Sipping S's

Sangiovese, Sauvignon Blanc and Semillon are just some of the grape varietals on my "S" list. Sangiovese (san-joh-VAU-zeh)is a red grape and both Sauvignon Blanc (SOH-vihn-BLAN) and Semillon (say-mee-YOHN) are white grapes. Sangiovese is one of the top red grapes in Italy and a great way to explore this grape is in a bottle of Querciavalle Chianti Classico 2005.

Leslie Scrocco in her book, Wine for Women, humorously describes the Sauvignon Blanc grape... "It seems appropriate that Sauvignon Blanc tastes a little untamed since it takes its name from the French word for "savage". Naturally high levels of acidity are responsible for Sauvignon's sassiness and delicious fruit flavors for its friendliness, but its personality is multifaceted". A bottle of Chateau de Parenchere Bourdeaux Blanc Sec 2009, is a tasty way to enjoy both the "sassy" grape Sauvignon Blanc and Semillon, which often tempers the grassiness of Sauvignon Blanc.