Labor Day's Last of Summer

It may be the 'official' weekend for celebrating end of summer, but it's never too late to fire up the grill. Well, for some the snow might not make it a good time to barbecue, but it could be quite a few months before we start seeing the snowflakes.

Labor Day is celebrated in the states and in almost every state the weather is still quite hot. We still want a cold drink to quench our thirst this weekend and why not choose a crisp white wine.

Fume Blanc is California's answer to Sauvignon Blanc. It's a long story, but I'll keep it short -- when Mondavi began winemaking in California in the late '60's Sauvignon Blanc was not popular, winemakers were making the wine sweet and it was not really liked by the consumers.

The visionary that he was, Mondavi gave his sauvignon blanc the name Fume Blanc and made his wine in the same style as those made in France. It was crisp and dry with balanced acidity making it very food friendly. It soon became a favorite and the rest, as they say, is history.

So for this American celebration choose a crisp white American Fume Blanc from California's Napa Valley. The wines are light with some minerality and flavors of melon and light citrus. You can serve this wine with seafood, chicken, or pork chops. Add a cold salad with lots of fresh veggies from the farmer's market tossed with a vinaigrette or citrus dressing.

Sit back, relax, and enjoy the fruits of your labor with those you love.

Happy Holiday!

Salute!
Winelady Cooks