I’d been hanging on to a sample bottle of Torrontes for a few months now, thinking I would round up some other Torrontes to include in a varietal tasting. But since that never really happened, I finally just popped it in the fridge and opened it for dinner one night recently.

Torrontes, for those who don’t know, is the most widely planted white wine grape in Argentina. It gives a full bodied, aromatic, dry wine. And when it’s made well — like this one — it is terrific. All the opulent aromas and lush fruit flavors of a Viognier or Muscat, but mouthwatering and refreshing like a crisp Sauvignon Blanc.

Crios de Susana Balbo 2007 Torrontes Cafayate ($15). I absolutely loved this wine for its pretty, flowery aromas and ripe, full-bodied peach, tangerine and apricot skin flavors that stay dry and crisp through the lingering finish. Ready to drink now. Locate this wine online or in your area.

Food Pairing:The datasheet that came with the wine suggested pairing it with seafood, which seemed like a fine idea, but it also mentioned smoked meats, which intrigued me. I had a bit of spicy cured Chorizo in the fridge that I’d been looking for a way to use. So I sliced and quickly fried it in a bit of vegetable oil. Then I used those Chorizo “chips” like a bacon topping to a mixed green salad that had been seasoned and drizzled with olive oil. A sprinkling of crumbled fresh goat cheese and some toasted almonds (I think I could live on these two ingredients alone and always have plenty of both) finished this simple supper. Paired with the Torrontes, it was heavenly. (Now I just have to get my hands on some more of this wine so I can do the whole thing again!)