Looking for something different to quaff this summer?
Swap your pinot grigio or chardonnay for one of these 12 quirky dry white suggestions from lesser known grapes to spice up your summer garden drinking – all priced under £15.
Fleur De D’artagnan Reserve Blanc - STAR BUY
Grapes gros manseng, petit courbu, arrufiac
If you normally drink chardonnay, try this from up-and-coming St Mont appellation in south west France. Refreshing, appley, grapefruity notes and juicy zesty acidity alongside creamy rounded fruits.
£8.49, Rude Wines
La Salette Côtes De Gascogne 2014 Famille Duffour
Grapes gros manseng, colombard
This blend of lemony, nutty flavours has a surprisingly rich weighty palate, considering its moderate alcohol (12 per cent).
£7.95, Berry Bros & Rudd
Feateasca Regala De Ceptura 2013 Crama Ceptura
Grape feteasca regala
Romania’s feteasca regala offers pungent grapey, exotic fruit flavours similar to a heavy Muscat style. Very full flavoured and weighty, serve with seafood or grilled fish.
£9.75, Berry Bros & Rudd
Amalaya Blanco De Corte Torrontes-Riesling 2015 - STAR BUY
Grapes torrontes, riesling
This unusual, zippy, unoaked blend of torrontes and riesling hails from vineyards a mile above sea level in Calchaqui valley, Argentina. Tasters loved its floral nose, banana and lychee flavours and intense flavour definition.
£9.99, Valvona & Crolla; Aitken Wines, Dundee; Ellies Cellar
Hilltop Premium Cserszegi Fuszeres 2014
Grape cserszegi fűszeres
Grapey, peachy, lightly spiced just off-dry white offers a great introduction to this unpronounceable grape from Hungary. Ideal as a summer aperitif quaffer with its moderate alcohol (11 per cent).
£7, Asda
Nuragus Pedraia 2015 Cantina Santadi
Grape nuragus
Nuragus is one of Sardinia’s oldest native grapes producing a very nutty white with pearskin aromas. Slightly spritzy on opening, expect herby and lemon undertones, full mouthfilling flavours and a bitter twist to the finish.
£12.95, Valvona & Crolla
Roussette De Bugey-Montagnieu 2014 Domaine Peillot - STAR BUY
Grape altesse
Hugely popular with tasters who loved this unusual quirky crisp French white. Floral, yeasty, honeyed notes, a vivid Alpine freshness mingled with lemony fruits and a waxy texture, good length and moderate (12 per cent) alcohol.
£12.95, The Wine Society
Malagousia Single Vineyard 2015 Gerovassiliou
Grape malagousia
The ancient malagousia grape was virtually extinct until winemaker Vangelis Gerovassiliou revived it in vineyards in Epanomi in northern Greece in the 1970s. This wine comes from the oldest parcel in the vineyard produing a rich enchantingly citric, dry, white.
£13.94-£15, www.thedrinkshop.com; www.winetrust100.co.uk; Inverarity, Glasgow
Dry Furmint 2015 Disznoko
Grape furmint
A sleek, fresh, vibrant, unoaked white from Hungary with grapefruit, apple and lime notes. Minerally, with full length; serve with grilled fish.
£11.95/£12.95, Lea & Sandeman; Richard
Granger Wines
The Flower & The Bee White 2014 Coto de Gomariz
Grape treixadura
Tasters loved both the pretty label and fresh refined taste of this treixadura which hails from Ribeiro in Galicia. It has a slightly fuller flavour than Spanish albarino, but it is zippy, fresh and balanced.
£12-£14, WoodWinters, Edinburgh, Bridge of Allan; Harvey Nichols, Edinburgh, www.harveynichols.com
Kerner 2015 Cantina Terlano - STAR BUY
Grape kerner
This Italian white is made with kerner, a cross between a white and a red grape: riesling and trollinger, which were grown in the 1920s in Germany to achieve a disease resistant, high yielding and high sugar grape. This has floral hints and a minerally element with a full creamy palate.
£15.95, www.buonvino.co.uk
Les Perles De Jones Carignan Gris 2014 Domaine Jones
Grape carignan gris
Katie Jones champions the unusual and rare carignan gris grape from her Maury vineyard in Languedoc Roussillon. This rich, textured, dry white has very herby aromas, textured oaky notes on the palate with firm acidity. It is best served alongside rich seafood such as mussels, scallops or monkfish.
£14.95, The Wine Society
