A new set of challenges, too.  I asked Danielle to build us another mystery case – we had so much fun with the first one.

Let’s try unusual and uncommon grape varietals, single or blends.  Anywhere in the world. With our usual budget target of average $20 per bottle – tax in.

I stopped by mid-day today.  Amid lots of laughter, Danielle built another case of joy. And there were comments like “next time you do big lamb … open this at least two hours before”  That’s BIG lamb as opposed to little lamb!

Tonight the grape is from the Spanish Rueda region – 140 km NW of Madrid – known for its dry aromatic whites.  Very old grape that possibly came into the region more than 1000 years ago from North Africa. The region is a high plateau with lots of sandy/clay clay soil.

Code: 79046

Rueda Verdejo – El Petit Bonhomme

13.5% alcohol

$14.99 on sale from $15.99 regularly

Verdejo grapes play nice with seafood, salads, light cheeses, of course chicken.

Lots of Texture is probably the best way to describe this wine.  It seems to work well when there’s lots of other flavours going on.  You can have this in the kitchen, and certainly wouldn’t be ashamed to take it into the dining room or on the deck.

Boneless, skinless chicken breasts.

I added one more parsnip to the roasted veggie mix to bring out a little more sweetness. (carrots/potato/leek/redpepper).  There was even garlic in the tzatziki.

If this had been around last night, it would have gone well with the grilled salmon steaks.

This is a wine that would be good year round not just in the summer when we traditionally drink more whites than reds.  Buy two, you’ll be glad you did.