Fast facts:
- 2021 La Granja 360 Verdejo Viura $5.49 (@Trader Joe’s; California)
Where does the time go? We last reviewed the 2016 vintage of this wine in 2018. Like everything else, the price has gone up quite a bit since them. Back then it was priced at a rather ridiculous (in retrospect) $3.49. But even with its higher price, it is still has a rocking QPR!
And even though large swaths of California are under blizzard warnings (yep, even here in SoCal!) as we publish, the calendar reminds us that Spring and DST is just around the corner, people. So its a good time to turn our focus to lighter white wines.
This wine reminded me of time spent late last summer in Central Spain. We spent a couple of weeks there when the daytime high temperatures often drifted north of 100 degrees Farenheit. My wife and I did our best to drink the region dry of wines such as this. They are simple, clean, refreshing and food friendly. And since the alchohol is just 12.5% – you don’t t require a siesta after a shared bottle with lunch. These are wines that don’t force you to think too much about them, but get the job done.
Like their neighbor Portugal, I find that some of the best values in the world come from Spain. It may surprise you to learn that Spain has the most land under grapevines in the world. Yet they only rank third for wine production. How is that possible? In a word: yields. The vineyards in Spain yield less than two tons a acre. Vineyards here in California yield 2-4 times that amount. (Fun fact that may be counter inutuitive to some: lower yields generally “yield” better, more concentrated wines.)
Tasting notes:
Pours bright and light. There is lots of apple, lemon, fennel and ripe stone fruit on the nose. The palate is dry and round with mouthwatering acidity. The citrus flavors come through, paired with notes of chamomile and honey. Since this wine is certified Vegan, perhaps pair it with your favorite meatless dish. Or throw caution to the wind and have it with a roasted chicken. That’s our plan for the day.
If your weekend finds you shopping at your local TJ’s, keep an eye out for our Lucky 13 list of TJ’s wine. It’s a shopping list comprised of our most recent reviews.
If you’re headed to Costco soon, you can find our most recent reviews of Costco wines here in our Lucky 13 list of Costco wine finds.
Happy hunting,
Cheers!