Robb Walsh has been busy interviewing local experts on their favorite wines for his newest recurring column, “Five Wines That Will Blow Your Mind,” which first appeared in the Houston Press Menu of Menus guide. Look for it in the paper and on HouStoned. For this installment, he offers up his own picks.
The European white wine revolution is inspiring both American wine drinkers and American winemakers to get over their Chardonnays and start experimenting with something new. Try some these and you’ll see what we mean.
Under $15: Esporao Reserva Branco, Alentejo, Portugal The white wine deal of the year. An innovative blend of several obscure Portuguese grapes.
$14 (retail) at Cova Hand Selected Wines
Under $30: Luna Miel Albariño, Rías Baixas, Spain Albariño is often compared to Riesling. This is the trendy white of the moment.
$24 at Max’s Wine Dive
Under $60: Jermann, Pinot grigio, Friuli-Venezia Giulia, Italy Taste this intense vibrant white and you will never think of Pinot grigio the same way again.
$58 (retail) at DaMarco
Under $120: Jermann, Vintage Tunina, Friuli-Venezia Giulia, Italy My “open sesame” wine — an ethereal “super-Friuli” made with a blend of Chardonnay and Italian varietals.
$90 at DaMarco
Unlimited: Josko Gravner Ribolla Gialla, Friuli-Venezia Giulia, Italy Gravner may be off his rocker, but Ribolla is an astonishing white wine grape, and Houston Italian wine experts agree this is the best bottle of Ribolla out there. I can’t afford it, so let me know if your mind was blown.
$132 at Catalan
This article appears in Apr 5-11, 2007.
