Summer Whites

There are a lot of wines that call for a specific food occasion, such as a buttery oak-bomb chardonnay that goes great with lobster. These wines are often too big, too heavy, or just too much on their own. Sometimes you simply want a nice glass of white, just for drinking. Here are some favorites, with a few food pairings in case you get hungry. The wine selection is from Edina Liquor (952-903-5730), which has three metro locations.

Pascal Jolivet “Sancerre” 2008
From: Sancerre, France. $26.99
This wine is sauvignon blanc at its most elegant, delivering a clean and floral nose with lemon and minerals on your tongue. It’s medium bodied but with a long, gentle finish. 
Try with: Oysters on the half shell. You don’t even need the lemon, just a sip of this wine right over the top.

Martín Códax Albariño 2008
From: Rias Baixas, Spain. $16.99
This grape is Spain’s answer to sauvignon blanc, with a very floral nose that is beautifully complemented by peach and citrus fruit. The flavor is refreshing and has an interesting lemony/vanilla finish to it. 
Try with: Seafood, freshwater fish, or anything that needs a little lemon.

Frog’s Leap Sauvignon Blanc 2008
From: Napa Valley, California. $21.99
I may have overshot a bit with this wine, as it is anything but simple. The nose delivers summer flowers and hay backed up by great fruit and minerals. The fruit is lemon, peach, and pear, with just enough grapefruit to be enjoyable, and not a bit more. 
Try with: Freshly steamed mussels, with a little butter and a little tarragon.

Pavão Vinho Verde 2009
From: Santo Tirso, Portugal. $6.99
Literally meaning “green wine,” vinho verde is summer in a bottle. It’s more of a style than a grape, though some of the best versions are made with Albariño and Loureiro grapes. An inexpensive wine, vinho verde is slightly effervescent and has a clean lime acidity. It’s low in alcohol, so it’s easy to get to the bottom of a bottle long before you wanted to be done. No food necessary.