Don’t Be Afraid of the Import Wine Aisle

By Nikki Berglund
Staff Writer

You have finally managed to figure out whether a Chardonnay or a Sauvignon Blanc is the drier white wine option. You can identify a Pinot Noir as a red wine versus a Pinot Grigio as a white and have determined that a Cabernet will be heavier than a Merlot. So why the heck would you want to leave that comfy world you have worked so hard to create in order to venture into that intimidating place at your local wine shop known as the “Import Wine Section”?  Here’s why … there is a world of affordable and interesting wine choices out there. While maybe not as well known as your typical California wine varietals, this is exactly what makes them great … they are not typical. Why not add a little spice to your life by hoisting up your big girl/boy panties and exploring a world of new and exciting wine choices just itching to be invited to your next backyard soiree.

I love drinking white wine in the summer and am always in search of new and out-of-the-ordinary choices. Given how easy whites go down on a hot summer day I am also always looking for something that is tasty yet isn’t going to break the bank if I end up wanting to purchase a few bottles … just in case.

Orvieto (Orv-yay-toh) is a white Italian wine that may have an intimidating sounding name but is actually a simple, approachable and perfect summer wine. What makes the deciphering of European wines such a daunting task are those puzzling labels what with their regions and classifications and aging specifications. Since this article is about confusing you less rather than more we will be skipping the in-depth wine lessons for today and go straight to some suggestions that will take the guesswork right out of the process. 

Orvieto is actually a city in the Southwestern part of the Italian wine region known as Umbria which produces mainly white wines. An Orvieto I love is Salviano Classico Orvieto, which is a blend of 30% Trebbiano, 30% Grechetto, 20% Chardonnay (see some of the good old familiar grapes are still in there!) and 20% Sauvignon Blanc (whew another old friend.) The Trebbiano base present in Orvieto wines helps produce a crisp and acidic light dry wine with clean flavors and a slight almondy aftertaste. This neutral blending grape makes it the perfect partner to the other more complex grape varietals and supplies them with a perfect platform to highlight their more intense flavors. You can get this fantastic wine for right around $12 a bottle. These wines are meant to be drunk young, so make sure you are checking the vintage for the freshest stuff available.

Now let’s say your wine tastes run more towards the sweet side of things, and your go-to wines usually include either a Moscato or the slightly less sweet, Riesling.  Why not fancy up your wine repertoire and try a French Vouvray (Voo Vray). This French white made from the Chenin Blanc grape is often of the “off-dry” style meaning it will have a little bit of sweetness without going overboard. Even if you are sure you are not into sweet wine, don’t let this stop you from at least experimenting with one of these because it just might surprise you. The type of sweetness associated with this wine is more on the subdued honey side versus the sugary sweet. I am not a sweet white wine type of girl but this doesn’t mean I don’t love me some Vouvray from time to time. Again this is an affordable and easy way to work your way into French wine. These wines are considered very crisp and smooth and you will find flavors of lemon and honey to round off the flavors. The high alcohol content makes it a nice full bodied wine that pairs fantastically with seafood. On the lower priced end of the spectrum a nice choice is the Michel Picard Vouvray which can be found for a very reasonable $10 a bottle. The nice thing about Vouvray, unlike many other quality French wines, is that it is possible to purchase a better bottle for not a lot of money as well.  Case in point is Domaine Pichot Vouvray which was featured in the Wine Spectator’s Top 100 list for its 2009 vintage—a steal at $20 a bottle! If you can still find this vintage I highly suggest giving it a go; I assure you it will not disappoint! Often times these wines can do well with a bit of aging so although it is great to get the most current vintage it is not always necessary.

Torrontes is a white wine varietal from Argentina that has rapidly been gaining attention in the US market.  Unlike the aforementioned European wines, Argentina (like California) most often names its wine after the grape itself. Similar to a Viognier, this aromatic white wine is considered the characteristic white wine of Argentina, which is actually the only country to produce it.  The citrus fruit and herbal flavors make it light and refreshing while its full bodied nature means it can be served with spicy foods and even the stronger of cheeses. Alamos makes a very approachable and affordable Torrontes for right around $10 a bottle.

I didn’t originally intend for this article to only feature white wines, but I just got so excited about all of the choices out there that I ran out of space and realized I better make this a two part article instead. This way next time around I can devote proper time and space to all of the intriguing imported red wines out there as well. So stay tuned for part two…

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