I know, I know—I’ve been remiss with new posts. My excuse? The day job. You know, the one that pays the bills, funds the food and wine indulgence, and keeps me stocked with cheese I pretend is “research material.” My apologies to my small (but mighty) band of followers.

So… What happens when you hand your sister a glass of Portuguese white wine and ask for tasting notes? You get references to WWII sitcoms, ABBA dance breaks, and possibly a choking hazard. Welcome to my latest wine review.

Back in August—yes, that season that feels like a lifetime ago—I did a wine tasting interview with my sister, Toni. These are my favorite because, honestly, you never know what’s going to come out of someone’s mouth when they try to describe wine. (Spoiler: it’s rarely “notes of limestone” and more often “reminds me of ABBA.”)

I cannot share the raw footage of our first attempt—it contained some, let’s say, colorful sisterly language—but let’s just say this is Take 4 or 5 video, cleaned up for public consumption. Here we go.

The Interview

Me: Toni, as you look at the bottle, what’s your first impression?

Toni: It reminds me of an old British TV show in the 80s that was very, very funny—something with the French war.

Me: For those scratching their heads, she’s referencing ‘Allo ‘Allo! A satirical sitcom set in WWII France, full of French cafés, bumbling Gestapo, and questionable accents. (Honestly, that connection alone deserves points.)

Me: Okay, give it a sniff. What do you get?

Toni: Not much… it doesn’t smell very strong. Not sweet, but I get a little lemon.

Me: Swirl it—really get your nose in there. Anything new?

Toni: Slightly buttery… but still lemon.

Me: Now take your first sip—hold it in your mouth. Tell me what you get.

(Cue Toni choking on her sip. No, I was not laughing. Not at all.)

Toni: It smells like it should be a Chardonnay, and I don’t like Chardonnay. But actually… it’s light citrus, sharp, zingy. I quite like it!

Me: Now try it as you’d normally drink.

Toni: Okay… yeah. Still sharp. Super drinkable. I don’t know how to explain it, but it tastes nice. Can we have another sip to be sure?

Me: One moment please—this is a serious interview. 😉 Do you get other fruits—tropical, melon, kiwi?

Toni: Don’t say kiwi. I don’t like kiwi. Maybe melon. Definitely more citrus—yes, orange!

Me: Going deeper—flowers, herbs, other fruits?

Toni: It’s very easy to drink. I’m getting cantaloupe now.

Me: Okay, close your eyes. Does it give you a memory—a moment, a movie, a book?

Toni: YES! Mamma Mia! ABBA music! This wine would make you sing and dance while sipping.

Me: Final thoughts?

Toni: Love it. Easy on the palate. Definitely a summer drink—delicate, dangerously fun. Can we open another bottle?

✨ Final Thoughts (from me): If a wine makes Toni think of WWII sitcoms and ABBA musicals, it clearly has range. This is a crisp, citrusy, dangerously drinkable summer sipper—ideal for seafood or, apparently, spontaneous dance numbers.

The Winemaker’s Notes

(ALLO’s way of saying it better than we did.)

ALLO has a yellow and silvery-bright color. In this blend, Alvarinho (tropical and structured) meets Loureiro (floral and delicate), creating a lively yet elegant white wine. Its moderate alcohol keeps things balanced.

Perfect by the glass or as an aperitif—ideal on a sunny day. Pairs beautifully with seafood, grilled fish, white meats, aged cheeses, smoked meats, or Asian and Mediterranean dishes.