Domain des Corbillieres, Touraine Sauvignon, 2008 – France

As the mercury rises, so does our interest in juicy, thirst-quenching white wines. I’m a big proponent of equal-opportunity consumption throughout the year, but I must admit that my zeal for crisp, high-acid whites leads me around by my nose for most of July and August. For the last 5 or 6 years, driven by the big, tropical style of New Zealand bottlings, Sauvignon Blanc has been the big mover with the wine crowd. Now that the NZSB’s pricing is starting to catch up to its reputation, everybody is on the lookout forthe next SB phenomenon. Yeah, everybody but me. And you. We’re heading back to where it all started:France. Now I love the big tropical style that a bottle of NZSB brings to the table. But I can get tired of it pretty quick. For my money, I’m on the hunt for the whites from around the Loire in the north west of France. The region’s relatively cool climate helps the grapes develop some rockin’ balance. This wine sports crisp, mouth watering acidity and a hazelnut, citrus and mineral profile.

PAIRING SUGGESTIONS: Try it out with grilled scallops or a pile of baby spinach dressed with lemon vinaigrette.

Domaine Boudinaud, VdP d’Oc, “Grange des Rouquette” 2006

The complexity and character of this wine bear testament to two things: 1: Thierry Boudinaud is a gifted winemaker (keep an eye on him). 2: When you want huge bang-for-the-buck, reach for the Rhône! Nestled in a little town at the halfway point between Nîmes and Avignon in southern France, this little Domaine cranks out gorgeous, elegant Rhône-style whites. The Marsanne and Viognier blend is a classic in the region. The combination gives us a rich wine with honey, peach, lemonade and rosemary aromatics on the nose and in the mouth. The wine has a beautiful streak of acidity running right down the middle. The acid and texture combination makes this wine an ideal partner for richly textured, fatty foods.

PAIRING SUGGESTIONS: A plate of creamy cheese (Vermont Butter & Cheese Bonne Bouche, for example), a hunk of baguette, and a bottle of Granges des Roquette… I think I just figured out what I’m doing tonight.