Yesterday I shared 5 American red wines to bring to a Fourth of July barbecue or cookout.  A lot of people don’t like drinking red wines in the summer heat, though.  Plus, there is something about sitting outside on a summer evening with a glass of crisp, white wine that just screams summer vacation, even if I’m not really on vacation.  Therefore, as you’re putting together your final shopping list for tomorrow’s July 4^th party, here are some American white and sparkling wines to consider:

The 2009 Fess Parker Viognier (winery) is actually a blend of 80% Viognier, 13% Marsanne, 5% Grenache Blanc, and 2% Roussanne grapes, and while you know my recent confession that I don’t tend to be a Viognier fan, this wine is definitely an exception.  The mix of tropical fruits—honeydew, pineapple, and champagne mangos—with hints of butter, vanilla, and wet stones makes for a delicious wine.  I made an avocado chimichurri bruschetta that I found on Pintrest for last Saturday’s get together with the Wine Ladies, and I think it would not only be good addition to a July 4^th party, but also would pair nicely with this wine.  I gave it 4.5 corks and purchased it for $18.

The Francis Ford Coppola Diamond Collection Black Label Pavilion (winery) is a blend of 96% Chardonnay and 4% Viognier grapes and is a more full-bodied white.  It has a nice mix of citrus—mostly grapefruits and limes—and nectarines, with touches of pears, passion fruit, vanilla, and ginger.  It’s wine that was made to enjoy with food and will go nicely with some of the cold salads that often are served as side dishes at a cookout.  I gave this wine 4 corks, and while I received it as a sample, the suggested retail price is $17.

The Sawtooth Winery Riesling (winery) is an incredibly affordable Riesling from Idaho.  It’s full of stone fruit characteristics, which are mixed with Lemonheads candies, white flowers, honey, and a nice minerality.  While it has a touch of sweetness, the bright acidity and little bit of spritz in this wine make it very refreshing, particularly in the hot summer weather.  My one word of caution is that it is so light and enjoyable, you may forget that you’re drinking alcohol!  I gave this wine 4 corks and purchased it for $10.

The Mumm Napa Brut Prestige (winery, snooth) is a sparkling wine that has a lot of sparkle.  It surprised me a little with its floweriness, but I enjoyed the way it mixed with the cream, limes, nectarines, and toast.  It had a bright acidity and was actually the sparkler I drank while watching fireworks on our roof deck last Fourth of July.  I gave this bubbly 4.5 corks and purchased it for $20.

The Gruet Brut (winery) is an affordable sparkling wine from New Mexico that would be a fabulous addition to a July 4^th cookout.  It’s full of limes, granny smith apples, and toast with a nice acidity that keeps the sparkler fresh without making it too biting.  I gave this bubbly 4 corks and purchased it for $14.

Question of the Day: What are your plans for July 4^th?