Looking for tasty white to refresh the palate in the warm summer months?
Riesling, Gewurztraminer, unoaked Chardonnay, Sauvignon Blanc or Pinot Gris are all reliable options. Another is the clean, crisp and flavorful wines made with nuances of Muscat, the world's oldest known wine grape.
Of the 200 varieties of Muscat grown globally, the oldest and most recognizable is Muscat blanc à Petits Grains, also known as Muscat Canelli in Italy and Muscat Fontignan in France.
With its distinctive floral aromas and ripe fruity flavors, this variety was used through the centuries to produce dry and sweet wines, sparkling wines, brandy and liqueur. More recently, this magnificent grape has been used to make dry, racy white wine blends.
One delicious example is the Kenwood 2006 White Table Wine, California ($9*). Made with a blend Chardonnay, Sauvignon Blanc and Muscat Canelli grapes, this vibrant wine features a beautiful golden hue, fragrant aromas of tropical fruits, lemon zest, orange blossom and subtle spice. On the palate, concentrated flavors include sweet pineapple, white peach, ripe melon, pear, fresh citrus, supple texture and a burst of bright acidity at the end of each sip.
A great DVD pairing here is the comedy Juno, directed by Jason Reitman (Thank You for Smoking). After a playful encounter with a male friend (Superbad's Michael Cera), spirited teen Juno MacGuff (Ellen Page) finds herself accidentally pregnant. And improbably, hilarity ensures.
Besides being a great companion drink for the film, a chilled bottle of Kenwood 2006 White Table Wine is versatile and easily paired with antipasto plates, prosciutto and melon, smoked trout, spicy prawns, Bouillabaisse or Coquilles St. Jacques. And with a total of 13,400 cases produced of this particular vintage, there's plenty to go around.
*Prices quoted in U.S. dollars
