With the warm spring days easing into summer heat, an array of white wines have caught our fancy lately. These are all super summer sippers to pair with your patio or deck — or perhaps when serving fish, crab, scallops, oysters, shrimp, prawns, sushi or a tasty summer salad.

Our palates prefer Sauvignon Blanc and Pinot Gris/Grigio, but there are many other choices are out there to try. We recently tasted the refreshing citrusy Albariño and the dry floral Viura, and were wowed!

Craggy Range Sauvignon Blanc 2016 ($21.99)
This beauty from Martinborough, New Zealand is citrusy, clean, fresh and delicious – our idea of a perfect wine for summer. We have enjoyed previous vintages, and this one maintains that quality. I’m sure we will be purchasing bottles throughout the summer to enjoy with citrus prawns, lakeside. “This pale lemon straw colored wine has complex aromatics of white peach, lime, lemon blossom and Thai basil. The palate is refreshing with nectarine and citrus notes that carry long across the palate to a refined, chalky-dry finish.”

Pinot Grigio Friuli Grave DOC 2016 ($17.99)
This refreshing Italian white is bright and lively, with banana, pear and green apple flavors, along with a light minerality; it is crafted without oak or malolactic fermentation. “Slightly candied aromas with notes of banana and pear on the nose and palate, with bright acidity and medium body.”

Bodega Classica Hacienda Lopez de Haro Blanco 2016 ($9.99)
We took this 100% Viura Rioja to a dinner party, and the positive reaction was unanimous. Yes, this is a value white wine, but it tastes like a more expensive one. We loved the citrus aromas and flavors, balanced with a hint of peach and stone fruits. We will definitely be buying this Spanish wine to enjoy on summer evenings on the deck.

Atlantis Albariño 2016 ($15.99)
100% Atlantis Albariño offers refreshing flavors of citrus, green apple, pear and pineapple. Crisp, and lemon yellow in color, this is a perfect bottle to open on a hot summer day. It would be marvelous with french bread and cheese, in addition to seafood.

The first two wines were samples from Kobrand Wine, while the two Spanish wines were samples from Vintae.

Cheers!
Margot and Dave