AUGUST 2020 57For creamy dressings, like ranch,
Caesar, or buttermilk, go with a
wine that has a fair amount of
body but also some acidity to
balance out the dressing’s rich-
ness; otherwise the wine will end
up tasting flat. Oregon Pinot Gris
or dry Alsace versions (some are
sweet) are great choices.
Sweet dressings, for instance
a sweet-spicy ginger-sesame
dressing—will actually make
lightly sweet wines taste less
so (and, conversely, make dry
wines taste a bit harsh).
Vouvrays from France and
off-dry Rieslings are both great
partners here.2018 MITTNACHT FRERES
ALSACE PINOT GRIS ($25)
This Alsace estate is one of the
few biodynamic growers in the
region. This rich but elegant
white offers snappy acidity
along with ripe peach fruit.2018 GEORG BREUER GB
CHARM RHEINGAU RIESLING
($20)
Passion fruit and citrus flavors,
plus acidity so electric it tingles,
make this Riesling from wine-
maker Theresa Breuer a steal.2018 PONZI WILLAMETTE
VALLEY PINOT GRIS ($19)
Ponzi’s interpretation of Pinot
Gris is spot on, with kumquat
and nectarine flavors and a
flinty finish. It’s ripe and rich,
but the fresh acidity keeps
everything lifted and alive.2018 DOMAINE PICHOT
DOMAINE LE PEU DE LA
MORIETTE VOUVRAY ($21)
Long name, modest price, great
quality—why not? This passion
fruit–scented wine comes from
vineyards that aren’t treated
with chemical pesticides.2017 LÉON BEYER ALSACE
PINOT GRIS ($28)
Alsace Pinot Gris is sometimes
sweet, but this bottling—from
an estate founded in 1580 and
still owned by the same family—
is dry, with a luscious texture
and spiced-peach flavors.2018 KILIKANOON
KILLERMAN’S RUN CLARE
VALLEY RIESLING ($22)
Classic Aussie Riesling notes of
lime peel and talc run through
this white. It’s off-dry but so
bright and zesty you might not
even perceive the sweetness.2018 ELK COVE VINEYARDS
WILLAMETTE VALLEY ESTATE
PINOT GRIS ($19)
Adam Campbell is one of
Oregon’s top winemakers. That
shows in this lively white, full of
spiced-apple flavors.
2018 CHATEAU STE.
MICHELLE COLUMBIA VALLEY
RIESLING ($9)
This widely available white is
a superb deal—lightly off-dry,
it offers plenty of juicy green
apple and peach fruit.2019 LANGE ESTATE
CLASSIQUE WILLAMETTE
VALLEY PINOT GRIS ($19)
A light earthiness underpins
this mouth-filling white, its ripe
red apple and nectarine flavors
ending on a light, balancing
tingle of acidity.
2017 CLOS DU GAIMONT
VOUVRAY LA MONACO ($20)
Unusually affordable for a single-
vineyard Vouvray, this succu-
lent, apricot-rich Chenin Blanc
comes from a family that’s been
farming grapes in France’s Loire
Valley since the mid-1700s.PINOT GRIS WITH RANCH-STYLE DRESSINGS
RIESLING & VOUVRAY WITH SWEET DRESSINGS