I was running (well, speedwalking anyway – safety first!) through Roth’s the other day. Julie and I were well on our way to being late to an hors d’oeurves party organized in her honor and we still had yet to make any vittles or find something to drink.

So, with my priorities clearly in mind I headed toward the refrigerator case in search of a bottle of bubbles. I almost sailed right past a wine tasting in progress! (I know! Can you believe it?)

Fortunately my years of training have left me cool-headed in such situations and I dug down deep to find the wherewithal to stop for a sip. On offer was a Malbec and a something-or-other and a $7.99 Chardonnay from Snoqualmie Vineyards.

It’s a very un-Chardonnay-like Chardonnay in my experience. Extremely light oak and heavy in the apricot and peach flavors with just a hint of apple. And it smells like summer fruits and flowers. If a wine can be both light and rich then this it.

In fact, it’s more like a Viognier than a Chard – probably because its got a bit o’ Viognier blended in there. I loved it instantly. I had to buy it.

I’ve been a huge fan of certain Viogniers for a few years now. Particularly the ones like Spangler’s that have all the big warm fruit flavors that I so love. They are scrumptious, irresistible, and I am a puddle in their wake. Viognier has become my favorite un-bubbly White Wine, followed distantly by un-oaked Sauvignon Blanc. Don’t I sound discerning…

Flagrant theft of website content to follow:

“Tropical fruit aromas combined with hints of sweet oak follow through on the palate with full luscious flavors.”
- Joy Andersen, Winemake

If you’re tastes tend to lean toward the sweeter side of white winedom I encourage you to give this one a go. It’s got a lovely balance of flavors and it may help break you out of that Reisling/Gewurtztraminer rut you’ve been in…you know who you are.