10/05/07 Chardonnay & Other Whites

Welcome to Vine to Wine this is your host Linda Moran. As most of you know my new favorite wine is usually the wine in my glass at the time. This week we have been talking about Chardonnay so I will tell you about some of the Chardonnay I enjoy. Although I don't normally gravitate to Chardonnay recently I am coming back to it. The new unoaked or barrel fermented rather than barrel aged Chards are wines I am really enjoying. Also look for Chardonnay blended with grapes such as Viognier, Sauvignon Blanc or Marsanne. The combinations are refreshing and something different! However, all of this talk about Chardonnay makes me tired and I start looking for other white wines that appeal to me on another level. One of those white wines is made from a grape called Pinot Blanc a nice white wine alternative to Chardonnay. Pinot Blanc is a mutation of Pinot Gris which makes it a relative to Pinot Noir. It is probably best known in the Chablis region of France where it is grown right alongside of Chardonnay. It is also grown in the Alsace of France. There they make some truly lovely dry white wines that show such delicacy and finesse that they are to me some of the best examples of what can be done with the Pinot Blanc grape. I find them to be a bargain for the wine you are getting. Pinot Blanc is better known in Italy as Pinot Bianco where it is made in a richer more buttery style. Unfortunately it seems to be viewed as a lesser grape subordinate to Chardonnay. But I am here to say that it should be viewed and tasted on it's own merit and thanks for joining me on today's Vine to Wine.