Are you tired of picking up the same bottle of Chardonnay, Pinot Grigio, or Sauvignon Blanc every night. Are you looking for something a little different to wake up your palate a little, something that would be nice to drink this summer(if the sun ever decides to show its' face again). Well I have got a couple of favorite other whites to share with you.

Viognier and Chenin Blanc are definitely two of my favorite summer wines and both are also great food wines. My feeling with both of these wines is that they can both be great in the hands of a great winemaker, but usually in the hands of mediocre producers or bulk wine producers these wines can be quite awful too. Viognier has has a long tough road. In fact one legend has it getting its namesake from the Roman pronunciation of the via  Gehennae meaning the "road to hell" Probably this alludes to the difficulty of growing the grape. Once widely planted in the Northern Rhone, it dwindled to only 8 Hectares. It has since seen a little bit of growth, especially by the so-called Rhone Rangers in California. I carry two from California that I absolutely love. One is the McManis Family Vineyards and the other is Cline Cellars . Both have wonderful pear, peach and apricot flavors with Honeysuckle Flowers and nice acidity, with the McManis leaning a bit more towards the drier side.

Chenin Blanc is another grape that originated in France, this one in the Loire Valley, as the basis for Vouvray wines. With its touch of sweetness and refreshing acidity, Vouvray was always popular, though people didn't always realize that Chenin Blanc was the grape behind it. Lucky for us wine drinkers Chenin is popping up all over the world, not only in California, but also in South Africa, where some of my favorites are from. I love the dry style and minerality offered by the Vinum Chenin Blanc, the Ken Forester Petite Chenin, and the Kanu Chenins' from South Africa. I also love the fruity yet dry styles offered by the Pacific Rim Chenin and possibly the best California Chenin producers at Dry Creek Vineyards. Chenins from California offer great pear and apricot fruit flavors with hints of sweetness and refreshing acidity, and will always pair well with spicy cuisine, shell fish dishes and fruit and cheese plates.

I love both of these grapes, but like I said in the hands of a not so good producer you can get a very bad interpretation of these wines. So when you come into the stores, if you are interested in trying something different, ask for one of our wine associates and we will be more than happy to help point you in the right direction.

Remember, wine is more than grape juice and alcohol. It's about the stories behind it and the memories created with the friends you drink it with.