Tasting the White Wines by the Glass at The Belmont

We’re back from vacation and back at it this week, tasting our way through restaurant by-the-glass lists. The temperature was so lovely on Saturday, we wanted to find a patio for our afternoon tasting. Who has a great patio? The Belmont!

The by-the-glass list here is pretty extensive (love it!), so we decided to start with the whites, with it being summer and all. With our excellent server Emma’s help, we got down to it.

If you find yourself at the Belmont, wanting a glass of white wine, we hope these tasting notes will help you choose just what you want!

Carletto Prosecco, Italy

This is a nice, light, sparkling wine that’s very enjoyable on a summer afternoon. It has a green apple vibe to it, and Bart got the impression of limeade. It also has some lemon peel in the mix. As you’d expect with Prosecco, this is a fruity, bubbly wine. There's a touch of sweetness to it, but we wouldn't call it a sweet wine.

La Perlina Moscato, Italy

If you're looking for a sweet wine, this is the one you want. This is a classic Moscato, slightly effervescent with a little fizz to it, and nicely sweet, though not overpowering by any means. This one gave us tropical vibes, like ripe pineapple. It also reminded us of those wonderful Palisade peaches that are now becoming available (mmm...). The little bit of fizz makes this a fun summer sipper for sure.

9 Hats Riesling, Washington

If you drink much Riesling, you'll probably recognize this one right away by the way it smells--Riesling often has notes of petrol in it, like gasoline or diesel. We know that sounds really strange, and it is a strange smell to find in wine, but it's classic to Riesling! And we promise, the wine doesn't taste like petrol! Along with that funny aroma, you can also smell jasmine and white blossoms and ripe limes. There's just a tiny hint of sweetness to it, but unlike most German Rieslings, this is not a sweet wine. So if you love the sweetness of German Rieslings, this may not be what you're looking for. Try the Moscato instead. We found this to be a very refreshing wine, perfect for sipping on a warm summer day!

La Fiera Pinot Grigio, Italy

Pinot Grigio is a great option for a white wine when you want an easy drinking white wine. The flavors are subtle and light and not overpowering, and this one in particular was just a very enjoyable wine to sip on a summer patio. We picked up the smell of key lime and orange blossoms. This one is a little tart and citrusy, but unlike some Pinot Grigio that only tastes like citrus (lemons), this one even has a touch of apple flavors in it (like green apples).

O&T Sauvignon Blanc, France

Sauvignon Blanc is a grape that really does taste very different depending on where it's grown. This one, from France, is a pretty classic French Sauv Blanc. It smells and tastes minerally, like the spray from a waterfall on wet river rocks below, or like flint. We also noticed tart green apple and some lemon, but more like lemon rind. If you're used to the New Zealand Sauvignon Blancs like Kim Crawford, with their big grapefruit and green bell pepper flavors, French Sauv Blancs are not like that. But try this one and see how different Sauvignon Blanc can be!

Kysela Picpoul, France

What is Picpoul?? It's a grape grown in France down south near the Mediterranean, and not only is it fun to say, it's fun to try! This wine has a lemon aroma to it, but not like a tart lemon--more like a lemon bar. However, it tastes like a nice, tart Meyer lemon! We also picked up some nutty notes, like raw almonds. You could even convince us there's a little grapefruit in there. Keep smelling it, and you pick up a hint of herbal notes as well. That comes from where this grape grows: along the Mediterranean there, the grapes grow near garrigue (what they call the scrubby bushes like juniper, thyme, etc), and they pick up some aspects of the garrigue. This is a fun wine to drink, and it would go nicely with a lot of foods!

Bar Dog Chardonnay, California

Put your nose in this one and you immediately know it's a Chardonnay! It has that classic Chardonnay smell, with ripe baked apples and a little of the baking spices you think of with apple pastries. It's a rich, full wine, and a pretty classic California Chardonnay. This wine would sit just right later in the day, or on the rainy, cool summer Saturday we just had!

The Belmont is a great place for a glass of wine. If you're looking for a white wine, we hope we've helped steer you toward the glass you'll love. We had a fantastic time, and we highly recommend you go do the same!