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Dan the Wine Guy

Please stop doing that.

Certainly, few people expect you to drop $50 on something you’ve never tried. But there are dozens of varietals you may be unfamiliar with that fall within a more affordable range of $10 to $20 a bottle. At that price, your risk is small and you might even discover a wine that could become your new favorite.

Grenache (or Garnacha in Spain) is grown domestically in relatively small quantities and yet it’s one of the most widely planted grapes in the world.

For a tasty, medium-bodied European version of this varietal, consider the Vega Sindoa 2009 Rosé from Spain. Made from 100 percent Garnacha, it’s nicely priced at only around $10. Brimming with lovely aromas of strawberry, rose petals, and vanilla, it also features good cherry and berry flavors and a dry, supple finish.

Semillon was quite popular in Washington during the late 1970’s and early 1980’s, but since then it seems to have become less of a priority for many winemakers.

A few Washington wineries still produce it well and Woodinville’s DiStefano Winery Non-Vintage Semillon (about $14) is a fine example. Blended with a bit of sauvignon blanc in the tradition of a white Bordeaux, it displays a faint, appley fragrance and beautiful layers of lemon chiffon and sweet alfalfa that lead into a finish of crisp citrus.

Some less-common white wine grapes grow especially well in cooler climates such as Western Washington. Eagle Haven Winery currently produces several offerings of these grapes including the 2007 Dry Madeline Angevine, with light flavors of blackberry and tropical fruits along with a crisp finish. For a slightly spicier 50/50 blend, try the 2007 Madeline Angevine Siegerrebe (pictured at left).

Both wines are available for about $16 each and they can be sampled and purchased at the winery facility located near Sedro Woolley.

For the latest updates in local, regional and national news, visit their web site at www.bellinghamherald.com

The tasting room is only open during a six-hour window each week from noon to 6 pm on Saturdays. But if you make time for a visit, you’ll take advantage of a great opportunity to sample all of the winery’s current releases and also chat with winemakers Tom Davis and Tracey DeGraff.

Three of their wines represent the newest of these releases and they showcase the skill and diverse range of these two talented winemakers.

For starters, try the 2009 Kolk Rosé ($15), made from 100-percent cabernet sauvignon sourced from Yakima Valley’s Elephant Mountain.

Davis and DeGraff will be the first to admit that this wine isn’t quite on the level of the stellar 2008 vintage, but it’s still a fine effort. Aromas and flavors of cranberry, red currant and rose petals end in a sharp, expressive finish with dazzling acidity. Production was limited to a microscopic 25 cases.

The 2007 Harbor Light Red ($18) is essentially a baby Bordeaux blend of cabernet sauvignon, malbec and cabernet franc at a near-steal of a price. The wine displays bright red fruit flavors, dark and inky undertones, and a slightly spicy finish that one might mistake for a syrah. An added bonus: $2 from the sale of each bottle is donated to the Semiahmoo Lighthouse Resurrection Society.

Another Bordeaux blend, the 2006 Deluge ($29) is the latest in a string of stunning red wines produced by Davis and DeGraff under this label.

The complexities of this wine cannot be understated; coffee, caramel, molasses on the nose, dense, chewy textures commingled with a splash of acidity and then a balanced, somewhat silky finish. It’s ready to drink now, but can be easily cellared for another three to five years.

Look for Glacial Lake Missoula wines on the menu at Tivoli and The Cliff House Restaurant in Bellingham as well as Purple Smile Wines, Ferndale Haggen, and The Market at Birch Bay. More information: glmwine.com.

Found worldwide, it’s referred to pinot grigio in Italy and either pinot gris or pinot grigio everywhere else. In any case, the grape is the same, and more often than not you’re likely to find it with bright, citrusy characteristics and a crisp, dry finish.

Here are a few recommendations of pinot gris I’ve recently tried and think you might enjoy as well:

Oak Grove 2009 Reserve Pinot Grigio (pictured at left, about $8) – At this price point, it’s almost hard to believe that this wine from California is able to achieve such a high level of quality and complexity. Aromas of fruit cocktail with pear and white peach flavors are followed by a hint of ruby grapefruit on the finish. An outstanding value and worthy of a case purchase.

Columbia Crest 2008 Grand Estates Pinot Grigio (about $12) - Not to be outdone, this Washington wine provides an equally good offering for a few dollars more. Big flavors of baked apple and tropical fruits are capped by a gentle splash of spicy citrus. The wine can be occasionally found on sale for $10 a bottle or less.

Cupcake Vineyards 2009 Pinot Grigio (about $14) - This California winery sources its grapes from the Trentino region of Northern Italy to make a delicious wine. It’s more full-bodied than most from this part of the world, with lemon, pear and pineapple flavors and a faintly creamy finish.

King Estate 2008 and 2009 Signature Pinot Gris (about $17 each) - The leader in Oregon pinot gris production offers two slightly different versions of the same grape that are currently in release.

The 2009 vintage is almost zingy, with kiwi, granny smith apple and lemony notes, while the 2008 is a bit more refined, with lovely aromatics of stone fruits and flavors of pear and papaya to compliment the finishing touches of citrus.