When it comes to entertaining this holiday season, the more interesting your table, the more interesting your dinner will be. That’s why the libations you serve are just as important as the food. Wine can be a fun way to perk up the conversation while reminiscing over past travels, your favorite wine regions or the places you want to visit in the new year. These are some of our favorite white wines to add to your table.
2020- La Pettegola Vermentino, Maremma, Tuscany
This straw yellow wine from Tuscany has notes of peach, orange, sage and flowers. After a soft pressing, the grapes are aged in stainless steel tanks for three months to create a delicious, full-bodied Vermentino that works well with salads, seafood, salty appetizers and pasta. It is imported by Banfi, which is the only U.S. importer of the Mariani family’s Italian wine estates. The wine (13% ABV) retails for $18.99.
Halter Ranch 2022 Grenache Blanc, Paso Robles, California
From the organic estate of Halter Ranch in California’s Central Coast, this part-fruity, part-floral wine is a blend of 92% Grenache Blanc, 5% Picpoul Blanc and 2% Viognier grapes. After being aged for ten months in French oak, the resulting taste is that of pear, guava and apple with a mineral finish. This $45 bottle (13.1% ABV) goes well with pasta, appetizers like salty snacks and cheese, oysters and seafood.
Sonoma-Cutrer The Cutrer Vineyard Chardonnay 2021
This Sonoma County-based, female-led wine maker produces this fine Chardonnay (14.1% ABV) with a careful balance of caramel, brown sugar, praline, apple and pear notes. It goes ideally with salads, pastas and seafood. A lovely creamy finish lingers on the palate. This bottle retails for $36.
Donnafugata Sul Vulcano – Etna Bianco DOC 2021
North of Mt. Etna on the eastern part of Sicily, the 100% Carricante grapes lead to a unique wine. It has a mineral start on the palate before revealing subtle notes of honey, citrus and even hay. The rich soil of the vineyards creates a complex white wine from one of the most talked-about destinations of 2023, thanks to “White Lotus.” This 12.22% ABV wine retails for $40.
Lifevine 2021 Chardonnay, Zero Sugar, California
This zero-sugar wine is ideal for those that want to cut their sugar intake while still enjoying a glsas of wine. This subtle 14.5% ABV Chardonnay is pesticide free. Its complex fruity and mineral-like flavor pairs well with appetizers, cheese plates, pasta and salads. It has around 130 calories per glass. The lack of sugar makes it easier to drink with less of a hangover, too.
