Summer White Wines to Keep Chilled
Summer is fully here, calling for meal-sized salads, unpressed linens, and well-chilled white wine. The white-wine-to-meal ratio naturally rises as temperatures climb and daylight lingers. Three bottles in particular bring sipping le blanc vibes and pair well with Dîner en Blanc events later this season.
Spier 2025 Signature Chenin Blanc, South Africa
Priced at $14.99 (product code #659037), this Chenin Blanc arrives fashionably late to International Drink Chenin Blanc Day (June 13) but remains a crowd-pleaser all summer. It offers expressive tropical and orchard fruit aromas in a fruit-forward, easygoing wine that finishes with a lingering tickle of freshness. Ample fruit, good texture, and a foundation of acidity make it a fantastic partner for grilled dishes like souvlaki, satay, or whole grilled salmon. Bottom line: B. Solid value blanc sipper.
Fondo Antico 2024 Grillo Parlante, Italy
This $26.99 bottle (product code #668403) exemplifies terroir, transporting the drinker to Sicily’s crashing seashore. It pours vibrant yellow-gold with greenish hues and delivers lively floral, herbal, and lime zest tones, with an almost saline quality from the organically-grown Grillo grapes. The wine finishes balanced and fresh. Ideal pairings include fish or seafood such as grilled prawns or herb butter-sautéed clams. Bottom line: A-. Big freshness and intensity.
Fellot 2023 Beaujolais Blanc Chardonnay, France
Beaujolais is best known for Gamay reds, but this $31.99 Chardonnay (product code #287499) from the region’s southern stretches shows bright golden color with aromas of citrus and white flowers. The mid-palate is lean and citrusy, underlined by mineral tones, with serious tension between fruit and acidity before a balanced, fresh finish. Pair with fish and chips or chicken tacos. Bottom line: B+. Vibrant and engaging.
Upcoming Event: Summer Garden Party
The Heart of Wine Country hosts its summer Garden Party on July 17 from 6–9:30 p.m. at Linden Gardens (351 Linden Ave, Kaleden). The event features 12 member wineries from Okanagan Falls and Skaha Lake pouring wines alongside live music and gourmet food from four winery chefs. Tickets are $124.40 (all inclusive) and include a complimentary wine glass. For details and tickets, visit theheartofwinecountry.ca/events/garden-party/.
