One of the strengths of the Washington wine industry is that with so much land under cultivation, growers and winemakers have been able to experiment with a wide range of varietals. Gruner veltliner, native to Austria, is one that seems to have a bright future here. It’s bright and lively, with flavors of apple and pear, while retaining an acidic core that makes it excellent for pairing with most foods. W.T. Vintners’ has a bit more body than most sauvignon blancs, without the flabbiness that can sometimes accompany chardonnay. Plus it’s just fun to say!

19501 144th Ave. N.E., Woodinville, 425-610-9463, wtvintners.com

Read all of our picks for Food & Drink, and explore the rest of this year’s edition of Best of Seattle.