordable sippers to collectable bottles ranking among the world’s best. As the winery says, their wines are French in essence, Chilean by birth. This lively, lovely Sauvignon Blanc certainly encapsulates that phrase. The white’s crisp, citrus flavors are accented by mineral-laden complexity. A classic yet affordable sipper that ranks among my “best value whites” on the market today.
2022 Tenuta Whitaker ‘Mozia’ Grillo
Sicilia DOC, Italy $30
Grillo (pronounced GREE-low) from Sicily is a hidden treasure in the world of white wine. A local grape variety known for producing fortified Marsala, the last decade has seen a rise in dry versions from Sicily. The Mozia Grillo, however, is a culinary treasure. Full-bodied with peach flavors and floral, herbal aromas, it’s a singular white that is meant to savor alone or with food. Why is it so special? Mozia is a small island in the Marsala lagoon in Sicily. In the 1800’s the Whitaker family bought the historic island. They partnered with highly regarded Sicilian wine producer, Tasca d’Almerita, to make a limited amount of Grillo from Mozia. A beauty to sip.
