The smell of freshly mowed lawns and of gunpowder in the air signifies one thing: summer is now in full swing. Whether you're a peaceful soul who likes to spread out a plastic picnic mat in the local park under the tranquil shade of a decent-size tree, or a matsuri festival maniac heading down to the river to watch the firework displays, it's time to pack up your pannier and stake your claim.
Choosing a wine to go with your picnic meal can be as much of an ordeal as fighting it out for the best al fresco spot. To take the pain out of selecting a summer vintage, here's a guide to the best of the whites in stores this season.
Producing fresh wines with a lovely gooseberry bite and flintiness on the palate, Sauvignon Blanc makes an excellent picnic grape. One of the places in the world that brings out the best in this variety is France's Loire Valley. The valley's relatively cool climate keeps the flavors fresh, and the sandy limestone soils lend the drink an intriguing mineral finish. It's worth noting that the wetter and cooler weather of 2007 did not spell disaster for the wines of Loire as it did for Bordeaux — in fact, quite the opposite.