It’s Friday and you are thinking about your weekend plans and perhaps which wines to purchase. Weekly, I post two recommendations for your weekend wine choices. My occasional “Wine and Dine” articles suggest a recipe with wine pairings, but others (like this!) offer choices under $20 – one white and one red. This particular weekend brings Father’s Day and for those in the world honoring the patriarch of the family, suggested are two terrific wines from Washington State at a price Dad will love (although one is a bit higher than my traditional $20 mark…oops!). Trust me your favorite dad will be grateful (especially if you forgot to purchase a gift and/or card)…
**2011 Lehm Gewurztraminer – Not all dads prefer red wine! Some may enjoy the aromas of spice, slick palate feel, and lingering fruit tastes of this wine from Vin du Lac Winery at Lake Chelan, Washington. Including grapes sourced from various vineyards surrounding Lake Chelan in the Columbia Valley AVA, I enjoyed this wine with prosciutto in melon with balsamic reduction vinaigrette at the winery itself during a recent visit. Perhaps your dad will appreciate this wine, too, especially with a price of $20.
**2010 Veranda Beach Collage – I loved this delicious wine which is a blend of Barbera, Sangiovese, and Cabernet Franc grapes grown in Washington yet made in an Italian style. Fruit forward with a balance of tannins, alcohol, and acidity, the mouthfeel was perfect and paired well with a picnic sandwich of grilled chicken, salami, provolone with Italian dressing on rosemary bread. The grapes are from vineyards nestled in a narrow valley surrounded by steep mountains with Lake Osoyos at the bottom. With a microclimate, lake effect, and moderate temperatures, the grapes from this winery are thriving. You and Dad can enjoy this wine for $29 (hey, what’s an extra $9?).
Cheers to a fun weekend! ~ Cindy
