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Quick Pick: Light Wines for Summer

Selections of a Finer Kind

Summer wines reflect a life more fun – grilling, get togethers, picnics, road trips, outdoor concerts, bonfires, lake time. Time to stock up and ready the chilled light wine. These selections provide diversity in pricing and wine style.

Greywacke Sauvignon Blanc 2022 | An incredible choice and a fine specimen hailing from Marlborough, New Zealand. Greywacke wines are created by Kevin Judd, the winemaker behind the success of Cloudy Bay. A “must have white wine,” according to Decanter magazine, this is no doubt a wine to be enjoyed well beyond #InternationalSauvignonBlancDay.
SRP $23 | RATINGS: 94 pts Decanter

d’Arenberg The Broken Fishplate Sauvignon Blanc 2022 | Sourced from the cool Adelaide Hills in South Australia, this Sauvignon Blanc shows a great level of finesse and freshness. Its palate sets it apart: tropical fruit flavors are intertwined with a crisp and fresh minerality. Finely tuned acidity brings freshness. The finish is long yet refreshing.
SRP $18

Maison L’Envoyé Straight Shooter Chardonnay 2021 | Gorgeous Oregon origins, this is not your mom’s buttery chard, but instead a light, breezy white wine perfect for savoring with Tomales Bay oysters.
SRP $17 | RATINGS: 90 pts/BEST BUY “Honeyed mirabelle plum and toasted filbert aromas make a fetching pair. Lemon shaved ice and fresh basil flavors are equally refreshing. Decent acidity, with some midpalate weight.” Michael Alberty Wine Enthusiast May 2023

Maison L’Envoyé Two Messengers Pinot Noir 2021 | Pinot is perfect as the lighter choice – and Oregon’s Willamette Valley is producing some of the finest. Here, the palate is succulent and filled with tart cranberries and blueberries. Generous acidity and polished tannins bring into being a dynamic yet harmonious Willamette Valley Pinot Noir.
SRP $32

Domaine de Nizas Le Clos Rosé 2021 | French rosé runs a tight ship that can pair with anything from hummus to grilled burgers or a finely composed dish like Sole Meuniere. Here is a tasty rosé in a fun, glass-topped bottle.
SRP $17 | RATINGS: 91 pts Vinous, 89 pts/Best Buy Wine Enthusiast

Innocent Bystander Sparkling Pink Moscato 2022 | As an aperitif, or blend it to make a sparkly, fun cocktail, popping open a bottle of pink Moscato delivers a satisfying rush.
SRP $15 | Top 100 Best Buys 2022 by Wine Enthusiast

vineyard landscape

Champagne Collet Brut Rosé | True sparkling from Champagne, this pink bubbly has a fine thread of bubbles and a blush wine feel that enlivens any party.
SRP $65 | 91 Pts Wine Spectator

Brokenwood Hunter Valley Semillon 2022 | A trip to the beach or a picnic on the coast deserves a delicious companion – a notoriously perfect companion for oysters is Semillon white wine where the bright tones and energetic vibes enrich the sweet flavors of shellfish.
SRP $21 | 94 pts Halliday Wine Companion, 93 points JamesSuckling.com

Penley Phoenix Cabernet Sauvignon | Don’t forget the bonfire wine! Pairing with burgers and grilled veg, this lighter Cabernet delivers a fresher red wine style and a screw cap so you can forget the corkscrew.
SRP $21 | 92 pts JamesSuckling.com, 91 pts Halliday Wine Companion