please, more Verdelho from Lodi

Who doesn’t like to discover a new and unexpectedly refreshing wine?  I’ve just come across one: 2009 Lee Family Farm Verdelho from the Silvaspoons Vineyard in the Alta Mesa sub-region of Lodi.  Frankly, Lodi is a California region I associate with hulking, high-alcohol Zinfandels (not my favorite tipple). But Verdelho, a traditional Portuguese varietal and a staple of Madeira production, manages to keep its acidity even in hot dry climates like Lodi’s.  The grapes in Ron Silva’s vineyard came from cuttings near his grandfather’s home in the Azores, and were turned into a tart, fleshy, minerally white by Morgan Winery for its sister label, Lee Family Farm.  The price is right, too: $15.