It’s way too hot to think too hard or write too much, so my article will be brief this month, but I must bring your attention to a tragedy.  The NYT is reporting that French wines, already suffering under a 25% trade tariff, with the addition of the coronavirus recession, are being forced to sell their harvest to distillers to be made into hand sanitizer!  Yes, it’s gotten that bad.

Here are two bottles in steady rotation in my house:

Dio Fili Xinamavro Rose 2019 from Greece.  “Dio Fili” means two friends, and this wine is a collaboration between John Polyzos and Yannis Boutaris (of Boutari Winery). Dio Fili is located in Siatista, a town located in western Macedonia. The wine is made from old Xynomavro grape vines (70-115 years old) and Moshomavro grapes growing in a higher-altitude vineyard (almost 3,000 feet). 

Deep pink in color, the flavors are pretty intensely raspberry and strawberry, with nice acidity and balance.  I had this recently with grilled lamb chops, when it was too hot to drink a Pinot Noir, and it held up well. This is a bargain at $10 a bottle at Wineworks.

Pagos del Galir Godello 2018 from Valdeorras (“Valley of Gold”) in Galacia, Northwest Spain.  I’ve been drinking a lot of Godello lately, as it is a white wine with some substance to stand up to grilled food.  This one is rather complex, with pear and apple on the front end, with some ginger, slate and minerality on the finish, crisp acidity, yet a full mouth feel. I drank this recently with an ahi tuna app and a seared scallops entree at Sapori in Collingswood, and it paired well. Another good value wine for $14 at Wineworks.

Stay safe, stay sane, and please do your duty to save the wine industry, and drink up.  Cheers!