Summer in a bottle or two

Since I haven't written in a while, I'm reviewing two wines together this time around. With DC summer in full swing, I present to you two nice white wines to enjoy in the sun. They are both nice, "summery" white wines, though they have very different personalities. (I think they do anyway; I tasted the Viognier a while ago and am working off my notes, so I apologize if my description's a little muddy.)


::: Richland Reserve Viognier 2006, Potomac Point Vineyard, $20.99 :::

The first wine is from the Potomac Point Vineyard in Stafford, VA; I visited the winery on a road trip to Charlottesville with my friend Aditi in April. It's a great little spot not too far from DC; beautiful setting, decent wines and great service! I definitely recommend it. There's also just something special about getting local wine from the source itself. Getting a bit of the winery and region history makes the experience that much more memorable, I think. I hope to do a little wine touring again soon... Virginia has a lot of reputable wineries, after all. I was kind of on a road trip kick for a bit this summer: between late March and mid June I went to Philly, Charlottesville, New York and Atlantic Beach. I slowed it down a bit after that because an exhausting two week vacation to India got in the way, but next up is Dewey beach at the end of this month! :) It's nice to get away for a bit. Sometimes you just need to be in the middle of nowhere with your girlfriends belting out Shakira, snacking on Bugles and reminiscing about high school (as I did during the Memorial Day weekend at Atlantic Beach).

Anyway, so out of the 13 wines I tasted at the vineyard (for $10) the Viognier was my favorite. I thought at the time that it was the perfect spring/summer wine. I remember it being lighter than it really is, though. "Summer" in a bottle seems fitting, then, because I also remember DC summer being lighter than it really is. The beginning of summer was especially brutal since we had hardly a glimpse of spring before the sun was blazing. I was looking forward to festivals out on the National Mall, to outdoor concerts and to day trips this summer, but it suddenly got too hot for me to want to head out of the house. The wine is definitely crisp, floral and citrus-y, but it's more of a heavier white wine. It even has a warm appearance and scent: it is a dark yellow, almost apple juice color, and it smells of melon and flowers. It's not too sweet, but sweet enough that it's really easy to drink. It has a long finish; makes you feel warm and fuzzy a few moments after you swallow. (I recently learned from my wine book Alpana Pours that heavier whites have often been exposed to oak, and this wine has indeed been aged in French oak barrels in addition to stainless steel.) It is kind of a complicated wine, offering freshness, warmth and depth all at the same time, but it manages to strike a balance.

My summer has offered something similar. Before I left for India, thunderstorms and rain would cool off the air every few days. (In India, the monsoon would do the same.) Summer days can be awful, but summer evenings can be lovely, perfect for mingling on an outdoor patio. I've participated in many happy hours and nights out this sumer... maybe that's why I think summer evenings are "warm and fuzzy" even though they offer a kind of crispness! Highlights thus far have been Clarendon Ballroom (fun but dangerous) in Arlington and Red Derby in Columbia Heights. Sometimes these nights lead to complications and shenanigans, as Laura H. from work would put it, and other times they're just good fun with friends old and new.


::: Terrazzo Esino Bianco 2007, Verdicchio-Trebbiano blend, $9.99 at Best Cellars :::

This wine is more my style of white: light, fresh, lively and fruity! May not be how summer really is, but it's how I like summer to be. The wine looks and feels light too; it is a lot lighter in color than the Viognier. It smells and tastes very crisp. On the nose I get peach, lemon and melon... but not as ripe-smelling as the Viognier. On the tongue I get a little apple and lots of citrus. It's tingly on the tongue, and the finish is like biting into a lemon. You might compare it to a Pinot Grigio, but I think it has more character. I had a glass with some Pad Thai, and that seemed to bring out the apple taste.

(Quick design note: apparently Terrazzo Esino Rosso (red) has the exact same Mediterranean-style label except it's colored in with red; cute marketing technique for customer recognition, I think.)

How I've interpreted the wines may have something to do with my mood as I drink them. After my trip across the world to India and Paris, I'm happy to be back in DC and relaxing. I've taken it pretty easy since I've been back-- I was exhausted, and I'm craving some refreshment, so that may be reflecting in my Terrazzo tasting analysis. I'm settling into my new place, too, and it seems like it's going to work out really well. Feels like a fresh start.