Here’s the crisp white wine you can afford to keep on hand all summer long
By D.M.,
Scott Suchman for The Washington Post
This week’s candidate for one of the greatest values of the year is a 1-liter bottle of Verdejo from Spain, worthy of “house wine” status for the summer. We also have two outstanding sauvignon blancs from France’s Loire Valley, a delicious white blend from South Africa and a lively red from Spain made without added sulfites.
GREAT VALUE
Gulp Hablo Verdejo 2019
(Excellent)
Spain, $17 for 1 liter
The name is a pun on “gulpable,” and it’s a good thing the liter bottle gives us 33 percent more wine than a standard one. Flavors of lemongrass, star fruit and straw frame a medium-body, and soft acidity keeps it refreshing. Delicious by itself, the wine also pairs well with lighter appetizers and seafood dishes. This wine checks a lot of extra boxes, too: Certified organic, biodynamic and vegan. Alcohol by volume: 11 percent.
Imported by T. Edward Wines, distributed by Tradewinds: Available in the District at Chat’s Liquors, Classy Corks Wine & Spirits, Old City Market and Oven, Rioja Market, Rodman’s, Sherry’s Fine Wine & Spirits. Available in Virginia at Chain Bridge Cellars in McLean; Planet Wine & Gourmet, Slaters Market in Alexandria; Red Apron Butcher in Fairfax.
GREAT VALUE
Uva de Vida Biográfico Graciano y Tempranillo 2018
(Extraordinary/Sublime
Tierra de Castilla, Spain, $24
This beautiful red wine is vibrant and lively, featuring a type of energy wine fiends call “nervosité.” Boysenberry and blackberry flavors dominate at first, with more mineral and earthy notes emerging a few hours — or even the next day — after opening. Every sip offers a different flavor nuance. No added sulfites. Member of La Renaissance des Appellations, an organization promoting natural and biodynamic wines. Certified biodynamic and organic. Vegan. ABV: 13.5 percent.
Imported by Bon Vivant, distributed by Tradewinds: Available in the District at Capitol Hill Supermarket, Central Liquors, Chat’s Liquors, Classy Corks Wine & Spirits, Cleveland Park Wine and Spirits, Nido Wine Shop + Market, Schneider’s of Capitol Hill, Sherry’s Fine Wine & Spirits. Available in Virginia at Slaters Market in Alexandria.
Domaine Sauvète Sauvignon 2019
(Extraordinary)
Touraine, Loire Valley, France, $19
If Sancerre is your ideal of sauvignon blanc, you owe it to yourself to try this “baby Sancerre” from Touraine, a larger Loire Valley appellation without the cachet of its more prestigious neighbor. You will find the mineral character that suggests crushed stones, along with apricots and red currants and a long, focused finish. ABV: 13 percent.
Imported and distributed by Dionysos Imports: Available in the District at Rodman’s. Available in Maryland at Beer Wine & Co., Cork 57 Beer and Wine, Duck Duck Goose in Bethesda; Fenwick Beer & Wine in Silver Spring; Hop N Grape in North Bethesda. Available in Virginia at Arrowine and Cheese in Arlington; Unwined (Alexandria and Belleview), Wine Gallery 108 in Alexandria.
GREAT VALUE
Domaine Bellevue Sauvignon 2020
(Excellent)
Touraine, $15
This is textbook Loire sauvignon blanc, minerally and focused with red currant flavors. It is not really suited for casual drinking — pair it with grilled seafood or chicken. ABV: 13.5 percent.
Imported and distributed by Elite: Widely available at more than 100 outlets in the District, Maryland and Virginia.
Babylonstoren Candide 2020
(Excellent)
Simonsberg-Paarl, South Africa, $17
Here’s a delightful white blend of chenin blanc (South Africa’s star white grape), beefed up with viognier, chardonnay and semillon. Flavors of white flowers and tropical fruit — think star fruit, litchi and jasmine — with a soft texture that caresses the palate. ABV: 13.5 percent.
Imported by Red Wolf, distributed by Global Wines Maryland: Available in the District at Bacio Pizzeria, Chevy Chase Wine & Spirits, Old City Market and Oven, Rodman’s, Sara’s Market, Sherry’s Fine Wine & Spirits, Streets Market (Connecticut Avenue), Wine & Butter. Available in Maryland at the Beer & Wine Cellar, Dawson’s Market, Downtown Beer & Wine, On the Vine Craft Beer & Wine, Pour Vino N’ Hops in Rockville; Downtown Crown Wine and Beer, Finewine.com in Gaithersburg; Friendship Gourmet Market in Chevy Chase; the Market at River Falls in Potomac; Meridian Market Beer and Wine in North Bethesda; Talbert’s Ice & Beverage Service in Bethesda.
Availability information is based on distributor records. Wines might not be in stock at every listed store and might be sold at additional stores. Prices are approximate. Check Winesearcher.com to verify availability, or ask a favorite wine store to order through a distributor.
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