Wine Finds

It’s time for another installment of Wine Finds, and with the warm weather upon us, I thought a white selection was in order. We enjoyed our first bottle of Geyser Peak Sauvignon Blanc for the season on Memorial Day. This is our favorite bottle of white wine, it’s crisp and refreshing and not too sweet.

Sunset magazine named this wine the “Best White Wine Under $10” last spring or summer. At least that’s how I remember it. Looking it up online, Sunset also named it “Our favorite crisp western white under $15” and a “Steal of the Year.” I’m so happy I actually read that issue because this has become a staple when we want to treat ourselves and we’re in the mood for white rather than red. At $8.99, it’s a little bit of a splurge, but well worth it. At least, that’s the Trader Joe’s price on the west coast.

This bottle has a twist-off cap rather than a cork, but don’t be put off by that. From what I understand, it’s actually better because corks go bad sometimes. The wineries are having a hard time marketing it, because consumers associate twist-off tops with cheap wine like Boone’s Farm. But this wine is a long way from Strawberry Hill.

And as I’ve mentioned before, I’ve never taken a wine appreciation class and the only “vocabulary” I know is a word here and there I pick up from a friend. But here’s a sample of the reviews of this wine: “Delightful and super-tropical, with mango, honeydew melon, peach, and soft floral notes,” “outstanding palate,” and “intense and bright, with a mouthwatering acidity and a long, lingering finish.” So there you go.

I haven’t decided whether to call myself a lush, a wino, or a wineaux, but I do enjoy a good bottle of wine, especially with friends (luckily, hardly ever by myself). And I’m hoping that my years of experience (decades) will be put to use for your benefit with my random, possibly whimsical tips. Please let me know if you try this bottle, or if you have any recommendations to tell us about in the Comments section. And to check out previous installments of Wine Finds, click here.