When it comes to finding easy-on-the-wallet, everyday whites, I’m all about bargain Rhones. There are so many sub-$15 good bottles to be had. I’d like to gain more access to some of your favorite producers for Viognier, Rousanne, Marsanne, and blends of those varieties from the New World. What are some of your recommended producers and specific wines? Thanks in advance!
A recent thread on the same topic.
Brandon
I’m assuming you’re in the US, but Hawkes Bay in NZ has had quite a bit of success growing Viognier. Unfortunately hey found very little market for it so much of it has been pulled. Te Mata Zara is one of the best examples (not avail at the moment but K&L does direct import it). K&L does have the Quarter Acre for $15 which is definitely worth a flyer.
Chateau Tahbilk in Australia is a bit of a white Rhine specialist. They have both a Marssane and Viognier available in the $15 range, or for a treat, why not get the 1927 vines for $30.
We are blessed here in SB County to have some wonderful white rhone variety producers. For both Marsanne and Roussanne, you really can’t go wrong with Qupe - great stuff indeed and they age beautifully (had a '93 Marsanne last year with Tom Hill and it was fantastic!). For roussanne, one of the best producers year in and year out with their L’Avion is Stolpman, especially with a few years on it.
Other producers in our area who over-deliver on the white side would be Jaffurs, Curran (especially Grenache Blanc), and Zaca Mesa for their Roussanne.
Of course, don’t leave out Tablas when discussing white rhones from CA . . .
Cheers!
+1 There’s also Tercero that’s pretty good. ![[cheers.gif]](/uploads/db3686/original/2X/0/0ff9bfcdb0964982cd3240b6159868fbdf215b1a.gif "cheers"){kind=small}
Haven’t had it yet but Larry’s Grenache Blanc gets a lot of love! Personally, any of the Tablas Creek whites are lovely, although I prefer theViognier the least. Anthony Younts Kinero Roussanne is special and very affordable given the quality and source of the fruit. (James Berry Vineyard).
Mr Schaffer’s wines are often bragged about on WB (by everyone EXCEPT him), so you may want to try them. I have not gotten to yet.
Zaca Mesa’s Roussane is yum. I also would suggest Two Shepherds’ Grenache Blanc or Bokisch in Lodi for Mediterranean whites.
Tercero is the best choice, particularly if you factor price and availability into the equation.
Another vote for Tablas Creek
Great responses. Thanks for that link, Brian. I failed to find it earlier and would’ve just read through that.
No love for 2 Shepherds here?? You are missing some terrific wines: Grenache blanc and Grenache Gris, Marsanne and a Rhone blend, all of which are worthy. The blend has a substantial amount of Rousanne. The alchemy of the Grenache Gris manages to combine body and crispness so that it is extraordinarily food friendly, as they say. Not <$15, but reasonable, for sure.
Ps. the reds are also excellent.
If cost is not a factor, I would consider Peay Roussanne-Marsanne, and Jemrose Egret Pond Viognier.
Washington producers are making a ton of Viognier/Roussane/Marsanne at many different price points. At the higher end ($30-$40) DeLille’s Doyenne label makes an absolutely incredible Roussanne. The Force Majeure Collab Viognier is really good too. Barnard Griffin makes a decent Roussanne that won’t break the bank, and Lauren Ashton’s is awesome for ~$20. Rotie makes a good Marsanne, as does Maison Bleue. Forgeron makes a blend that is hard to argue with as well.
Terravista Figaro from the Okanagan Valley. I am not one to pimp BC wines but this one is excellent.
Tablas Creek is miles ahead of all others worthy of mention, for my preferences.
Outside of Tablas, I think domestic producers do best with Grenache Blanc. I’ve had excellent versions from the aforementioned Tercero, as well as from Graves (although I think they’re now defunct), Kinero, and probably a couple others that aren’t immediately coming to mind.
Ignore the many behind the curtain 
but he does make good Rhone varietals. The Tercero Viognier is quite delicious and a real bargain.
In my opinion, the best is SQN. Alban used to make some great stuff, but I have not had it in a while.
I rather enjoyed BROC Cellars rhones blend.
+1
I’ve had every bottle William’s produced since his 2010 vintage and I’ve never been disappointed. Very well crafted.
+1 on the Peay. Hard to source though unless you are on the mailing list and buy a decent amount of their other wines (which are great btw).