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This article was published in The 30 Second Wine Advisor on Friday, Aug. 15, 2014 and can be found at http://www.wineloverspage.com/wineadvisor2/tswa20140815.php. Whites of the Med, Plus
We're enjoying an unusually cool summer, but it's still the "dog days," when light summer fare and cool, refreshing whites seem made for the season. But nowhere is it written that cool, refreshing whites need to be boring! In the quest for summery yet interesting whites, we're devoting the monthly Wine Focus in our online WineLovers Discussion Group to a quest for bracing draughts from all around the Mediterranean basin ... and a bit beyond. From Spain we'll work across Southern Coastal France - Languedoc and Roussillon through Provence to Italy's shores, the coastal Balkans, Greece and the Greek islands; Turkey's coastal regions to Lebanon, Israel, even North Africa if we can find any; and complete the circle by passing through Gibraltar to Portugal, which faces the Atlantic, not the Med, but still seems to fit in. We'll find a lot of Grenache Blanc and plenty of Viognier, I imagine; and better yet, there are tons of indigenous white varieties to discover, from Alvarinho to Rueda, Picpoul, Greco di Tufo and Grillo, Kujundzusa, Assyrtiko, Emir, Obaideh and Merwah and many, many more. So, bring your whites from the Med and Portugal. Serve them cool, but not ice-cold, please: There's no point in stunning our taste buds and losing the good flavors that make fine wine worth the price. Then, please share your questions and comments and contribute your tasting notes in Wine Focus. Just click Wine Focus for August: Whites of the Med, Plus to drop in. You'll be warmly welcome in our friendly wine-loving community. All forum discussions are open for public viewing, but you must register to post your comments and participate actively in the conversation. Registration is free and easy; we ask only that you join following our Real Names Real Format system, using your real name as your public user name. To join the forum, drop me a note at wine@wineloverspage.com with your real name, preferred format and a temporary password, and I'll take care of the rest. Or, if you like, come over and post your tasting reports on our recently revamped WineLovers Facebook Page, where you can keep up with The 30 Second Wine Advisor as well as checking in on occasional wine news and active topics on the WineLovers Discussion group. If you stop by, I'll appreciate it if you "Like" the Page. Then take a moment to comment on any of the topics you find there. See you online!
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Today's Tasting ReportEgeo 2013 Rueda Verdejo ($12.99)![]() Clear light gold. Aromatic, ripe tropical fruit jumps from the glass, mango, peach and a whiff of pineapple. Luscious fruit carries over on the palate In a rich texture with perhaps just a touch of sweetness to take it off-dry; but crisp, zippy acidity with 13 percent alcohol keeps it in balance for table service. A touch of tart citrus and peach-pit acidity join in the finish. U.S. importer: Grapes of Spain Inc, Lorton, Va. (July 29, 2014) FOOD MATCH: It should serve well with shellfish, particular sweeter options such as crab. It was fine, too, with caprese, an Italian summer salad of ripe, juicy tomatoes, creamy fresh mozzarella, just picked basil chiffonade and fruity green Italian olive oil. WHEN TO DRINK: Light, fresh and aromatic, and sealed with a sturdy modern metal screw cap to keep it that way, it should hold for two or three years in cool storage, but I see no reason not to enjoy it soon. VALUE: A fine, interesting summer wine, and a good value at this price, which is within range of the median $12 U.S. retail listed at Wine-Searcher.com. WEB LINK: Here's a fact sheet on Egeo 2013 Rueda Verdejo on the importer's Web page. FIND THIS WINE ONLINE:
Talk About Wine OnlineIf you have questions, comments or ideas to share about today's article or wine in general, you're always welcome to drop by our online WineLovers Discussion Group, the Internet's first and still the most civil online community. To find our forums, click: Discussions are open for public viewing, but you must register to post. Registration is free and easy; we ask only that you join following our Real Names Real Format system, using your real name in the format "John Doe" or "John D". Anonymous, cryptic or first-name-only registrations are discarded without notice. Once your registration has been approved, which usually happens quickly, you'll be able to participate in all our online wine, food and travel forums. To contact me by E-mail, write wine@wineloverspage.com. I'll respond personally to the extent that time and volume permit.
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