08 Aug Summertime in a glass – Pine Ridge Chenin Blanc Viognier
We’ll get to the wine in a moment.
But first, a question: do you have any idea
how the expression the dog days of summer originated?
Historians say the phrase dates back to the Romans
who kept track of the seasons by looking up into the sky.
Sirius…the star, not the audio service…was known as the “dog star”.
When Sirius would appear in the sky near the end of July,
this marked the beginning of the very hottest days of the year.
The Romans referred to this period as “days of the dog star”
which was eventually translated as just “dog days”.
Much has changed over the centuries.
But the dog days have not.
It’s August.
It’s hot.
And we need help cooling off.
It’s Wine Thursday!, our regular feature that
highlights a good wine that sells at a good price
and is easy to find at retail and online.
Here’s a recommendation to help you get through the dog days.
It’s a unique white blend thats light, bright and refreshing.
Where it’s from
Pine Ridge Winery is set in the heart of the iconic Stags Leap District
on the Silverado Trail in Napa. But the grapes for this wine
are sourced from vineyards near Clarksburg and Lodi
in the Sacramento River Delta.
What it is
After recommending (and enjoying) this wine for years,
I’ve yet to understand while more winemakers
don’t combine these grapes.
The Chenin Blanc is crisp, tart and acidic.
The Viognier provides a slightly-sweet fruit flavor.
Put them together and they form a perfect marriage.
This blend is juicy, balanced and clean…summertime in a glass.
Chilled well, this wine won’t last long on a hot day.
A better-than-average value, this would be a good bulk buy
for warm-weather outdoor entertaining.
Where to buy it
Total Wine has Pine Ridge Chenin Blanc/Viognier for $10.97.
It’s at Trader Joe’s for $12.99. The price at Vons is $13.32.
Target has it for $13.99. It’s on the shelf at Fred Meyer for $14.99.
It’s at Ralphs for $15.70. The price at QFC is $15.99.
Albertsons has it for $16.99. It’s at Safeway for $17.99.
You can order the Pine Ridge white blend from
Woods Wholesale for $10.94
https://www.woodswholesalewine.com
Empire Wine lists it for $10.95
The price at Saratoga Wine Exchange is $11.91
PJ Wine has it for $11.97