"WhiteWine" news and stories

Because the majority of Chardonnay wines are produced in California, we thought it would be fun to taste Chards from other regions, from Argentina to Oregon. Even sourced outside of California, this wine is perfect for summer with a floral nose, fruity notes and a backbone of mild acidity.

Pairing Chardonnay with food is not as easy as you might think. That's because it depends on whether the wine in question was aged in oak or stainless steel, and in which region the grapes were grown. But, for the most part, you can sip Chardonnay with these seafood and summer-time favorites and you won't be disappointed: lobster (especially if it's an oaky, buttery Chardonnay), scallops (for Chardonnay that's aged in stainless steel), tuna, avocado, corn (with lots of butter!) or honeydew melon.

If you're looking to stray from the beaten path and sip a Chardonnay from somewhere other than California, after the jump, find our seven picks, all under $20.

Until I became a wine writer, very few Pinot Grigios hit the spot.

That's because most – whether from Italy, where it's an extremely common varietal, or California – lack complexity and depth. Considered a wine to appease all palates, the problem is that it rarely rates high with any of those. Many of these Pinot Grigios are "watered-down," mass-produced wines designed to be sold at a very low price or put on a restaurant menu with little regard for whether or not it's a solid choice.

Yet because of their light body and high acidity, and elegant notes of peach and apricot, carefully picked Pinot Grigios are perfect for picnics or backyard dining. Various seafood dishes, so long as the accompanying sauces or spices are not robust, make excellent pairings. (One of our favorites is soft-shell crab, with salmon or oysters as close seconds.)

After the jump, find our five favorite Pinot Grigios from a recent tasting.

Torrontés is a white-wine grape with a very aromatic nose (think floral and tropical-fruit notes, not too far off from a Gewurtztraminer or Viognier). The grape is grown throughout several provinces in Argentina and is the country's only indigenous white-grape variety. While this wine is more commonly sipped during summer, a glass or two when it's cold out can whisk you away on a mental tropical vacation.

Although each producer's Torrontés will vary, common characteristics are tropical-fruit notes, high acidity and -- as mentioned above -- a lovely nose. If you like Sauvignon Blanc but are in search of something different, this is your wine.

Drink these whites while they're young -- you'll notice the majority of those I've tasted below are from 2009 -- and don't be tempted to age them in your cellar. Because of their high acidity, consider pairing with goat cheese, whether spread on a crusty baguette, subbed in for mozzarella on a homemade pizza or crumbled on a salad. If goat cheese doesn't thrill you, a spicy Thai or Indian dish would hold up to the wine.

Well, what do you suppose popped up at the liquor store next to the Recession Red?

Recession White!

Ladies and gentlemen, it's $3.99, it has a plastic cork, and it's totally decent. It's a mild, dry California chardonnay; gentle oak without too much vanilla (why do all the chardonnays I'm tasting lately have so much vanilla?). I would recommend pairing Recession White with bold, stinky cheeses or, you know, ramen noodles if you're in this for the price tag.

Between Recession Red and Recession White, I'd say the red is the better value. I'd pay more for that wine -- but I don't have to. This chardonnay is definitely acceptable, though, and mild enough to please a crowd. So bring it to a dinner party. I did on Monday and was met with smiles all around.

I've had a number of inquiries about where in New York I've found this delightful duo of Recession wines for $3.99 so I'm gonna go ahead and say it: Adel Wines & Liquors on Columbus Avenue between 105th and 106th Street.

I'll see you there.

I paid far too much for this out at a restaurant the other night but that's no reflection on the wine. In general when faced with the wine list and heading for the white side I tend to look for a viognier because it's a touch different than your run-of-the-mill chardonnay and it's agreeable with most food. Most viogniers have a nice fruity/floral nose and a flavor that is less oaky than a chard and less sweet than a gewurztraminer or a riesling. Also, I find myself being an advocate for this grape just because it's not as widely known in the U.S.  I'm not alone in my viognier love, there is a whole website, Enjoying Viognier, devoted to the cause.

We paired this with fish and it did quite well. Its lightly honeyed taste made it a nice apertif and it lingered well into dessert. Bridlewood is a Santa Barbara winery that makes a variety of midrange ($15-$35 retail) wines that are not earth-shatteringly memorable but are very agreeable and often appeal to a wide variety of palates. This one retails for around $16 and is definitely a match with summer's lighter foods.

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