Drawing A Blanc Isn’T A Bad Idea

This was supposed to be the annual it’s-getting-warm-out roundup of wines suitable for sipping outside.

Some people call them picnic wines, others call them deck wines. Whatever you want to call them, this category of wine is getting harder to nail down.

I realized when I started doing research that there is no such thing as the ultimate warm-weather wine. Suggesting that riesling is the only way to go is like saying steaks are the sole food worthy of space on your Weber.

Generally, this time of year folks gravitate toward lighter, fruitier whites because 1.) they taste so good served icy cold and 2.) they match up nicely with the lighter seasonal fare grilled meats and the meal-size salads. Plus, if you spill, white wine stains are much easier to remove from your summer wardrobe.

That said, here are a few suggestions for wines to enjoy while you’re sitting on your deck, your patio or under the old oak tree.

Sauvignon blanc has mellowed out over the past few years. If you’ve tried a glass of this varietal that tasted like grass clippings, it’s time to give it another shot.

I have some friends who are red wine snobs, who won’t even consider sullying their palate with whites because, they say, whites taste too sweet.

Well, sauvignon blanc might be the antidote to that elitist attitude.

Most are fermented bone dry, giving them a clean, sharp quality. That makes them a fine complement to pasta salads, grilled chicken and seafood.

Some vintners tame the herbal, grassy character that naturally occurs in the grape by giving the wine a little time in oak barrels. This rounds those sharp edges and adds a touch of richness that you taste in most chardonnays.

A few of my favorite Washington sauvignon blancs (also known as fume blanc) come from Arbor Crest, Chateau Ste. Michelle (look for the bottling from the Horse Heaven vineyard), Hogue Cellars, Facelli, Waterbrook, Barnard Griffin and Caterina. From California, Ferrari-Carano makes a wonderfully mellow, wood-aged fume and the consistently impressive Dry Creek Vineyard produces a lean, bright fume blanc. But if I spot Duckhorn’s sauvignon blanc on a restaurant wine list, that’s the direction I’m headed. It’s a great food wine.

When I’m in the mood for something sweet and ice-cold, there are shelves full of options.

I used to drink German rieslings until they got too expensive. Happily, affordable Northwest rieslings continue to improve. The best are a great balancing act, with lush fruit backed up by tart acidity. They taste like the best cold, crisp apple you’ve ever eaten.

Among the region’s top riesling makers are Columbia (the Cellarmaster’s Reserve is incredible and inexpensive at under $6), Washington Hills, Argyle from Oregon (the dry reserve) and Columbia Crest.

And for you red wine diehards, there’s nothing like a good cabernet to go with that steak on the barbie. Go get something out of the cellar and never mind the weather.

Here’s looking at you, kid

A good toast can be like poetry - a heartfelt bunch of words that makes a special occasion even more memorable.

With wedding season upon us, the makers of Korbel champagne have once again opened their toasting hotline at 1-800-756-7235. Until July, members of prospective wedding parties can phone in and listen to hints for making that special speech.

Here are a few snippets:

Avoid cliches such as “Down the hatch!” or “Here’s to ya!”

Don’t share private jokes guests won’t understand or appreciate.

Don’t include sentiments so sensitive that you find yourself choking back tears.

Of course, there are also suggestions on just how much champagne to purchase (lots!) and which brand to buy (guess who?).

However, this is where I’m going to make a plug for serving Spokane’s own Mountain Dome at your wedding party.

This local bubbly is world-class stuff, elegant and pleasantly effervescent. At the recent Taste Washington event in Seattle, I couldn’t help but beam with hometown pride when I overheard some glowing comments about what was being poured at the Mountain Dome table.

So, here’s to them! Through the lips and over the gums. …

Road trip

If you’re hitting the highway this summer and find yourself in Oregon, check out the new Food and Wine Center in Dundee, southwest of Portland.

This is the heart of the Oregon wine country in the pretty Willamette Valley. The 7,000-square-foot facility, built by winemaking pioneer Dick Ponzi, features a tasting room and a gift shop with foods and handcrafted items from throughout the Northwest. The inventory ranges from marionberry preserves to log tables from Montana.

In the tasting room, wines from throughout the state will be poured. Microbrews and Italian coffee also are available, and a restaurant is set to open sometime this summer.

The Dundee Food and Wine Center, located on Highway 99-W (110 SW Seventh St.), is open daily from 10 a.m. until 6 p.m. For additional information, call (503) 554-1500.

Tasty tastings

The Tri-Cities wineries hold their annual barrel-tasting event June 6 and 7. Participating wineries include Badger Mountain, Bookwalter, Columbia Crest, Gordon Brothers, Hedges Cellars, Hogue, Preston, Kiona and Seth Ryan. For details, call (509) 588-6716.

And the Spokane Advertising Federation hosts its annual Grape and Grain wine and beer tasting June 12 at 7 p.m. at An Affair at the Falls (the former Salty’s).

More than 20 wines and 10 microbrews will be poured. Appetizers will be available, and there will be an auction. Tickets are $20 and can be purchased by calling 326-8818.