I’m writing this in Phoenix where we’re on about day 37 of temperatures over 110 degrees this summer. To say I’m drinking white is probably stating the obvious. I’ve had a long summer to find my favorite white wines to share with you to celebrate National White Wine Day.
2022 Ceretto Blangé Arneis Langhe DOC 2022
Most people know Piedmont wines because of its famous Barolo. While the red wines deserve the accolades, the region’s undiscovered whites are a hidden gem. I first tried Arneis when I visited the Ceretto winery in 2021. One of my husband’s best friends is from the region and when we planned a weekend trip, he told us to try Arneis. He was right.
Arneis is a finicky grape whose name translates to “Little Rascal.” I like to think of it as the Bad Boy of Italian wine. But this crisp dry white is exactly what I like to sip when the mercury cruises past 110. The Ceretto Blangé is a still wine made in a unique way that gives it a little fizz when opening. Because of this, it’s best to serve it a little colder than most whites. When you do pop the cork, you’ll be treated to a nose of orange blossom, green apple and stone fruit.
Travel to Piedmont
If you’re planning a trip to the Piedmont wine region the four-star Hotel Calissano is located near Ceretto, or if you want to stay in a winery hotel the Villaggio Narrante - Cascina Galarej is ideal.
2022 Ontanon Tempranillo Blanco
Spain is known for some of the best expression of Tempranillo in the world. But not many people know that it has a white counterpart. It was a happy discovery in 1988 in the Rioja Baja region when a winemaker found that one of his Tempranillo vines produced a yellow/green cluster of grapes. After years of study, the Consejo Regulador of Rioja deemed it was a natural mutation of the standard red grape.
Currently, Rioja is the only Spanish region where you can find this unusual varietal, and the fourth-generation family-owned Ontanon makes a stellar version. The family is one of the top three family vineyard owners in Spain with over 800 hectares of vines. The family first planted its Tempranillo Blanco vines in 2010 and since 2016 has produced this wine. On the nose, you’ll get tropical fruits and white flowers. It’s fresh with a bit of crispness and a long finish. It’s another bargain bottle under $20.
Travel to Rioja
The Marriott’s Palacio Tondon makes an ideal base for exploring the Rioja wine region. The property, a 16th-century palace, is located on the banks of the Ebro River in a town full of cobblestone streets, vineyards, stately homes and off-the-charts charm.
2021 Elouan Chardonnay
This easy-drinking Chardonnay is perfect for anyone who tells me they don’t like Chardonnay. If you’re in the anti-butter bomb camp this Chardonnay will surprise with its floral notes, and tastes of citrus and tropical fruit on the tongue. Made from grapes from three regions in Oregon it drinks more like a basic white Burgundy than a 1980s California Chardonnay. The lightest hint of oak gives it structure. Best of all its budget-friendly at about $20.
Travel to Oregon Wine Country
While the Elouan winery is in California, the soul of its Chardonnay comes from its Oregon grapes. The wine region is full of quaint towns connected by rolling vineyards. The town of Dundee is a central spot and the Black Walnut Inn & Vineyard is an upscale B&B that combines charm and luxury.
2019 Famiglia Cotarella Ferentano Bianco Lazio IGT
One of my favorite things about wine is the endless adventures found in a bottle. There are over 10,000 varieties of wine grapes grown in the world (!) so whenever I get the chance to try one that is new to me, I jump at the chance. And that’s exactly what the Ferentano Bianco provided.
Coming from Rome's outskirts, the Ferentano is 100% Roscetto, a grape native to the Lazio region. It’s a low-yield grape and most producers don’t bother with it, so finding a bottle is hard. The grape was near extinction in the 1960s, but the Cotarella family revived it.
The wine is a full-bodied white with notes of citrus, tropical fruit and even the faintest hint of cheese. Its acidity builds the longer you let it linger in your mouth and you’ll get a minerality on the back.
Travel to the Central Italian Wine Region
To stay in the heart of the wine region near the Cotarella Winery, the town of Orvieto is your best bet. The Altarocca Wine Resort is an adult-only property with a winery and spa. If you prefer to base in Rome, and explore the wine region during the day, the new Anantara Palazzo Naiadi Rome is impossible to beat in terms of location and luxury. It’s built on top of an old Roman bath.
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