A while back, a good friend of mine returned from visiting Paso Robles, a gorgeous wine region in California’s Central Coast. The area is known for Rhone Valley varietals and Zinfandel, big in both personality and alcohol. She couldn’t wait to introduce me to Union Sacre, a winery she discovered in Tin City – a collective of winemakers in the area who have banded together in a communal fashion. Union Sacre wines are inspired by Winemaker Xavier Arnaudin’s homeland of Alsace, France. You don’t have to be an expert to know that Paso and Alsace couldn’t be more different... the soil, the climate, the topography... so, needless to say, I was intrigued. This Pinot Blanc, it's a beauty. Elegant, bright, aromatic... with high-toned fruit notes of white peach, melon, and pear. The wine’s texture enhances the fruit flavors with the softest edge given from aging in neutral wood puncheons (double the standard barrel size). Reasonable alcohol level(12.2% abv) and a chameleon with food, this is a fantastic wine to head into late summer. - Noelle Starr, Surdyk's Staff