Oh Summer 2026! On these warm afternoons and evenings, white wines and bubbles pair perfectly with our deck. And certainly, our enjoyment of them increases every year. These super sippers also pair with a picnic, happy hour, poolside, or lakeside. Moreover, they also complement fish, crab, scallops, oysters, shrimp, prawns, sushi, or a tasty summer salad. We love white wine and bubbles. So, when Vineyard Brands sent us four bottles, we could not wait to open them. All four are wallet-friendly ($13-$19). Miguel Torres Chile NV Estelado Brut Pais Rosé and 2025 Andica Sauvignon Blanc. Marqués de Cáceres NV Cava Brut and 2025 Verdejo Rueda. Read on for details.
Category Archives: Chile
Wonderful Whites
Wonderful whites enhance a warm summer afternoon or evening. And certainly, our enjoyment of them increases every year. Typically, our go-to summer white is Sauvignon Blanc. Of course that preference continues. But these days, we also appreciate Albariño, Bacchus, Grüner Veltliner, and more. Most importantly, there are so many wonderful whites to discover. For example, here are 20 that we have opened from Washington (6), British Columbia (5), Italy (1), France (2), South Africa (3), Chile (1), and New Zealand (2). Many are good-value porch pounders or deck wines, but some shine with an elegant meal.
Bubbles
We love bubbles. Bubbles on the deck. Sparkling wine before dinner, during dinner, or after. Sparklers to celebrate. Bubbles, just because. So, when Vineyard Brands sent us four bottles of sparkling wine, we could not wait to open them. All four are NV and wallet-friendly ($15-$19). Marqués de Cáceres Cava Brut, Miguel Torres Chile Estelado Brut Pais, La Vieille Ferme Sparkling Blanc, and La Vieille Ferme Sparkling Rosé. Continue reading
Sassy Sauvignon Blanc
One of our favorite white wines is, hands down, sassy Sauvignon Blanc. So, we happily received these eight versatile examples, representing New Zealand, South Africa, France, Spain, Chile, Austria, and Italy. Why do so many countries make this crisp, refreshing white wine? Because the vines develop buds late and ripen early in temperate climates. However, Sauvignon Blanc has several flavor profiles – for instance, citrus, tropical fruit, stone fruit, grassy, and with mineral or flinty notes. The tastes vary depending on the terroir and winemaking styles. Read on for more details about these eight delectable white wines.