James Robinson

While summer seems reluctant to arrive on the Quimper Peninsula, the Port Townsend Food Co-op’s wine department is nevertheless primed and ready with a variety of porch pounders to help usher in the season. From Slovenian bubbles, to floral Greek and German whites, to juicy bubbles from Beaujolais, there is something for everyone. If barbecue is your thing, look no further; we’ve got brooding reds for your backyard char.

Sticks and Bugs Piquette

Hailing from Slovenia, these bubbling beauties are sure to please. For the uninitiated, piquette is technically not wine, as it’s not made from fermented grapes. Instead, it is made by adding water to grape pomace — the leftover skins, seeds, and stems of the fruit — and fermenting what’s left of the sugars. The centuries-old method is known to have been enjoyed by vineyard workers and family members, and it is characterized by a jolt of fizz. Better yet, it boasts a lower ABV — from about 4 percent to 9 percent — and makes the perfect companion for cookouts, campfires, picnics, social drinking, and snacks.

The red is a blend of Pinot Noir, Blaufrankisch, and Zweigelt and delivers forest berry aromas. The white is made mostly from Chardonnay and offers yeasty farm aromas. Both are fun, casual, and totally quaffable. Lutte raisonnée.

Domain Thillardon Pet-Nat

Made from Gamay, this pet-nat is lively and delicious, delivering loads of ripe, juicy grapefruit. In the glass the wine shows a lovely pale pink. This is lush, off-dry, and totally quaffable. Pair this one with picnics, cured meat, chicken, deviled eggs, smoked and fresh salmon. Organic, biodynamic.

Drop by Drop the Jar Fills Up, Roditis, PGI Karditsa, Greece 2020

Made from certified organic Roditis, this Greek white wine is clean, citrusy, round, and redolent with floral aromatics – summer in a bottle. Enjoy this with friends and conversation: With or without food, this wine shines. Certified organic. 

Friedrich Becker Pinot Blanc 2019, Pfalz

Friendly and approachable, offering a lovely mix of peach, apple, and citrus flavors, underscored by hints of jasmine and sea salt. Texturally seductive, with a crisp yet velvety mouthfeel that keeps you coming back for more. Sustainable, lutte raisonnée.

Enderle & Moll ‘Muller’ 2020

Made from 100 percent Müller Thurgau, “Müller” is light and bright, with juicy flavors of green apple, exotic spices, and tropical stone fruit. Juice ferments on the skins for five to six months, which adds a supple and grippy texture to the palate. Try it with, appetizers, shellfish, and salads. Organic, biodynamic.

Fabien Jouves Mas Del Périé ‘La Roque’ Malbec 2020

The Mas Del Périé La Roque is rich and full-bodied, with loads of black fruit and silky tannins, making it complex, yet perfect for drinking now. While it has the black fruit characteristics of classic Cahors, Fabien Jouves’ winemaking style makes it absolutely approachable now. This is polished, classy, special occasion-date night wine with the lush quaffability of a daily drinker. This wine pairs perfectly with rich meats such as duck, lamb, or beef, or anything prepared on the grill. Certified organic, Demeter certified biodynamic.

(James Robinson is a Port Hadlock resident and a certified sommelier. Read his blog posts on the Food Co-op’s website at foodcoop.coop/blog.)