Wines: The New Whites

Fed up with the same old Chardonnay or Chablis? Fancy surprising your dinner guests with brand new bottle of plonk from a supermarket that has not been tasted before? Or just want to try something different from a range of the newest wines on the grape scene? We have selected a few of the best and most drinkable white wines from all over the world to tempt you into buying something other than your usual bottle.

First up from Sainsburys, Taste The Difference Pinot Grigio 2010, priced at a very reasonable £6.99. Sainsbury’s Taste the Difference Pinot Grigio is sourced from vineyards planted near  stunning Lake Garda in the picturesque Veneto region of Northern Italy, where the long summer days produce aromatic white wines of great clarity and intensity This wine is no exception and has an intense taste with lots of citrusy notes with subtle hints of green plums and almondy peaches. Best served at a barbecue or for outdoor dining in the late summer evenings.

Also priced at £6.99 is the delicious Tescos Finest Fiano 2008 from Sicily in Italy and produced by  Domenico de Gregorio on behalf of Cantine Settesoli. This wine is sourced from vineyards personally selected by the guiding hand of Diego Planeta, from the beautiful hillsides which surround the historic town of Menfi, in southwest Sicily. An aromatic wine, full of peachy, pineapple flavours and a smooth finish which is full bodied yet crisp and light. A wine that is very easy to drink for a lunch time quaffle with light snacks or an early evening soiree.

Grace Koshu Kayagatake may be a bit of a tongue twister but is very easy on the lips. The Grace Winery was started in 1923 in Katsunuma in the Yamanashi district 200km southwest of Tokyo in the shadows of the scenic Mount Fuji. At £18.99 it should only be drunk for special occasions unless you are a wine connoisseur but at this price you can expect a pure, crystal, light and crisp Japanese wine that is ideal with sushi or any other dish with delicate flavours.

Finally from Nashik, Maharashtra in India comes Sula Vineyards Sauvignon Blanc, priced

at £9.95.

Nashik is located approximately 2000 feet above sea level, to the north of Mumbai, in the Western Ghats mountains. This wine has a dry, grassy, herbaceous aroma with hints of green pepper and subtle overtones of green apple and citrus fruits. An excellent wine to drink with Indian or Asian cuisine, as the dryness and acidity cuts through the spicy flavours of  most curries and heavily seasoned dishes.