I’m not one to follow seasonal wine rules. The second the calendar flips from summer to fall, there’s no reason to immediately reach for a bottle of red just because someone decided that’s what September calls for. Don’t get me wrong—I love a bold, cozy red as much as anyone. But when it’s still 80 degrees outside and I’m wearing sandals, a crisp, chilled white wine sounds a whole lot more appealing.
Shouldn’t that be the point of wine? Drink what you like, when you like it. You don’t need a perfectly trained palate or a working knowledge of every grape variety to know what makes a glass enjoyable to you. If you like your wine cold, refreshing and easy to sip while the weather is still hanging onto summer, there’s no reason to put it away just because the calendar says autumn.
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So while we may be technically entering fall, I’m keeping white wine in the fridge a little longer. And there are two bottles in Francis Ford Coppola Winery’s Diamond Collection that are just the thing for that delicious in-between season when the calendar says fall but the weather hasn’t quite gotten the memo.
Target
First up, there’s the Diamond Collection Vibrance Sauvignon Blanc, an incredibly approachable bottle that you can find in your local grocery store or Target’s wine aisle for roughly $14. At just 80 calories per five-ounce pour, it’s a little lighter than your average white wine but still packed with refreshing notes of floral and citrus. It’s the kind of easy drinking bottle that’s perfect when you want to enjoy a weeknight glass with a dinner of grilled shrimp, fish tacos or even a chicken Caesar salad.
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Then there’s the Coppola Diamond Shimmer Sauvignon Blanc Pinot Grigio, which you can find at Total Wine & More for $12.99. It’s a great pick for those who can’t choose a side—Team Sauvy B or Team Pinot Grigio. Sauvignon Blanc brings bright acidity, citrus and more pronounced fruity or herbal notes, while the Pinot Grigio offers up a light-bodied crispness with gentler fruit flavors.
How Chilled Should White Wine Actually Be?
Your first thought might be that the colder the white wine, the better, but that’s actually not the case if you actually want to taste its full flavor profile. Crisp, light whites like Pinot Grigio and Sauvignon Blanc should be chilled between 45 – 50 degrees Fahrenheit. When you consider that the standard refrigerator is usually around 35 40 degrees Fahrenheit, a bottle may actually be too cold when you first pull it from the fridge. Let it sit for about 10 to 20 minutes before drinking to allow the flavors to open up.
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