From the Wine Novice's notebook

Written by on in General Wine

Why not white?

Here are two other whites that have captivated the Wine Goddess, Wine Butler and myself over the past several weeks are as follows.

Masseria Altemura Fiano Salento, Puglia, $13 — Fiano is an authentic Italian grape that grows in the volcanic soils in Avellino, northeast of Mount Vesuvius, and in the Salento peninsula. Masseria Altemura’s vineyards are located along the wind-swept coast halfway down the “boot” of Puglia. It’s an incredible area for indigenous grapes, and Fiano is one of the most seductive. It hits the glass with a spray of peach orchard and expands on the palate with orange peel, honey and a hint of sea-salt minerality. The finish is soft, clean and refreshing. Masseria’s Fiano would be a great starter for the Christmas Eve vigil dinner that most Italians enjoy with family, especially with simple fish dishes like linguini and white clam sauce.

Charles Krug Sauvignon Blanc, Napa Valley, $15.99 — This is on sale in New Hampshire and it’s a beauty if you like crisp, snappy, lime and grapefruit flavors. Krug is Napa’s oldest winery, dating back to 1861, and its endurance is testimony to its excellence in the vineyard and production plant. The fruit is grown in St. Helena, and stainless-steel fermentation produces lip-smacking purity of a truly wonderful California expression.

5-pack of Drew Bledsoe s Doubleback wines is up for auction on the WCAP-Salvation Army Radiothon.

Doubleback for this deal

If you’re looking for a unique holiday gift for the wine collector in your life, check out the exclusive 5-pack of Drew Bledsoe’s Doubleback wines that will be part of Saturday’s WCAP-Salvation Army Radiothon. Each bottle is signed by Bledsoe, and the pack includes his sold-out, limited-production 2016 Elizabeth Chardonnay, 2015 Flying B Ranch Cabernet Sauvignon and his premium Doubleback Cabernet Sauvignon. Trust me, you won’t find a bottle of the Elizabeth or Flying B east of Montana. These are from my private cellar as a Doubleback allocation list member. To see the bottles, follow this link: https://www.facebook.com/980WCAPSML/posts/522772911233849.

Novice becomes the teacher

Finally, mark your calendar for April 5 and April 12, when I will be delivering two fun, exciting and educational wine classes at the Nesmith House in Lowell as part of Middlesex Community College’s Continuing Education program. The first class is devoted to the noble white grapes, and the second is for red. We’ll taste six wines each night. The two-hour classes are limited to 20 people. Watch for details in the MCC spring bulletin.