Fourth of July wines: beyond California
Celebrate Independence Day with 10 top buys from Oregon, Washington State, Virginia, Texas and Idaho...
Social distancing and the continued lockdown of bars and restaurants may put a dampener on usual Fourth of July festivities. But fireworks or not, you can still celebrate Independence Day with some great American wine.
With California responsible for 81% of all US wine – making it the world’s fourth-largest wine producer – it’s likely that Golden State wines will be the foundation of many a party this Saturday.
We’ve selected a dozen Independence Day wines, from a delicious Long Island fizz to an award-winning Loudoun County sweet wine. Or try a High Plains Tempranillo, a Yakima Valley Chenin Blanc as well as classic Pinots from the Willamette Valley.
And if your Fourth of July party isn’t complete without some top California bottles, try these Rhône-style California wines for under $50. Otherwise, search through our extensive wine database for your perfect American wine – red, white and blue-chip.
Fourth of July wines: beyond California
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Mawby, Blanc Brut, Leelanau Peninsula, Michigan, USA
90
This traditional-method sparkler with a twist is a blend of 80% Chardonnay and 20% Riesling. After 16 months on the lees, it is disgorged and dosed at 8g/l. The finished wine has little overt Riesling character, but there is a slight green tint to the hue. There is surprising finesse here, with aromas of white flowers and ripe pear. The mousse is fine and lively, and refreshingly crisp acidity leads to a juicy finish.
MawbyLeelanau Peninsula
Morgen Long, Chardonnay, Willamette Valley, Oregon, USA, 2018
93
Fruit is sourced from six dry-farmed vineyards for this concentrated but elegant Chardonnay, given tang from wild yeast fermentation. Meyer lemon mingles with ripe pear and peach on the lively palate, where vibrant acidity brings clarity and finesse while subtle spice echoes against a bright, mineral finish.
2018
Morgen LongWillamette Valley
Left Foot Charley, Island View Vineyard Pinot Blanc, Old Mission Peninsula, Michigan, USA, 2017
92
Intensely aromatic, with notes of greengage plums, lime peel and a stony mineral underpinning. On the palate, there is just a hint of CO2, very crisp acidity and light body, but there is still an impressive persistence to the finish. This is a Pinot Blanc to make you sit up and take notice!
2017
Left Foot CharleyOld Mission Peninsula
Fall Creek, ExTerra Salt Lick Vineyard Tempranillo, Texas, USA, 2016
93
Texas – with the interruption for Prohibition – has a long history with Tempranillo. Fall Creek was the first Texas High Country winery. This, its top wine, is as dark and broad-shouldered as the bottle itself. Rich, supple, smooth and dense palate.
2016
Fall Creek
Domaine Drouhin Oregon, Pinot Noir, Willamette Valley, Dundee Hills, Oregon, USA, 2017
Even after 32 vintages at this domaine, Burgundian Véronique Drouhin is still in love with Oregon: ‘I feel like a Cistercian monk discovering the best...
2017
Domaine Drouhin OregonWillamette Valley
Chateau Ste Michelle, Cabernet Sauvignon, Columbia Valley, Washington, USA, 2016
90
Compared to many full-throttle fruit-bomb Cabernets, this offers real elegance for the price. There's welcome savoury leather complexity alongside the ripe dark berry fruits and a lift of fresh mint, chocolatey tannins and good balancing acidity to support the creamy mid-weight palate. A perfect partner for chargrilled aubergine and lamb chops.
2016
Chateau Ste MichelleColumbia Valley
Colter's Creek, Fondo Syrah, Lewis-Clark Valley, Idaho, USA, 2018
If you like Washington Syrah, this well-made unfiltered and unfined example has a similar heady combination of black and red fruit and smokey aromas that...
2018
Colter's CreekLewis-Clark Valley
Substance, Cabernet Sauvignon, Columbia Valley, Washington, USA, 2018
90
Fruit for this wine comes from five Columbia Valley vineyards. Deep, dense aromas and flavours of black cherry, blueberry, tobacco and earthy notes build, supported by great minerality, refined tannins and a focused finish.
2018
SubstanceColumbia Valley
Montinore Estate, Red Cap Pinot Noir, Willamette Valley, Oregon, USA, 2017
90
Elegant and focused, this well-crafted Willamette Valley Pinot Noir shows considerable cherry and currant aromas. Subtle earth and herbal tones plus a layer of spice flow through the palate, which is supported by soft tannins and vibrant acidity.
2017
Montinore EstateWillamette Valley
868 Estate Vineyards, Vidal Blanc Passito, Loudoun County, Virginia, USA, 2017
91
The 2020 Governor's Cup winner: an ancient wine style from one of the state’s newer players. Following the passito method used for centuries in Italy to make vin santo, winemaker Carl DiManno picked Vidal grapes at early ripeness and laid out bunches on racks for a month of fan-driven air-drying before pressing drops of concentrated juice from the raisined fruit. Tropical sweetness on the nose leads to surprisingly restrained flavours of apricot, raisins, honey, green tea and lemon zest.
2017
868 Estate VineyardsLoudoun County
