Summer is over, but if you’re anything like me, you’re still holding on to it as much as possible—even if it’s just through what you’re drinking! This bottle is fresh, fruity, and has everything I need to be taken back to those long hot days when you could sit outside with a cold, crisp glass of wine! Hailing from the tip of the southern island in New Zealand, this wine is the perfect expression of a straightforward, no-fuss Sauvignon Blanc that you’ll want to sip on for days and days… perhaps even into the winter months. 100% Sauvignon Blanc in the bottle, and you get everything you want and desire. Fresh, juicy tropical fruit notes of mango and passion fruit, along with pronounced stone fruit flavors of peach, all take their turn showing up on your palate. The signs of a well-balanced and carefully crafted wine! Laced with just a hint of that signature bell pepper, the real beauty lies in the long finish this wine offers, which is helped in part by the refreshing acidity it contains. Typically, I always provide food pairings at the end of my write-ups, but honestly, just enjoy this one by itself—you’ll thank me later! ¡Salud!

While I’m sure many of you have travel plans this summer, perhaps I can interest you in adding one more excursion to your list. How about France, southeast border, right along the coast of the Mediterranean Sea…sounds good, doesn’t it?! What if I told you that excursion was right here, at Surdyk’s, in this very bottle! Coming from one of the largest regions in France, Languedoc-Roussillon, this bottle contains a varietal that spends its days basking on a sun-drenched hillside by the Mediterranean Ocean, and it shows. Made from 100% Picpoul de Pinet, this wine is perfect for those who are Sauvignon Blanc or Pinot Grigio fans or just want to expand their summer wine rotation with something lively and refreshing. Picpoul has been compared to everything from Alberiño to Pinot Grigio, but it truly stands out as its own unique refreshing white wine. Pronounced notes of grapefruit, orange peel, and white peach coat the palate, with a refreshing and crisp burst of acidity that tingles the tongue with every sip. Which makes total sense, as the name “Picpoul” translates directly to “stings the lip”, referring to its acidity. A hint of wet stone adds a subtle bit of salinity that almost feels like it’s taking you back to the French coastal hillsides. Because of the mouthwatering acidity, this wine can easily pair with any seafood or shellfish dish or be the perfect complement to a summer picnic or a nice relaxing day at the beach.  ¡Salud!

Research has shown 80-85% of consumers purchase wine based solely on the label alone. Truly, there’s nothing wrong with that. In fact, the label was my sole reason for even trying this wine. Approaching wine based on the label can either be disappointing or very rewarding… thankfully, this one was quite rewarding! This Montepulciano from southern Australia (yes, Australia, not Italy) is just as unique and expressive a wine as the hand drawn cartoon is on the label. This organically grown, minimal intervention wine is not only a beautiful declaration of southern Australian terroir, but also a charming homage to the Italian native roots of Montepulciano. The wine provides everything you know and love about Montepulciano: beautiful bright blackberry, juicy plum, and fresh red fruit notes all blend together and balance out the moderate tannins for a smooth, easy drinking experience. But what I most enjoy from this bottle is the wonderful finish of pepper. This long, subtle, peppery finish blankets the tongue. In some ways, it’s almost mouthwatering, and makes you eager for another sip! Even from Australia, the bottle is longing to be paired with some beautiful Italian sausage or a hearty red sauce! Delinquente is “delinquent” in Italian, which the producers say speak to their desire to always “buck the trend” and “break the rules.” So perhaps you’ll find the encouragement to do just that after having this bottle! ¡Salud!