Anthony Gismondi: 10 top white wine picks for summer sipping

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Villota Selvanevada Rioja Bianco $35, Spain takes you down a new path, and it’s worth the trip. Expect a tropical nose and a creamy, textured palate with notes of lemon, lime and hazelnuts.

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Squealing Pig Sauvignon Blanc 2025, New Zealand, $20, is a modern Marlborough white from its pale straw/green hue to its pungent passionfruit, gooseberry, nettle, and citrus finish. Summer in a glass.

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That’s 10 wines to extend your outdoor tasting through the end of summer, and don’t forget we published a similar list last week of local summer-style whites. All you need now is a chair, an umbrella, and a bucket of ice to take on the rest of summer.

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Weekend wine picks

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Berton Vineyard Fiano 2025, South Australia

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$21.99 | 90/100

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UPC: 9335966005853

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It’s hard not to like this one. At $21.99, it’s reasonably priced, and until the end of March, it’s on sale for just $17.99. Expect a refreshing tropical fruit bent in a bright, respectful modern Australian take on Italian fiano, featuring pear, lemon zest, fresh herbs, and a light bitter almond note. Crisp and clean, with a twist of sea salt, this one is a winner. Anything from the sea works here.

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Garzón Albariño Reserva 2025, Garzón, Maldonado, Oceanic, Uruguay
$24.99 | 91/100
UPC: 7730951080938
Garzón has swiftly become the principal producer of Albariño in the Americas, proving that this Atlantic-influenced Spanish/Portuguese white can excel in the oceanic-influenced vineyards of southern Uruguay. Theirs is a massale selection from Rías Baixas, and feels well at home in the winery’s granite soils. It is very fragrant, with perfumed lime blossom, gooseberry, and tangerine that fill a juicy palate, and bright coastal acidity drives it through the snappy finish.

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Domäne Gobelsburg Grüner Veltliner 2023, Kamptal, Niederösterreich, Weinland Österreich, Austria
$28-$30 | 89/100
UPC: 9120002400026
Honestly, this wine has summer written all over it. Many consider it the benchmark entry-level Grüner Veltliner, but I suggested it might even be better. It is fresh and bright, alive with green apple and pear notes, a touch of white pepper, a citrus palate, and a cleansing finish. Perfect for West Coast oysters, calamari grilled in olive oil and garlic, or for the adventurous: pork and pepper skewers. Private wine shops only.

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Villota Selvanevada Rioja Bianco 2024, Rioja Alavesa, Spain
$34.99 | 92/100
UPC: 8437020927253
The ’23 Rioja Blanco is made from a blend of 91% viura, 3% garnacha blanca, and 6% tempranillo blanco. The grapes are dry-farmed and grown without systemic herbicides, fungicides, pesticides, or fertilizers. Its pale gold hue reveals an aromatic profile with tropical fruits, floral notes, spice, and vanilla. The viura spends six months on its lees in French oak, resulting in a creamy, textured palate with notes of lemon, lime and hazelnut—a modern and delightful Spanish white.

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Argiolas Costamolino Vermentino di Sardegna 2023, Sardinia, Italy

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$21.99 | 90/100

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UPC: 8010544110754

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This respected estate, located on the island of Sardinia, focuses on native varieties. The vermentino comes from cool, hillside vineyards situated 190 meters above the Mediterranean. The wine has a floral aroma with hints of lemon and ginger. It features bitter quince and ripe stone fruit, balanced by a sweet tangerine finish. This wine pairs well with seafood dishes, including squid, crab, clams, and mussels. Start the party.