Summer sun, afternoon patio, chilled white wine.
It may be August, but it’s still plenty warm enough out that many of us flock to a chilled white wine rather than a red option. I prefer crisper whites than something from a warmer climate, but sometimes a wine just sticks out to me as fantastic in its own right, regardless of what I tend to lean towards.
4/5 of the wines I’ve listed below are Canadian wines from the Okanagan region (the other being from not too far away in Washington State). Many great wine critics shy away from Canadian or new-world wines in general, but I believe these ones are excellent options for wine lovers of all kinds.
With that in mind, here are some of my favorite white wines to enjoy on the patio! I hope you like them as much as I do.
- Blasted Church Gewürztraminer, $16.50 CAD (prices vary by region).
This highly-awarded wine is one of my favorite Gewürztraminers of all time. I find it to be ‘refreshing and full-bodied with a touch of sweetness’ just as advertised. The hints of lychee are subtle and delightful. I love this wine with Thai food or just on its own in the backyard. -
Kung-Fu Girl Riesling (Charles Smith Wines), $12 USD (prices vary by region).
Riesling is a varietal that I tend to be pickier about. I don’t love anything too sweet and I have found some Rieslings to border on ‘syruppy’. This one is light and crisp and another favorite of mine to pair with Thai food. This is one of Charles Smith’s many award winning wines from Washington State and is at a great price point for its quality. -
Mission Hill Perpetua (Legacy Collection Chardonnay), $50 CAD (prices vary by region).
Although I consider this more of a winter drinker for myself, I love it so much I felt like it needed to be included. This is a wine that my husband and I collect. It is probably my favorite Chardonnay ever made and I look forward to the variations that each year brings. I prefer an oaked Chard (*gasp!*), and this one certainly delivers with buttery smoothness. This will convert anyone who says they don’t like white wines or chardonnays. -
Tinhorn Creek Pinot Gris, $17.50 CAD (prices vary by region).
I am a lover of Tinhorn Creek wines in general (I am a member of their Crush Club), and this Pinot Gris is one of my favorite patio go-tos. This internationally awarded wine is crisp and clean while maintaining intense complexity. It’s easy to drink as well as being intriguing to the palette. -
Cedar Creek Platinum Viognier, $26.99 CAD (prices vary by region).
Cedar Creek Estate Winery makes some of the most beautiful wines in the Okanagan and this Viognier is no exception. Its fermentation process is as unique as its flavors – I love the notes of stone fruits (particularly peach and apricot) that reflect the Okanagan region so well.
