I believe the only times I’ve had Ugni Blanc were in France, sipping Cognac after dinner, or in a cafe in Provence in the south. It’s certainly not common in Paso Robles and rare to find plantings, but winemaker Ryan did and parlayed it into one of their most popular wines. And it is delicious.
The wine is pale straw yellow with nice citrus aromatics, crisp acidity, and creamy mouthfeel. I also get the type of salinity you’d find in Galician Albariño, making this white wine perfect for pairing with oysters and other fresh seafood. I always appreciate low alcohol wines, and this one weighs in at only 13.3%, impressive for this region.
Pair this with simple grilled chicken brushed with olive oil, salt and pepper, and herbs de Provence. That’s it. Send your appreciations and comments to me via e-mail 😉
Read about winemaker Ryan Pease and why he chose this wine as the Paix Sur Terre flagship.