What: Hogue Cellars Gewürztraminer Columbia Valley 2014 $10 

Where: Total Wine and More (Northgate, Bellevue) 

Why: Some might be surprised to learn that gewürztraminer is one of Washington’s top five white grapes in terms of planting, though its acreage (775) trails far behind titans chardonnay and riesling, which have over 8,000 acres each. Though the variety’s name can be a bit hard to pronounce (think girlsaremeaner), it’s certainly easy to drink and when done well can make a terrific bottle of wine. 

Gewürtzraminer is often aromatically perfumed, with styles in Washington and elsewhere ranging from dry to sweet, simple to profound. One recent release from Washington that offers terrific quality and outrageous value is the Hogue Cellars 2014 Gewürztraminer Columbia Valley ($10). It brings the variety’s aromas of spice and lychee, drinking dry with substantially more fruit intensity than is typically found in a bottle at this price. It’s perfect for whiling away these late days of summer without breaking the bank.

Want more wine? Look through Sean's top 100 list of this year's Washington wines.