Our Resident Wino is wine master Derek Lewis of Taggia inside Kimpton’s FireSky Resort & Spa in Scottsdale. This month, Derek recommends white nights…and days for wine-lovers.

Spring is here, and with its arrival comes a sense of renewal and a season of new beginnings. This means there’s no better time to cultivate your appetite for new and exciting wines. Following a winter of snuggling up with red varietals that take the bite out of the cold, spring lets the sun do the warming and gives you a reason to move on to refreshing whites. These wines are matches made in vineyard heaven for seafood, crisp seasonal salads and spring citrus. They’re also perfect for sipping on your patio or Taggia’s (no noshing required).

Vermentino
This Italian varietal, also known as Pigato, resides mostly in Liguria and Sardinia and in smaller amounts in Piedmont in Italy. In France, it’s name is Rollo. Along with the crispness and acidity, it occasionally strikes some subtle herbal notes.

Verdejo
An aromatic varietal from the Rueda region of Spain, this wine normally comes in at a very approachable price point. In other words, it’s good for you and your wallet. Bottle to Buy: Cecchi Litorale.

Grüner Veltliner
The Austrian offerings of this varietal are the most popular in the United States, but its roots extend to  Slovakia and the Czech Republic as well. This selection can offer some peach and spice notes to accompany the clean citrus flavors that are the common trait of all varietals in this list. Bottle to Buy: Domäne Wachau.

Assyrtiko
This gem of a grape from Greece is starting to finally get some traction around the globe. Greece is one of the up and coming wine regions to watch. Santorini is the most well-known region for production, and it’s characterized by soil high in volcanic ash – with a more pronounced mineral element. Bottle to Buy: Siglas.

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