Whether you're spring breaking or spring cleaning, don’t forget the wine! As the days get longer, we might be reaching for wines that are fresher and livelier to keep us energized through the upcoming season’s extended daylight.
Perhaps it’s time to reevaluate your wine collection and add a few bottles perfect for springtime sipping. Let’s celebrate the vibrancy of the season and explore some new white wines!
Souleil Vin de Bonté Le Blanc 2022
(Doris Poe and David Fritz Goeppinger)
Souleil Vin de Bronté “Le Blanc” is a refreshing white wine from the Mediterranean coast of the South of France.
South of France
$16.99 at Wine.com
Some may argue that the ultimate fresh whites come from the Mediterranean coast of France, and this is exactly where Souleil Vin de Bonté Le Blanc was born. The wine is a blend of typical Southern French grapes such as piquepoul (65%), terret blanc (20%) and ugni blanc (15%). The grapes all come from organically farmed vineyards by the sea and are destemmed and vinified separately in stainless steel to maintain the highest level of freshness possible.
A stimulating mix of citrus and tropical fruits and salty sea air, this bottle
will energize the senses and refresh the palate. Expect a slight presence of signature Southern French herbs and zingy acidity for a clean, fresh finish. Le Blanc perfectly complements spring salads and salty seafood like oysters or our signature stone crab.
Cartuxa Branco 2021
Alentejo, Portugal
$25.95 at Finding.wine
Portugal may be best known for its port and bold red wines, but there is something special happening with the white wines of this Iberian country.
At Cartuxa, in the country’s Alentejo wine region, you will find a portfolio of classic wines that can be enjoyed by any generation. The winery is owned by the Eugénio de Almeida Foundation, which is an organization that works to support various causes in the city of Évora and the surrounding area. This means that proceeds from each bottle of wine purchased go to support this charitable mission.
Cartuxa white is a blend of Portuguese grapes – arinto, antão vaz and roupeiro – and each plays an important role in making the wine complex and alluring. It is fermented in stainless steel and matures on the lees for nine months, creating weight and texture. Citrus and tropical fruit aromas and flavors dominate along with delicate floral characteristics, thanks to antão vaz. The arinto grape adds plentiful acidity creating a vibrant and lively wine that should be a springtime staple on any table.
Ramón Bilbao Verdejo 2022
Rueda, Spain
$18.99 at Total Wine
Ramón Bilbao was founded in 1924 and has become a top winery in the famous Spanish regions of Rueda and Rioja. It is in Rueda that the verdejo grape shines! It makes for a refreshing white wine ideal for warm weather sipping.
This 100% verdejo is crisp and bright, with flavors of lemon and other citrus like grapefruit, along with a subtle herbal characteristic. Zesty acidity and clean minerality balance in this medium-bodied offering. The finish lingers with lemon and herbs, leaving a fresh mouthfeel. It’s a wine that perfectly pairs with veggies like a spring spinach salad, or cold or grilled asparagus topped with slices of lemon.
Attems Sauvignon Blanc 2022
(Courtesy of Attems Estate)
Since 2000, Attems has been a part of the Frescobaldi family of wineries.
Venezia Giulia, Italy
$23.99 on Wine.com
It’s not often that you see a sauvignon blanc out of Italy, but Attems offers a nice showing of what that can be.
The Attems winery owes its name to the Attems dynasty, which owned land in the area dating back to 1106. The winery is located in the northeastern Italian region of Venezia Giulia, which is traditionally the home of some of the great pinot grigios, but there are wineries in this area using more international grapes, such as sauvignon blanc, as well.
An easy-drinking “porch pounder,” this bottle offers fresh tropical fruit,
lemon-lime citrus, minerality and a long fruity finish joined by the emergence of floral herbs. It’s light-bodied and high in acidity, making for a refreshing combination on a warm spring day.
Appassionata Riesling GG 2017
Willamette Valley, Oregon
$55.99 at 305Wines.com
A classic German riesling from … Oregon? Yes! The Appassionata Estate was founded by famed German winemaker Ernst Loosen as a result of his excitement in discovering great pinot noir in the Willamette Valley. This led him to plant the Appassionata Vineyard and eventually make incredible German-style riesling in the United States.
The “GG” designation is part of the German classification system and means “Grosses Gewächs.” This term is used to identify dry, single-variety wines from top vineyards in Germany, equivalent to the grand cru designation in Burgundy, France. Loosen uses this designation on his bottles to identify a specific style of riesling from an exceptional site.
The wine is fermented in neutral oak casks and aged on lees for two years. It is then held in the bottle for three to five years before release. With aromas and flavors of pear, apple and a touch of citrus and pleasing petrol, this wine delivers mouthwatering acidity in a medium-bodied style. A serious fresh white wine, the Appassionata riesling is exciting and invigorating, and is a wine you’ll surely want to share with others.
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(Courtesy of Appassionata Estate)
Appassionata is a German-style dry riesling from Oregon.
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(Adega Cartuxa)
Portugal makes great springtime white wines, like this one from Cartuxa Winery in Alentejo.
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(Ramón Bilbao)
Verdejo from Spain is a perfect white wine for springtime sipping./