FYI, The Hennepin Lake Tasting is Wednesday. Hennepin Lake Liquor Store 1200 West Lake Street, Minneapolis, MN 55408 (612) 825-4411 Are we meeting on Thursday? Cheers, Jim A Dozen Summer Whites for $24 or Less These quaffable wines come with flavors and prices that help them go down easily It's hard to beat a chilled glass of white wine on a hot summer day. There are lots of wines to choose from, but some of the most refreshing are those that are light in style but with good concentration of flavor and crisp acidity. These characteristics can be found in wines from around the world, and many are very affordable. -- Alison Napjus Wine Score Price FEUDI DI SAN GREGORIO Falanghina Sannio 2003 90 $17 Aromas of lemons and rhubarb turn to minerals, melons, and honey. Medium- to full-bodied, with lovely acidity and a long, ripe fruit aftertaste. Delicious. One of the best values in Italian white. Drink now. From Italy. 70,000 cases made. -- J.S. JACOB'S CREEK Riesling South Australia Reserve 2003 89 $13 Dry, tangy, a vivid style offering green apple and quince and lovely floral notes as the flavors linger. Drink now through 2008. 50,000 cases made. -- H.S. CHATEAU STE. MICHELLE Sauvignon Blanc Columbia Valley Horse Heaven Vineyard 2002 88 $15 Bright and juicy, crisp with herbal pear and fig flavors on a lean, jazzy frame. Drink now. From Washington. 23,000 cases made. -- H.S. COLLAVINI Pinot Grigio Collio Villa Canlungo 2002 88 $15 Very clean, with light pineapple, honey and pear aromas. Medium-bodied, with good acidity and a long, flavorful finish. Subtle yet rich for a Pinot Grigio. Best yet from here. Good value. Drink now. From Italy. 24,000 cases made. -- J.S. CONUNDRUM California 2002 88 $24 Round and ripe, with a panoply of melon, orange rind, pear and floral tones. Tangy citrus notes and a hint of vanilla shape the intense finish. Sauvignon Blanc, Chardonnay, Muscat Canelli, Viognier and S�millon. Drink now. 60,000 cases made. -- J.L. DI LENARDO Tocai Friulano Grave del Friuli Toh! 2002 88 $10 Very good richness of fruit in this white with pineapple and fresh peach character. Medium-bodied, with good fruit and a medium to long finish. Lovely juice. Very good value. Drink now. From Italy. 3,500 cases made. -- J.S. SOUTHERN RIGHT Sauvignon Blanc Western Cape 2003 88 $10 Very tangy up front, with lemon, chive and floral notes, and a crisp, juicy finish. Very tasty and a fine value. Drink now. From South Africa. 2,000 cases imported. -- J.M. PIERRE SPARR Riesling Alsace 2002 88 $10 Aromatic, offering floral, quince and ripe apple notes backed by a vibrant structure. It's almost glycerinelike in texture and beginning to show some maturity. Good, lingering finish. Drink now. From France. 13,000 cases made. -- B.S. YALUMBA Viognier South Australia The Y Series 2003 88 $9 Beguilingly lithe and fragrant, not as explosively aromatic as some Viognier, but rife with honeysuckle, pear and melon flavors that keep echoing appealingly on the dry, open finish. Drink now. 3,500 cases imported. -- H.S. BOLLINI Pinot Grigio Trentino 2003 87 $11 Aromas of minerals and lemon rind follow through to a medium-bodied palate, with good fruit and a minerally finish. Real Pinot Grigio here. Drink now. From Italy. 80,000 cases made. -- J.S. CA' RUGATE Soave Classico San Michele 2002 87 $11 Tasting this is like biting into a freshly sliced apple. Medium-bodied, with good acidity and a dry, fruity pear and apple finish. Drink now. From Italy. 16,000 cases made. -- J.S. WHITEHALL LANE Sauvignon Blanc Napa Valley 2002 87 $15 Understated, but with very good concentration and balance to melon, hay, peach and passion fruit. Crisp citrus and cedary vanilla fold into the finish. Drink now. From California. 7,310 cases made. Don't miss our Smart Buys archive. -- ------------------------------ * * Dr. James Lee Ellingson, Adjunct Professor jellings(a)me.umn.edu * * University of Minnesota, tel: 651/645-0753 fax 651 XXX XXXX * * Great Lakes Brewing News, 1569 Laurel Ave., St. Paul, MN 55104 *