(2) White wines

• Our rating:
• Wine 101 style: crisp
• Look for at: wine.com

At $11 a liter — yes, yes, yes! This Riesling is a great value wine during these hard times, and it is a good table wine. At 12% alcohol, this is an acidic, not sweet, Riesling that would pair well with seafood, shellfish, or light meats. With citrus notes that are not too overpowering, I’m drinking it with turkey burgers tonight, but I would also enjoy it without food on the front porch. ($11)

• Our rating:
• Wine 101 style: crisp
• Look for at: wine.com

Made from the Muscat Blanc grape, the 2007 Muscato Blanco is an outstanding offering of this varietal. With an overpowering nose of flowers, peaches, and apricots, I could sniff this wine all day. In the mouth, this is a lively wine with fruit and flowers competing for your attention in this light bodied, delightful summer wine. ($16)

• Our rating:
• Wine 101 style: sleek
• Look for at: wine.com

Having recently tried the Joe Blow 2005 California Red wine, I can say that I like Joe Blow Wine Cellars — they make nice blends. The Joe Blow 2005 White is comprised of Chardonnay, Viognier, Chenin Blanc, and Sauvignon Blanc. The Chardonnay and Viognier provide a nice medium to medium-full body and hold the touch of oak well, while the Chenin Blanc and Sauvignon Blanc provide some nice acid and bring it back into a sleek wine style. With a bit of an exotic floral nose, the acid in the mouth make this wine enjoyable with or without food. ($12)

• Our rating:
• Wine 101 style: crisp
• Look for at: wine.com

This is the first wine that I have tasted that was made from the Huxelrebe grape, but the Koster-Wolf family has been at it since 1684 and the 11th generation is currently in charge. The 2007 Huxelrebe Kabinett opens with a nose of spice and herbs with some green apple (the nose reminds me of Gewurztraminer). This is a light bodied wine with only 9.5% alcohol, but it still packs plenty of spice, green apple, and acid in every swallow. This wine would go well with pork cooked with Calvados. ($15)

• Our rating:
• Wine 101 style: soft
• Look for at: wine.com

Les Charmes from Cav de Lugny is the best selling white Burgundy in the US. Produce from a single vineyard of old vines, this Macon is a little richer and rounded in the mouth than most. Showing green apple, a little mineral, and a touch of parmesan cheese, this is a great wine for a simple meal or for simply drinking. ($10)

• Our rating:
• Wine 101 style: sleek
• Look for at: wine.com

Since 1912 the Osborn family has been making wine in McLaren Vale, Australia. Their 2006 Stump Jump white is made from 63% Riesling, 16% Sauvignon Blanc, 13% Roussane, and 8% Marsanne. The Riesling and the Sauv Blanc provide the acid and green apples while the Marsanne brings floral and honey notes to this easy drinking wine. I suggest grilled seafood along side grilled veggies and the Stump Jump for a great summer evening meal. ($10)

• Our rating:
• Wine 101 style: soft
• Look for at: wine.com

The more I drank this 2006 Chardonnay from Edna Valley Vineyard, the more I liked it. Only lightly oaked, the oaky and spicy aromas are well-balanced by aromas of peach and pineapple. Medium-full bodied and coming in at 13.9% alcohol, it still has enough acid and light enough oak to go well with the traditional pairings of seafood, chicken, or pork. And at $11, it’s a pretty good price for a Chardonnay from California. ($11)

• Our rating:
• Wine 101 style: crisp
• Look for at: wine.com

I like the wines from Felton Road. Their 2007 Riesling is a light drink with only 10% alcohol. Fresh out of the bottle, the nose showed a little cheese that faded with air time. Once the wine had opened up, the nose offered green apple, kiwi fruit, and a little honeyed spice. In the mouth, the slightly off-dry wine showed honey and green apple, with a long finish. ($10-15)

• Our rating:
• Wine 101 style: rich
• Look for at: wine.com

This is one of the longest wine names of the year. I suggest that you rip the picture and take it with you when you go buy this wine. The ’06 Clos du Four from Comte Lafon is a good white Burgundy wine. The nose has green fruit, some lees, mineral, and a little petroleum. In the mouth, the wine is full-bodied and round with medium acid and a long finish. ($35-40)

• Our rating:
• Wine 101 style: crisp
• Look for at: wine.com

On our trips to New Zealand, my wife and I fell in love with Riesling and Pinot Gris wines we found there, but we could never seem to find them in Texas. Things are starting to change, and we are happy to see the wines from Craggy Range in Austin. These guys get great scores from Parker for their wines — particularly their Pinot Noir, Syrah and Sauvignon Blanc — but do not overlook the Riesling. The nose of this single-vineyard Riesling shows bushels of peaches and a little citrus. In the mouth, there is plenty of acid, but the wine is not too bright. This light bodied wine has a medium finish and great hot weather appeal. ($22-25)