2020 Aurelia Cellars California Vermentino

So many wines seem to show particularly well in their locale of origin. These are true “wines of a place,” and for most of its history, the Vermentino variety has fit that description, limited strictly to the vineyards of Italy.

But as California vintners sought the “next big thing” to succeed or at least complement Chardonnay, Vermentino emerged as one of the options. Finding growers that had planted the variety was a challenge, but Aurelia Cellars was able to find a handful to supply enough fruit that a delicious “California cuvee” could be created.

The 2020 vintage shows off Vermentino’s signature white floral aroma, which leads to an array of enticing fruit flavors. The wine’s refreshing style may remind you of another Italian variety — a crisp Pinot Grigio — making it a perfect companion to an array of seafood dishes.