You have got to see this area to believe how beautiful it is. I was here four years ago and was to rushed to take it all in. This trip, I made sure that there was enough time to visit the wineries, talk to the owners and winemakers, and appreciate the sheer beauty of the landscape.

The wine group that I belong to arranged a wine tasting for last Saturday evening. The theme was “alternative whites” for summer drinking. The intent was to call attention to the fact that there is life beyond chardonnay. The group brought in Sancerre, Fume Blanc, Viognier, and Vernaccia. These wines are good selections, however I felt like such a dummy when I realized I’d forgotten to suggest an excellent choice from Austria, a wine made from the Gruner Veltliner grape. (Gru-Vee for short) It would have been a perfect addition as the wines made from this grape are affordable and plentiful in the Lowcountry.