Summer is in full swing and the weather is warm and balmy. Friends and family are in a festive mood and good wine is being poured. What’s in your glass?
Finding the perfect wine to savor over the summer months shouldn’t be difficult. Simply take your cues from an icy glass of lemonade. The coolness of the drink and the high acid of the lemon juice bring instant enjoyment and refreshment. On a hot day, there’s nothing better. The same is true with wine. The best summer wines are served slightly chilled and have a refreshing zing of acid on the palate.
The full-bodied, rich wines sipped during the colder months of winter often seem heavy and unappealing in the height of summer, kind of like wearing a heavy wool coat to the beach. Lighten up a little and choose wines that were created to be consumed young and fresh. Their cool refreshing flavors will brighten up any summer festivity and bring a smile to your face.
Rosé is arguably the most popular kid in town when the temperatures rise. The good ones boast floral aromas, medium to high acid, and flavors of strawberries or watermelon with a hint of spice. Rosé often has a slight tannic grip, as it is produced from red wine grapes, and pairs nicely with roast chicken, pork or beef.
There are many good rosés to be had from almost every corner of the world. Seek out tasty bottles from France, Spain, and Italy as well as Australia, South Africa, and our own California. These are not expensive wines. Quaffable rosé can be found for under $10, and the very best rosés top out at about $50. If you want to taste a fine rosé to give yourself a strong basis for comparison, try a Bandol or Domaine Ott from France. These wonderful, finely crafted rosé wines are truly memorable.
Nothing beats a crisp white wine on a steamy afternoon. Vermentino hails from the island of Sardinia off the coast of Southern Italy. The very most celebrated versions of this wine are Vermentino di Sardegna and Vermentino di Gallura. Vermentino offers a lovely floral nose and a palate of fresh white peaches. The wine has a pleasant minerality with flavors of Mediterranean herbs and a slight tang of sea salt. Vermentino is a medium bodied wine with medium acid and is delicious on its own or served with seafood and pasta. Now grown all over the world, Vermentino is gaining in popularity and many lovely examples are grown right here in The Golden State.
Light to medium bodied red wine can be fabulous in the summer months. If you’re a red wine enthusiast looking for a new favorite, try a Barbera d’Asti, slightly chilled. The barbera grape hails from Northern Italy and is famous for its production in the little mountain town of Asti. Barbera is high in acid with a juicy palate of bright red cherries. This refreshing wine should be served lightly chilled and is a natural companion to meats and sausages as well as pastas and classic Italian fare. Like Vermentino, Barbera is now produced in many parts of the world and rapidly gaining in popularity.
Summer is an ideal time to travel and explore different regions of the world. But if your schedule doesn’t permit you to jet off to parts unknown, allow yourself to explore wines from around the globe. A glass of wine is the perfect way to visit the land and culture of another country without ever leaving the comfort of your home. Happy travels! And cheers!
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