Suddenly it’s not hot any more. This better not be the end of our warm days, but I’m happy to be done with the humidity. Outside all day and not sweating calls for a glass of wine and I have just the bottles, in all Lockdown price ranges.

Values

• Riondo Prosecco: The lighter side of Prosecco without all the peach, really refreshing with creamy cheeses, $14.99
• Zeisen Pfaffl Gruner Veltliner: Zesty and grassy, just the way we like our Gruner, $15
• Umani Ronchi Pecorino: Very pleasant lemon and melon with good acidity, $14
• Paul Blanck Patergarden Pinot Gris: With white florals and honey, this is the lighter style of Pinot Gris, $23
• Landmark Overlook Chardonnay: Lots of yellow apple but surprisingly restrained and surprisingly more-affordable Chardonnay from Sonoma at $27

Splurges

• Monopole Blanco Seco Monopole is the oldest white wine brand in Spain, and CVNE has produced this wine since 1915. Geranium florals and then nutty, dried fruits with a super long finish. Viura aged in sherry casks and blended with 5% Manzanilla sherry. This was just so interesting and fun to drink, highly recommend trying it! $30

• Sarah’s Vineyard SLH Pinot Noir: The lone red in my splurges this month, but we’re sadly getting into some cooler weather and this Pinot from cool-climate Santa Lucia Highlands was full of elegant black cherry, plum and a hint of tobacco, $48
• Reyneke Chenin 2018: really enjoyed the fresh honey and waxy honeydew on this Chenin, fantastic with Sicilian cauliflower pasta, $30
• Domaine Wachau Achleiten Gruner Smaragd 2016: Great balance of lime and green apple with white peach and petrol. So much texture on the Smaragd, which means it’s made with the ripest grapes in the Wachau, $50
• Domaine Weinbach Grand Cru Riesling, Clos des Capucins: Alsatian Riesling is dry, but still has the tangy apricot and hint of petrol you find in German ones. Complex and layered. $49

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