14 Hands Chardonnay: a mellow Washington white

I'm not normally a big fan of domestic Chardonnays. They often taste like wood chips due to overzealous use of oak barrels during the fermentation process. The 14 Hands winery avoids this sin, and has a lovely result to show for their efforts. Pleasing aromatic notes of pear and apple combined with a soft, mellow finish make this a perfect pick for the beginning of autumn. Enjoy this Washington white with chicken or seafood. $10 at World Market.

A Stellar Sauvignon Blanc: sunshine in a bottle

Hats off to Chateau Ste. Michelle for this lovely Sauvignon Blanc from Washington's Columbia River Valley. Refreshing and vibrant with a clean citrus finish, this white wine is an excellent pair for cream sauces, fish, chicken, and salads. My cook's mind considered lemon, cucumber, and herbs as I breathed in its light, summery bouquet. Galileo said, "Wine is sunlight, held together by water." In the case of this wine, I couldn't agree more.