White Wine Vinos Sanz Finca La Colina Cien X Cien Verdejo 2020. Serve well chilled. Sweet white peaches, lemon zest and grassy hints delight the nose, while the first sip of this vivacious Verdejo reveals a refreshing acidity balanced by ripe tropical fruit flavours which linger long on the tongue. This easy-going white is perfect for sipping poolside on a sunny afternoon and it also makes a very versatile partner for food thanks to the balancing freshness and rich fruity character. Try serving this white well chilled alongside an al fresco lunch of caprese salad, a smoked salmon platter or a selection of fruits de mer. The flagship Verdejo of the Vinos Sanz estate, this single varietal is made with grapes sourced from the Finca La Colina vineyard which is home to the winery’s oldest vines. This combination of mature vines and the extreme continental climate of Rueda helps to create a full, authentic expression of the Verdejo grape. During the summer the hot days and cool nights help to preserve freshness and create a long maturation period, while the old Verdejo vines produce grapes with more concentrated aromas and flavours. To maintain the aromatic intensity and pure varietal character of the grapes the winery harvests at night and the grape must is fermented in stainless steel tanks at a low temperature.
2020
White Wine Vinos Sanz Finca La Colina Cien X Cien Verdejo 2020
White Wine Castello di Neive Montebertotto Langhe Arneis 2020. This great value Langhe producer is based in the charming medieval village of Neive, and actually has their winery in the village’s 18th century castle. The property has been owned by the Stupino family since 1964, and they currently have 26 hectares of vines and 20 hectares of hazelnuts which they farm commercially. Although the estate specialises in producing excellent Barbaresco and Barbera d’Alba red wines, they also produce some fantastic white wines like this striking Arneis. It dates back to the 1970s when pioneering winemaker Italo Stupino set out to produce a white wine for his wife who didn’t like red wines. Italo experimented with 20 different clones of Arneis in the family’s Montebertotto, selecting the three best ones to be planted in other vineyards. Italo’s experiment was so successful that even today 80% of the vineyards planted with Arneis in Piedmont contain those same winning three clones selected at Montebertotto. The wine is made from a mixture of those original vines planted in the 1970s as well as younger vines, which creates a complex flavour profile with delicate notes of ripe peach, citrus, and acacia blossom and a distinctive almondy finish.
2020
White Wine Castello di Volpaia Prelius Vermentino 2020. Castello di Volpaia is located in a charming 11th century walled village in Chianti with some 114 acres of vineyards which are farmed organically. The winery has enjoyed a renaissance in recent years thanks to the hard work and vision of Carlo and Giovannella Mascheroni. Giovannella’s father, Raffaello Stianti, one of Italy’s most important printers and bookbinders, gave the property to the couple as a wedding gift in the 1970s. This refreshing Vermentino is from the winery’s Prelius series which is named after the ancient lake where Etruscans and Romans used to make salt and breed fish. Here the vines are planted on sandy clay soils on the flat bed of the ancient lake. Once in the winery the fruit destined for this youthful white wine is vinified and matured in temperature-controlled stainless steel tanks. This helps to emphasise the natural acidity and delicate aromatics of the variety. The young wine is then bottled and released after a few months. Crisp and elegant with plenty of mouthwatering freshness and notes of zingy citrus, green apple, and subtle hints of dried herbs, this makes a great aperitif or partner for seafood, salads, or creamy cheeses.
2020