Beyond the usual suspects of classic Chardonnay, zesty Sauvignon Blanc, and reliable Pinot Grigio lies an exciting side of white wine waiting for discovery. These wines are rich in nuance and bold personalities. They are made from ancient grapes, grown in wild places, and crafted by producers who aren’t afraid to break the mold. These whites are not just refreshing (though they are that, too); they’re expressive, unexpected, and deeply rooted in the regions where they originate.
As someone who spends a lot of time exploring wine regions and sipping through bottles in search of something a little different, I’m always inspired when a wine tells a story – when it makes me pause and want to know more. That’s exactly what these five bottles do. From volcanic soils in the Azores to the beautiful slopes of Virginia, each of these bottles proves that white wine can go beyond the basics and become thought-provoking and conversation-worthy.
(Ceretto)
Ceretto still life - Arneis makes a perfect addition to your white wine sipping this summer.
1 “Hey French, You Could Have Made This But You Didn’t”
Pasqua Wines (Veneto, Italy)
This irreverent name alone tells you this wine isn’t playing by the rules. The Pasqua Family in Italy’s Veneto region produces this multi-vintage blend of Garganega, Pinot Bianco, and Sauvignon Blanc, which is complex and intriguing. It's layered with citrus flavors, a creamy texture, and a strong mineral backbone.
Why It’s Inspiring
This is a wine that challenges the prestige of French blends while proving Italy’s white wines offer just as much elegance and aging potential. More than that, it shows how storytelling and innovation can meet in the bottle – wine as both art and attitude.
Buy on Wine.com ($50)
2. “Blangé” Arneis
Ceretto (Piedmont, Italy)
(Jacqueline Coleman)
Eruptio is a unique white wine from the Azores in the North Atlantic Ocean.
Arneis may not be the first grape you think of from the famous region of Piedmont in northern Italy, but it should absolutely be on your radar this summer. Known as the “little rascal” of Piedmont, due to its difficulty in cultivation, Arneis was almost lost to history. Thanks to visionary producers like Ceretto, this indigenous variety now shines. Blangé is crisp, floral, and expressive, with notes of white peach, almond, and a whisper of salinity making it fresh and lively.
Why It’s Inspiring
First produced in 1985, Blangé is the symbolic white wine of the winery. The Ceretto family believes that this wine has “defined an era” and revolutionized winemaking in the Langhe, where historically, red wine dominated. Therefore, it represents the revival of a grape, a style, and a piece of cultural heritage.
Buy at Plummarket.com ($28)
3. “Eruptio” White Blend
Azores Wine Company (Pico Island, Portugal)
Made from grapes grown on a tiny volcanic island in the middle of the Atlantic, this wine is all about extremes. A blend of Arinto dos Açores, Verdelho, and Terrantez do Pico creates a wine rich in tropical and citrus fruits, with razor-sharp acidity, and a briny complexity that is a delight to all who choose to taste it.
Why It’s Inspiring
(Bodega Garzón)
Reserva Albarino - Make Bodega Garzón Albariño Reserva your go-to wine for a summer seafood feast.
The vines grow in cracks between lava rocks, lashed by ocean winds. It’s a dramatic terroir few would dare to farm, but the result is one of the most distinctive white wines in the world. Eruptio isn’t just a wine; it’s a triumph of perseverance and radical terroir-driven expression.
Buy at Vinoteca Miami ($59)
4. Albariño Reserva
Bodega Garzón (Uruguay)
Albariño is traditionally from the region of Rías Baixas in Spain, but in Uruguay, it has found an inspiring new voice. Garzón’s version is vibrant and crisp, full of white peach, brilliant citrus, and a coastal Atlantic personality. It’s an invigorating New World interpretation of the grape with a Uruguayan fingerprint.
Why It’s Inspiring
(Early Mountain Vineyards)
Early Mountain Petit Manseng - Aging this Petit Manseng on its lees for 14 months adds richness, a brioche undertone, and a mouth-coating texture to the wine.
Bodega Garzón makes world-class wines that prove excellence doesn’t come only from tradition, but it can develop through curious dedication and experimentation. This winery has helped put Uruguay on the wine map by honoring the natural environment and reimagining a classic grape into a South American icon.
Buy at Total Wine ($21.99)
5. Petit Manseng
Early Mountain Vineyards (Virginia)
Petit Manseng is best known in Southwest France, but in the foothills of Virginia’s Blue Ridge Mountains, Early Mountain Vineyards has transformed it into something distinctly American. This dry wine is opulent yet structured, with ripe tropical fruit, spice, and a waxy, lingering finish.
Why It’s Inspiring
Early Mountain’s Petit Manseng represents the bold spirit of American winemaking, taking risks with underdog grapes in unexpected places. It’s a bottle that pushes boundaries and proves that beautiful wines are possible where vineyards are backed by vision, talent, and a pioneering mindset.
Buy at EarlyMountain.com ($65)
MIAMI WINE EVENTS THIS MONTH
Take some time this summer to hone your wine skills and earn a certification through Florida Wine Academy. WSET Level 2 in Wines will take place on July 18 and 19 from 9 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. each day. The exam will be at the end of the second day. Visit FloridaWineAcademy.com to learn more about this certification and others.
Vinya Table in Coral Gables offers no corkage on Mondays and Tuesdays on Vinya retail bottles (purchased at Vinya), including over 100 selections under $100. Visit Vinyawine.com for more info and other events.
Jacqueline Coleman is a wine and travel writer and Star Wine List’s ambassador in Miami. She is a contributor to Luxury Guide USA magazine, a regular guest host on Linda Gassenheimer’s “Food, News & Views” podcast, and founder of BYOBMiami.com.
Jacqueline Coleman