All Winners For Summer Sipping

SPARKLING:

In a recent tasting of the Gloria Ferrer line (products of Friexenet, one of the largest producers of sparkling wine in the world), the following are all recommended:

Gloria Ferrer Sonoma Brut — $19.99

Gloria Ferrer Blanc de Noirs — $19.99

Gloria Ferrer Brut Anniversary Cuvée 2010 — $35

WHITE:

Ruffino Lumina Pinot Grigio 2016 — A steal at $9.99

Noble Vines Chardonnay Block 446 Monterey County 2016— From Z. Alexander Brown. $11.99

Z. Alexander Brown Sauvignon Blanc North Coast 2017 —Underpriced at $12

Friends Sonoma County White Wine Blend 2017 — Sauvignon Blanc and Gewurztraminer. $12

Oyster Bay Pinot Gris Hawke’s Bay 2017 — Rich and invigorating. $14

Oyster Bay Chardonnay Marlborough 2016 — Elegant and assertive. $14

Alexander Brown Chardonnay Santa Lucia Highlands 2016 — A bargain at $15

Justin Sauvignon Blanc Central Coast 2017 — Try with grilled shrimp marinated in olive oil, salt, pepper and lemon juice, with oregano. $15

Ron Rubin Pinot Gris Russian River Valley 2016 — Balanced and flavorful. $16

Scott Family Estate Chardonnay Monterey Arroyo Seco 2016 — Heralded family winery. $18

Imagery Sauvignon Blanc California 2017 — Unusually good for a “California” appellation. $18.99

J. Lohr Chardonnay Arroyo Vista 2015 — From best winery at last Houston Rodeo competition. $20

DeLoach Chardonnay Russian River Valley 2015 — From Jean-Charles Boisset. $22

Provenance Chardonnay Napa Valley Carneros 2016 — Excellent balance of acidity and fruit. $25

Ladera Sauvignon Blanc Napa Valley 2017 — Beautiful hillside fruit shows through. $28

Duckhorn Sauvignon Blanc Napa Valley 2017 — One of the standard bearers. $30

MacRostie Chardonnay Sonoma Coast 2016 — Elegance. $35

Groth Chardonnay Hillview Vineyard Napa Valley 2016 — Excellent reputation, excellent wine. $35

Jordan Chardonnay Russian River Valley 2016 — Try with chicken pasta with cream sauce. Yum! $35

Chappellet Chardonnay Napa Valley 2016 — Just gets better every year. $35

Duckhorn Chardonnay Napa Valley 2016 — Here is a rich, ripe, $35 Chardonnay you can serve blind with a $150-$300 White Burgundy and see what happens. Serve the Duckhorn first. $35

Etude Chardonnay Grace Benoist Ranch 2016 — Lovely. $41

Chalk Hill Estate Chardonnay 2015 — Elegant with citrus and vanilla flavors. $42

Migration Chardonnay Sonoma Coast Charles Heintz Vineyard 2016 — Only 200 cases. $56

Sea Smoke Chardonnay Sta. Rita Hills 2015 — Brioche, peach and honeysuckle. Perfect with red snapper topped with crabmeat! $60

ROSE:

Chateau Cornut Rosé Costieres de Nimes 2016 — Mostly Grenache with Syrah. $8.99

Noble Vines Rosé 2016 — Mostly Syrah with Grenache. $11.99

E. Guigal Cotes-du-Rhone Rosé 2017 — Nice balance of fruit and acidity. $14

Klinkerbrick Bricks and Roses Rosé 2017 — Southern Rhone look-alike. $15

Lange Twins Sangiovese Rosé 2017— One of my wife’s favorites. $15

SAVED Magic Maker Rosé 2017—100% Grenache. — Mystical bottle design. $15

Julia’s Dazzle Rosé of Pinot Grigio Columbia Valley — Wonderful and different. $19.99

Justin Rosé Central Coast 2017 — Syrah, Cab, Pinot Gris and Viognier. Unique. $20

Rodney Strong Rosé of Pinot Noir Russian River Valley 2017— First effort. Big winner. $25

Miner Rosato 2017 — Sangiovese using traditional Provence method. $26

Stewart Rosé Sonoma Mountain 2017 — Only 168 cases produced. $28

Ladera Rosé Napa Valley 2017 — One of the best Malbec rosés produced. $30