Five Affordable Wines for Your Summertime Blues

Five Affordable Wines for Your Summertime Blues

Summer Wine That Won’t Break Your Budget

There is no denying it, this summer is BRUTALLY hot. We are in the midst of daily 100+ temperatures here in Dallas, and it will not be cooling off anytime soon. What to do in the meantime? Hunker down in an air-conditioned space and enjoy a lighter libation to cool you down! Here are five affordable and tasty wines from around the world to keep you happy and cool this summer.

Domaine du Petit Clocher Anjou Blanc

I dig Chenin Blanc. I have no problem saying that. This white grape is so versatile. You will be able to find it as a bright, dry wine or as a lush sparkler. Looking for a little more fruit? Chenin Blanc comes in an off-dry style. Looking for something decadent? The grape produces downright “nectar of the gods” sweet wines. The most notable wine production areas are in South Africa, America, Argentina, and France. Chenin Blanc grows throughout the Loire Valley of France in a variety of styles. This offering from Domaine du Petit Clocher may be my favorite white this summer. It is bright and lean, with heady aromatics of musky white floral and ripe apricot. The palate shows tart green pear and stone fruit notes of nectarine and yellow peach. It is acceptable to enjoy this summer wine on its own, but it is very food friendly. I would pair it with Chinese take-out, a ham and gruyere quiche, or a savory goat cheese tart.

Fleur Vermentino

If you like light white wines, but tire of the usual suspects, do I have a wine for you! Allow me to introduce you to Vermentino, an underrated and under appreciated white grape. Vermentino grows throughout Italy. This white grape also shows signs of great promise in California and even in my home state of Texas. So, what is Vermentino like? Think of Sauvignon Blanc…but more complex. Yes, the grape usually produces a light, crisp wine, but that does not mean that it lacks a bit of oomph. You will find a lush palate, with bright citrus fruit acidity, nuttiness, and fresh fruit notes. This Fleur Vermentino comes from the Las Brisas Vineyard in Carneros. Carneros is the coolest area of Napa, tempered by San Pablo Bay, making it a perfect region for focusing on white grape varietals. This beauty has crisp lemon acidity, tart green apple, Tuscan melon, and minerality. Pair this with pan-fried rainbow trout, grilled Italian pork sausage, and burrata cheese.

Jermann Pinot Grigio

Now we go from an underrated varietal to a (perceived) overrated varietal, Pinot Grigio. Look, I’m the first one to admit, there is some bad…very bad Pinot Grigio out there. This white grape is drunk by plenty of people, but it doesn’t excite many, especially wine geeks like me. While an Italian mainstay, Pinot Grigio is grown in most wine regions around the world. I love offerings from France, the New Zealand, and Oregon. Yet, Italy is where it is best known, and some areas and producers take this grape to another level. That is why I recommend Jermann Pinot Grigio. I promise you, this will not taste like the everyday varietal you usually drink. It is bright, forceful, and complex. It is creamy and spicy. It shows exotic notes of rose petal and vanilla bean. To be frank, it’s freaking delicious. Take my word for it, this wine will change your mind about this maligned varietal. Pair with seafood, creamy pasta, and mountain cheeses from Italy Switzerland.

Les Copains d’Abord Gamay Le Premier Soir

Finally, a red summer wine!!! You’ve been waiting with diligence to get here so I won’t mince words. Gamay is your new favorite grape. The majority of wine drinkers overlook this varietal. This is criminal! Those “in the know” adore this grape and sing its praises to the heavens. Why will you love it? You like Pinot Noir. This is Pinot’s little brother. You like wines with fruit. This grape shows a lot of juicy red fruit notes. You like affordable wines. Most Gamay-based wines are under $20, many under $15. My favorite thing about Gamay? It shows best with a slight chill, making it a refreshing summertime red. You can find Gamay based wines from California, Oregon, Canada, and New Zealand. But the Beaujolais region France is its birthplace and where you will find a variety of styles. I implore you to sample from all the different appellations in this region. This offering is dry and fruit-forward. It shows cherry, raspberry, and dried cranberry notes. The fruit has an earthy, almost soil-like darkness and perfumed floral notes. Think simple fare when pairing food with a Gamay wine. I like pairing this with herb-roasted chicken, ratatouille, or a nice, ripe brie.

Giroflé Douro Tinto

This is the biggest wine on our list and is from one of my favorite countries to find an affordable wine, Portugal. Portugal is famous for Port, the sweet dessert wine that has pleased generations. But this country does make quality dry red and white wines, many at very affordable prices under $20. This is a traditional blend of Touriga Nacional, Tinta Roriz, and Tinta Barroca. The combination makes for a juicy, rich red with lots of flavors. There are fruit notes of black cherries, blackberries, and plums. This rich fruitiness fades into earthy notes of cigar tobacco, cocoa, and rich tannins. This is a wine that I will pair with a nice grilled New York strip, Texas-style BBQ, or an aged cheddar.

There you go, five affordable summer wines to beat the heat . Whether you favor white wines or red, or a fan of both, you will be quite happy with all these fantastic gems. Enjoy!

More Wine

Thanksgiving Wines for Everyone at the Table

Let’s face it; Thanksgiving is a lot of work. Between the shopping, getting the house in order, and doing the cooking, you need all the help you can get. When you think you have it all under control, you forget one thing: the wine. Lucky for you, choosing the right...

read more

Wine Books for Everyone

I love to read. I love going to bookstores and libraries. When we travel, especially overseas, Tracy and I always look to find food and wine books not available to us here in the states. It is our addiction, and we love it! In my wine journey, I have read many books....

read more

Five Affordable Wines for Your Summertime Blues

Summer Wine That Won't Break Your Budget There is no denying it, this summer is BRUTALLY hot. We are in the midst of daily 100+ temperatures here in Dallas, and it will not be cooling off anytime soon. What to do in the meantime? Hunker down in an air-conditioned...

read more
I Should Have Eaten More Foie Gras

I Should Have Eaten More Foie Gras

You Gotta Plan Your Pintxos, But Be Ready to Change the Plan

When it comes to getting ready for a trip, I’m the planner. I like to know where I am going, how to get there, what sites should be seen or missed, where we should eat, etc. Don’t get me wrong, I am not meticulous about having everything planned out to the minute, but I do like to have an outline for the trip. I read travel books, check out online resources, and maybe some of my favorite travel shows have visited the area. However, lately, I have found that I tend to throw all of that planning out once we have our feet on the ground. There is something about being immersed in the area you are visiting that can change what you want out of it, and sometimes a local can help you with that change. This is how we found some of the best pintxos in San Sebastian, Spain.

La Parte Vieja

We rented a small apartment in the Historical Quarter of Old Town (La Parte Vieja) for our stay in San Sebastian. This area is rich in history, with cobbled streets, a fishing port, San Vincente Church, Santa Maria del Coro Basilica, and the San Telmo Museum. The streets are narrow and ancient. There are bars and restaurants crowded along each narrow street. These eateries are not competing against one another, per se. They are all part of a symbiosis of aromas and tastes. This is the gastronomic heart of San Sebastian.

Three Simple Rules for Your Best Pintxo Experience

Our hostess Monika took the time to map out some sights, and more importantly, mapped out the best pintxos bars to go to. These are the local’s bars. A place where you can see the same faces every day, stopping in for a bite and a beer at all times of the day. Most importantly, she laid out some hard and fast rules for a novice like me:

  1. Don’t be timid. Step up to the bar and look the bartender in the eye to order a drink or something to eat. The bar you are in may be very crowded. Be polite, but be forceful. Fortune favors the brave.
  2. Don’t just go for what’s on the bar. There will be a lot of options on the bar area. Most of these are cold pintxos and tapas. While good, they may not be the best the bar may offer. Take the time to look around at what others are eating. You may find what they are having is not set out. Look at the menu for other options. This is usually written on the wall behind the bartenders, if not on paper menus.
  3. Don’t worry about keeping track of what you eat. You are dealing with professionals here. The bartenders will keep track. Just be sure that if you do grab something off of the bar placements, look the bartender in the eye and show him what you got.

With those three simple rules, we were off to explore. Here are some of our favorite pintxos bars and what they serve best.

Bar Sport Calle Fermin Calbeton, 10

They had me at foie gras. I love foie gras. I don’t get enough here in Texas because it is insanely expensive and usually only bougie places serve it. But in Spain, it is not seen as a delicacy for only the ritzy fare. Our simple foie gras dish was a piece of toasted bread, two thick slices of seared foie gras, and a drizzle of aged sherry vinegar. Quite simply, this was one of the best things I’ve ever eaten in my life. The cost? Three euros. Cheaper than a cheeseburger, but so much better.

La Mejillonera Calle del Puerto, 15

This small eatery showcases two food items very well: mussels and patatas bravas. La Mejillonera is not a fancy place. Basically, a box with a whole lot of locals shoved in to get a plate of mussels and the ubiquitous dish of fried potatoes covered in an aioli-like cream sauce. You will find that the locals throw the mussel shells on the floor. This is totally acceptable. This a cheap and well-loved bar for the local scene to enjoy.

Bar Txepetxa Calle Pescaderia, 5

I will speak for the majority of America in saying that we do not appreciate the lowly anchovy. After all, we really only know this tiny fish as something pulled from a can and usually plopped on a pizza by only those with the fortitude to withstand its intense flavor profile. But at Txepetxa, the anchovies are fresh and taste of the sea. Served in a variety of ways from simple pintxos on bread with a pepper sauce, to hot dishes fried with local veggies. My favorite is the simple pintxo. The anchovy is flaky white, briny, and nothing like what I have had before.

La Cuchara de San Telmo Calle Santa Korda Kalea, 4

This bar is a hidden gem tucked away by an alley to the museum, but it has some of the best food around. It is tiny and packed from the time they open, so push your way in and order! You will not find pintxos spread out on the bar so grab a menu. We shared a 45-day-aged ribeye, perfectly charred and tender and served with a chimichurri type sauce. We paired it with a risotto style rice dish with local wild mushrooms and smoked Idiazabal cheese. Once again foie gras was available, this time served in a massive portion with an apple compote and cider caramel. By the time I finished off this plate, I was sure I had gout.

La Vina Calle del 31 de Agosto, 3

A perfect way to end a night in San Sebastian is to stop in at La Vina for their specialty, cheesecake. Spanish cheesecakes are different from the New York style I am used to. The cake itself is very toasty, almost charred on top. It is served warm, and the texture is more of a soft cheese tension than cold firmness. Grab a slice with a nice Pedro Ximenez sherry to top of the evening.

Have you been to San Sebastian or other parts of Spain? What are some of your favorite places to eat? Drop us a line and let us know!

More Travel

Tapas, Pintxos: Spanish Small Plates

Tapas is Synonymous with Spanish Food I bet you automatically think "tapas" when you think of Spanish food. Here in the U.S., we have come to think of tapas as the whole category of small plates of food from Spain. Sometimes they don't even need to be Spanish....

read more

Camino De Santiago

Discovering the Camino I first heard about the Camino De Santiago from a pair of friends that walked a part of it years ago. At the time, I barely registered what they had done and why. Mostly I was just in awe of their adventure. Then, more recently, I was reminded...

read more

I Should Have Eaten More Foie Gras

You Gotta Plan Your Pintxos, But Be Ready to Change the Plan When it comes to getting ready for a trip, I'm the planner. I like to know where I am going, how to get there, what sites should be seen or missed, where we should eat, etc. Don't get me wrong, I am not...

read more
Lambrusco: It’s Not What You Think It Is

Lambrusco: It’s Not What You Think It Is

You are Wrong About Lambrusco

It’s hard to admit when you are wrong. It’s okay, everyone has this problem. Five years ago you would not think of drinking pink wine, assuming it was too cheap, too sweet or a grandma drink, but now you’re swilling rosé like a flapper at a Gatsby party. If five-years-ago you saw the today you loading a basket full of pink wine, I’m sure the former would think the latter had gone entirely off the cliff. But here’s the thing, your tastes grow, and if you are willing to try new things, you may find that what you thought was “awful,” is actually damn good. Today I am going to use your love of rosé as a bridge to another woefully maligned wine, Lambrusco.

Lambrusco is Dry, Bubbly and Delicious!

Before you roll your eyes or shake your head, just hear me out. Yes, you may know Lambrusco as a cheap “soda pop sweet” jug wine from one of your more youthful endeavors into the world of wine. But classic Lambrusco, mostly made in the Emilia-Romagna region of Italy, is nothing like the jug wines of our youth. These Lambruscos are made dry or slightly off-dry with a semi-sparkling, frizzante style in a range of colors and flavor profiles depending on what grapes are used. There are eight related varieties of Lambrusco, but the better wines are made from four of those varietals: Lambrusco Sorbara, Lambrusco Maestri, Lambrusco Grasparossa, and Lambrusco Salamino.

Cantina Della Volta Rimosso

Our wine today is from one of my favorite Lambrusco producers, Cantina Della Volta Their “Rimosso” Lambrusco is made with the Lambrusco Sorbara varietal, the grape that gives the lightest, most perfumed rosé colored wine in this style. You will find notes of raspberries, cherries, and strawberries, mixed with floral notes on the nose. Because these Lambruscos are produced in the same style as the sparkling wines of Champagne, you will find toast, baking spice, and yeast notes as well. These notes are more pronounced as there is no disgorgement stage as with Champagne, leaving all that lees-y funk in the bottle for us to enjoy.

The Best Part!

The best part of drinking quality Lambrusco? The price! You can find many offerings for under $20. They also make a fantastic food pairing with all types of foods. Some of my favorite pairings are with smoked brisket, Korean fried chicken, the classic pairing of prosciutto and Parmigiano-Reggiano.

Enjoy!

More Wine

Thanksgiving Wines for Everyone at the Table

Let’s face it; Thanksgiving is a lot of work. Between the shopping, getting the house in order, and doing the cooking, you need all the help you can get. When you think you have it all under control, you forget one thing: the wine. Lucky for you, choosing the right...

read more

Wine Books for Everyone

I love to read. I love going to bookstores and libraries. When we travel, especially overseas, Tracy and I always look to find food and wine books not available to us here in the states. It is our addiction, and we love it! In my wine journey, I have read many books....

read more

Five Affordable Wines for Your Summertime Blues

Summer Wine That Won't Break Your Budget There is no denying it, this summer is BRUTALLY hot. We are in the midst of daily 100+ temperatures here in Dallas, and it will not be cooling off anytime soon. What to do in the meantime? Hunker down in an air-conditioned...

read more
Anthony Bourdain: Requiem

Anthony Bourdain: Requiem

Heroes

When I was a kid, my hero was Andy Taylor, the character played by the actor Andy Griffith on his eponymous television show from the 1960’s. Growing up a child of divorce, I took my male role models where I could find them, even from television.

In my teenage years, my hero was Minnesota Twins centerfielder Kirby Puckett. Kirby was a fireplug of a player, standing 5’8” and a sporting a body frame best described as “stout.” Being short and chubby myself, it was only natural to latch onto a guy with a similar build. Good thing Kirby was a helluva player, too.

In my twenties, I had no heroes. We will get to that in a moment.

It was in my thirties that I found Anthony Bourdain. I was hooked from the first time I saw him in 2005 on his travel show, No Reservations. That first episode he took us to Paris to explore the catacombs, drink Absinthe, and showed us the behind the scenes of the early morning markets that restaurants order from. I could tell that his show wasn’t ordinary.

Anthony Bourdain became my hero. And now my hero is dead. Tony took his own life this week. No one saw it coming.

Tony was New York cool, someone who might say “fuck you” as a dire warning or as a playful rib, depending on the circumstance.  He had a swagger about him. Tony had a grungy backstory that he told in his writings, starting with his book “Kitchen Confidential.” His writing had character. He was a character.

Anthony Bourdain, Chef, Traveler, Advocate

Tony was a chef, so he knew good food when he sat at a table. It didn’t matter if that table was at a Michelin starred restaurant in France, or a rickety card table on a sidewalk in Thailand. He was equally at home with renowned chefs like Paul Bocuse and Ferran Adriá in their restaurants as he was with a local guide’s grandmother in her kitchen. He knew the value that food plays in our lives and wanted to show us how much we should respect it.

Tony was an explorer, not a tourist. He would bypass the normal tourist destinations and show you a back street or remote area. Tony showed you the people in those areas. He sat down and asked questions, sometimes tough questions about politics, race, class, sex, gender, and life. Tony was listening and learning everywhere he went, and through him, I was learning and yearning to travel myself.

Tony had a voice. He used that voice to speak up for and shine a light on others that were misused, mistreated, maligned, and forgotten. He famously spoke out on Palestinian oppression. He viewed the tourist trade in some countries as another form of colonialism. He railed against systems and preconceived notions, stereotypes and hatred. Tony wanted you to see the world for what it is, both good and bad, and hoping that by showing every side, the parts that bothered him the most could change. Those things should change.

On Depression and Suicide

Earlier this week, I wrote a post on Instagram about suicide. I don’t really know why I wrote it. Fashion designer Kate Spade had just taken her own life. I knew nothing about her other than my wife owned a couple of bags that she produced. I knew her name and that was about it. But something was bothering me this week. It was gnawing on my insides. I wrote about my history with depression and anxiety, my close call with death, and the fears I still have of taking my own life. I guess I hoped that someone may see the post and take a minute to think about themselves or about a loved one who may need help.

Twenty-four hours after I made that post, Tony took his own life in a luxury hotel in France. He was filming for the next season of his current series, Parts Unknown. He was on the shoot with his best friend, Eric Ripert. All the reports since Tony’s death are about how good of a mood he was in and how much fun he was having on this shoot with his friend. Tony showed no outward signs of what he would ultimately do this week. No one saw it coming.

Suicide is the end to a lengthy illness for many people. Make no mistake, depression is an illness. It is no different from diabetes or cancer. Yet it is still stigmatized and mental health care in America is almost an afterthought: hard to get any type of treatment, it is expensive, medication costs are astronomical, and most insurance companies do not like to cover those costs. This is from my own personal history. I’ve been fighting against my own depression and anxiety since I was a teenager. That is thirty years of fighting. I am still here.

In my teenage years, I didn’t know what was happening. I had moods. In social situations, my stomach would go haywire on me. I was quiet. I didn’t talk much. I was sullen. Some of these things I could see myself. Some things other people saw. The advice I received most? “Snap out of it!”

I mentioned earlier that in my twenties I had no heroes. My twenties were a dark time. I don’t remember a lot of that time, which is odd since my wife will tell you that I rarely forget anything. But it was such a dark time that I guess my brain does not want to keep some things alive in my memory. Maybe it is for the best. It was during these years I was diagnosed, misdiagnosed, counseled, and medicated. I also self-medicated. I was in a dark and lonely place.

I tried to take my life when I was twenty-seven. The events that led up to this were not the reason why I tried. Those events were the symptoms of my illness. It was the depression that caused it. I woke up in a hospital with a raw, hoarse throat and a sick feeling. I didn’t know how I got there, but somehow, I reached out for help during this ordeal. I was asked by a police officer if I still felt like harming myself. I said no. I was discharged and sent on my way. Back to that dark and lonely place. That’s how much we value mental health.

On Survival

It has been eighteen years since that night, but it is still in my mind, in a corner, waiting. I could say that I have a greater control of my depression and anxiety today. I was able to find a medication that works for me and I am lucky enough to pay for it. But what control I do have, may be fleeting. I still have moods. I have ruined relationships due to my illness. It has affected me in ways that I cannot explain thoroughly. Yet, through this, I have found love and my life has become better. It’s not perfect. Life is not perfect. I just have to hang on, even when that dark thought sits in a corner in my mind, waiting.

This is selfish, but I wish Tony could have seen my Instagram post on the day before he took his life. I wish he could see how much he was loved and how many people were inspired by him. How his love of food, people, and cultures was shared with multitudes and made the world better. How his family, close friends, and colleagues will now have a hole in their lives where he should be. But no matter how much Tony was loved, he couldn’t see it from the depths of despair he was in. And that is the sad part of this story.

Life goes on. I don’t know if I will have another hero to fill Tony’s void. I do know this: thanks to Tony, I will travel, I will eat, I will meet new people, and I will experience new cultures. It’s what he wanted us to do. It is what I will do.

If you or someone you know is struggling with thoughts of suicide, depression, anxiety, substance abuse or mental illness there is help.

National Suicide Prevention Lifeline: No matter what problems you are dealing with, we want to help you find a reason to keep living. By calling 1-800-273-TALK (8255) you’ll be connected to a skilled, trained counselor at a crisis center in your area, anytime 24/7. suicidepreventionlifeline.org

National Alliance on Mental Illness: NAMI, the National Alliance on Mental Illness, is the nation’s largest grassroots mental health organization dedicated to building better lives for the millions of Americans affected by mental illness. nami.org

Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration: The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) is the agency within the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services that leads public health efforts to advance the behavioral health of the nation. SAMHSA’s mission is to reduce the impact of substance abuse and mental illness on America’s communities. samhsa.gov

Pin It on Pinterest