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Though white wine is no longer the sipping equivalent of white pants—only socially acceptable between Memorial Day and Labor Day—hot weather nevertheless demands something chilled and refreshing. For that, white wine proves qualified for the job. Where to start? Though Chardonnay remains popular, America’s growing curiosity for wine means the market for interesting grapes and styles has never been better.
From Portugal, Spain, Italy and Germany to the West Coast states of the U.S., here are seven white wines under $50 to try this summer.
Redoma Branco Niepoort 2017 ($27)
Portuguese wines are a booming category. The explosion in tourism helped unveil its wealth of unusual, indigenous grapes to the world. Niepoort is one of the best producers of not just port but the new breed of dry, still table wines. This white, made from hard-to-pronounce varieties Rabigato, Codega, Viosinho, and Arinto, comes from vineyards in the prime Cima Corgo zone in the Douro’s Pinhao valley. Slate soils and high elevation lend minerality and freshness in a region known for rich, dense reds.
Chablis Terroir Coteau de Fontenay Piuze 2017 ($30)
Chablis delivers the perfect summer white wine drinking experience. This cooler, northern region of Burgundy produces taut, crisp wines from Chardonnay. Chablis also offers incredible value from a region known for sky-high prices. For a great price, this Coteau de Fontenay expresses the typicity of Chablis, showing tension and minerality woven through with flavors of apple, lemon and pear.
Riesling Brauneberger Juffer Sonnenuhr Auslese Fritz Haag 2017 ($43)
From German Riesling master Fritz Haag, this Mosel Valley auslese impresses. Meaning “selected harvest,” auslese on a label indicates grapes were picked a bit later lending them more ripeness. The result: a wine with a touch of sweetness conveying succulent tropical fruits balanced against a bright, mineral-flecked filigree typical of the region.
Barón de Barbón Albariño 2017 ($19)
If your summer go-to wine is sauvignon blanc, appealing for its tart bright flavors and high acidity, go with Albariño. This white wine from the cool, rainy stretch of northern Spain known as Galicia, is the country’s answer to Savvy B. Specifically grown in Rias Baixas, Albariño comes loaded with mouthwatering citrus fruits and white flowers. This bottle from Barón de Barbón pairs gentle richness to a taut profile, all for less than $20.
CADE Sauvignon Blanc Napa Valley 2018 ($32)
Though sauvignon blanc originated in France, California’s Napa Valley has become a fierce competitor within the category. The region’s warmer climate, better known for cabernet sauvignon, produces sauvignon blancs that are fuller-bodied, higher in alcohol wines, brimming with grapefruit and tropical fruits. Cade’s version captures this phenomenon with its pineapple and yellow peach flavors tinged with fresh flowers.
Drouhin Chardonnay Roserock Eola-Amity Hills 2016 ($33)
The Drouhin family of Burgundy invested in Oregon decades ago. Their bet on the then unproven state as a New World counterpart to their homeland for fine pinot noir and chardonnay, paid off. This is evidenced by the family’s world-class red and white wines. Drouhin made another great investment: picking up Roserock vineyard in Eola-Amity Hills for chardonnay. The 2016 white, rich with apple, spice and pear, shows breadth and brightness, polish and poise.
Villa Farnia di Farnese Pecorino 2017 ($17)
Italian white wines can be confusing. The country produces hundreds of indigenous grapes and exports dozens. Learning a few key varieties helps cut through the noise. Specifically, Pecorino, not to be confused with the popular cheese, produces lively citrus- and mineral-soaked wines that are both delicious and easy on the wallet. Floral notes of jasmine and acacia with an undertone of licorice show up in this well-priced bottle by Villa Farnia di Farnese.
