If Not Rosé?
Santorini, Greece. Photo Credit: Viator
If you’ve spent the last umpteenth Summer’s sipping on that pink, bubbly summer juice, and the phrase “Rosé all day” makes you cringe, then please read on. As the Summer months approach and Sunday brunches, BBQs and beach-side soirees become an every-weekend occurrence, we want to make sure you have options for “hydration.” In fact, we are so tempted to make this a series. We can think of few things that are more chic and enchanting than great wine.
When it comes to Rosé alternatives, believe it or not, there are so many worthy contenders for light, summery libations. One option we want to introduce you to (or remind you of, for our wine connoisseurs), are those enchanting Island Whites. Firstly, anything that has the word “island” in it, cannot disappoint. This is a universal rule. Island wines come from vineyards scattered throughout the Mediterranean region. Greece, for example, is known for a few notable options, including Moschofilero and Assyrtiko. These wines have a beautiful acidity and are known for their aromatic profiles. They also have a little saltiness to them and are low in alcohol. And this is a good thing in the Summer, since many of us are usually low on water intake. And no — we are not suggesting to replace water with wine! but you get the gist.
Top picks:
When it comes to top Greccian goodies, the options are many, but we’ve highlighted two that represent a good mix of pricey and affordable:
(1) Giannikos 2018 Windmill Malagousia (Peloponnese): This wine was meant to be savored, with layers of flavor and acidity that unfolds beautifully on your palate. It finishes with a touch of apricot. It has bright grapefruit, lemon and pear tones, as well as lots of complexity and structure.
(2) Domaine Sigalas 2017 Seven Villages Megalachori Assyrtiko (Santorini): This option is a bit on the pricey side, but scores high among wine lovers. You can look forward to full-bodied aromas of tropical fruit, honey and smoke and a wonderful balance of saline, smoke and citrus.
Photo Cred: Sicily by Food and Wine and Corsica by Wine Society
IF WINEMAKING ON AN ISLAND DOESN’T MAKE YOU WANT TO DO CARTWHEELS AND TWIRL LIKE A KID IN A CANDY STORE, THEN I DON’T KNOW WHAT WILL?
Other great options for these island whites hail from bucket-list islands like the Canary Islands (to date, an absolute top destination in our list of favorites … worthy of its own post), Sardinia, Sicily and a host of others. The good news is that these options are increasingly becoming available in the US. So we’re rounding off our list of top picks with a little Mediterranean tour. And if the concept of winemaking on an island doesn’t make you want to do cartwheels and twirl like a kid in a candy store, then I don’t know what will!
Top picks cont’d:
(3) Bodega Tajinaste (Canary Islands): Described as nutty and dry, with a squeeze of lemon zest and a dry finish.
(4) Cusumano Alta Mora Etna Bianco (Sicily): This wine is grown in the Mt. Etna region, on Sicily’s eastern coast. And we should add that Mt. Etna is one of the most active volcanoes in Europe. But despite bouts and blasts of ash from the city’s moody mountain, the active winemaking scene in this quaint coastal town remains undeterred. The pear-scented result is worth the risk.
(5) Domaine Conte Abbatucci Cuveé Faustine Blanc (Corsica): A real crowd-pleaser for the more discerning taste palette. These vines are grown to the tunes of traditional Corsican songs. This honey-scented favorite is worth every penny.