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Expand your vino palate with these bottles — three whites and two reds — from lesser-known regions the next time you’re out and about.
Often, wines from areas unfamiliar to most consumers offer excellent products at terrific value. The following are five top-flight, well-priced wines that were produced in areas other than the usual suspects.
Whites
2019 Santo Assyrtiko ($24)
Made from grapes planted in volcanic ash in Santorini, Greece, this wine shows a bouquet and taste of melons and pineapple with a citrusy finish. Mate it with mild fish, like branzino, cod, and halibut. Find it at Wine Geeks, in Armonk, and Rye Brook Wine & Spirit Shop, in Rye Brook.
2018 Zind-Humbrecht Turckheim Gewurztraminer ($29)
Hailing from Turckheim, a small commune in France’s Alsatian area, this wine has a distinctive aromatic bouquet and taste of tropical fruit and hints of clove. Try it with sushi, grilled tuna, and spicy vegetarian fare. Find it at Varmax Liquor Pantry, in Port Chester, and Bedford Wine Merchants, in Bedford.
2019 La Cana Albarino ($18)
This wine hails from the Rias Biaxas area of Galicia, on Spain’s northwest coast. It has a bouquet and taste of tangerines and citrus and marries well with shrimp, sushi, and chicken. Find it at Art of Wine, in Pleasantville, and Stew Leonard’s Wines & Spirits in Yonkers.
Reds
2017 Casa Santos Lima Lab ($8)
This bargain bottle is made from a blend of Castelão, Tinta Roriz, Syrah, and Touriga Nacional grapes grown outside Lisbon, Portugal. It has a bouquet and easy-drinking taste of plums and cherries and makes an excellent match for hamburgers, hot dogs, pizza, and even grilled salmon. Find it at Wine Bazaar, in New Rochelle, Aries Wines & Spirits, in White Plains, and Harrison Wine Vault.
2014 Galil Mountain Winery Galil Alon ($21)
This kosher Bordeaux-like wine is made from a blend of Cabernet Sauvignon, Petit Verdot, Cabernet Franc, and Syrah, grown in Israel’s northern Galilee region. It shows a bouquet and deep concentrated flavor of cassis and raspberries and provides palate-pleasing accompaniment to grilled flank steak, as well as lamb and veal. Find it at Westchester Wine Warehouse and Grapes, the Wine Company – both in White Plains.
