Top Summer Value Wines Under $20

As temperatures rise we seek invigorating wines to energize and refresh our palates. Lucky for us, Ancona's Wine Director, Codey, has been busy tasting day and night to bring us cheerful new bottles to help beat the heat. These terrific summer values are full of life, sporting fresh aromas and flavors that make them impossible to resist. This week we're featuring an animated sparkler from Jura, a mouthwatering Riesling from Australia, a heavenly white blend from Kermit Lynch (one of our favorite importers), an aromatic and flavorful Oregon Pinot Noir, and a lush Zinfandel from Chacewater Winery. Speaking of our friends at Chacewater Winery -- their winemaker,  Mark Burch, will visit Ancona's Wines in Ridgefield for a very special open-house style Chacewater Wine Tasting on Wednesday, June 11 at 7:30pm. Mark's exposure to many different wine making techniques over the years has helped him develop his own personal style. Chacewater wines are exceptional because of Mark's creativity and vision. Don't miss this wonderful opportunity to meet the winemaker! This is a free event, to RSVP please call (203)544-8958 or contact jackie@anconaswines.com.

Francois Montand Brut Blanc de Blancs is an unrivaled value. It is a wine with intense aromas of white flowers and citrus fruit. The flavors are creamy and smooth, with lingering aromas, freshly baked bread, golden delicious apples and Meyer lemons. A harmonious wine to start any meal or to enjoy with ceviche, white fish, seafood, or salads.

Pikes Riesling "Hills & Valleys" comes from the cool climate of Clare Valley in South Australia. It is clean, precise, and full of green apple and lemon/lime citrus flavors that have beautiful persistency coupled with subtle hints of mineral and wet slate. This is a fantastic, mouth-watering, bargain riesling at a mere 11.5% alcohol.

Kermit Lynch Vin de Pays Vaucluse Blanc is a made from equal parts Chardonnay and Viognier. The grapes are hand harvested and cool fermented to retain optimal white wine flavors -- Think creme brulee and honey suckle. This little dry white has it all: round-bodied texture, yet tart, stony crispness and a knockout aroma of pear, sun-baked apples, and spicy hints of anise.

Wildewood Wine Company Pinot Noir comes from the low yielding, late ripening 2010 vintage that produced highly aromatic and flavorful Pinots. Cherry, strawberry and rhubarb notes define the aromatics of this wine and are backed by hints of cinnamon and oregano. Bright flavors of cherry, raspberry and ripe tomato are balanced by a layer of earthy mushroom.

Chacewater Zinfandel is a rich, rustic Zinfandel packed with strawberry, red cherry, white pepper and laced with smoky vanilla oak. The lush midpalate is fat with berry characters, finishing with expansive fruit, lingering sweet oak and complex ripeness.