Big Al Fresco!

My old pal Al Fresco made it for dinner!

Finally outside dining returns to California!

After many false starts, I am still keeping my fingers crossed, but I think it is finally safe to declare the onset of the alfresco dining season. I can't recall any Spring with such unseasonably cold and rainy weather. Onward and upward! Break out the grills. Dust the cob webs off the outdoor furniture. Grab the mosquito repellent. This week I feature three standout white wines to show off your grill cuisine. Next week come the reds.

Forget the Pinot Grigio! Let's explore a little! How about a Fiano from Campania, grown in the volcanic soils in the hills behind Naples? This dazzling white wine was not only bestowed the highly coveted Tre Bicchiere (3 glass) award by the leading Italian wine guide Gambero Rosso.... only 300 wines received this distinction from over 18,000 judged, but it's been honored as the 2010 Gambero Rosso "White Wine of the Year"!

08 Clelia Romano "Collio Lapio", Fiano di Avellino

$29.95/Purchase 6+ bottles for $26.96

This Fiano has had a steadfast place on our racks since we discovered the 2004 vintage. Redolent, vibrant aromas of crushed white almond, melon, and citrus are followed on the palate by rich lemon curd, underlying minerality, and bright acidity.

I swoon for this wine with fresh burrata drizzled with a youthful virgin olive oil and sprinkled with sea salt....can't wait for tomatoes! It is also perfectly paired with Renee's rendition of Grilled Chicken alla Diavolo. (See Cook's Illustrated).

My next choice has been an overwhelming favorite at Saturday's tasting bar venue the last two weeks! Not that I think Chardonnay is necessarily the best white wine selection for your summer grill menu, unless fresh corn on the cob, shrimp, lobster, or salmon are the standard fare. But, as you all like to remind me, it's what you like to drink!! And, YOU VERY MUCH LIKE this creamy & rich, but not overdone style of the 07 Maldonado Chardonnay from Parr Vineyard in Sonoma. Barrel fermented and aged on its lees for 11 months, the spicy, ripe pear & nectarine fruit is lush and mouthfilling, but never fatiguing to the palate. Wine Spectator scored it 93 points. 800 cases produced. The real deal is the 07 Maldonado's value, as it easily compares to wines twice the price. The winery should be cheered for adjusting its price to meet the current economic conditions. Maldonado's 06 estate Chardonnay is still priced over $45 a bottle.

07 MALDONADO CHARDONNAY, PARR VYD., SONOMA

$28.50/ON SALE at $24.50

Finally the best of all worlds! From a remote place that is "out of this world" beautiful! Domaine de l'Hortus is situated in the Pic St. Loup AOC of southern France's Languedoc region along the Herault river valley, about 60 kilometers inland from the Mediterranean coastal port city of Montpellier. We visited the winery in the summer of 2007, but have stocked its Bergerie Classic Blanc since the 04 vintage. The 2009 is an intriguing blend of stainless steel fermented Chardonnay (40%), Sauvignon Blanc (25%), and Viognier (35%). It shows crisp, bright acidity and a nose which is both tropical and floral. Extremely refreshing, but rich and fulfilling on the palate, the wine is a versatile workhorse for a diversity of grilled finfish, shellfish, white meat poultry, and vegetables.