Four Sensational Summer Sippers

Summer is almost here! Time to break out those light wines that go so well in hot weather. Here are four suggestions to keep it light this summer.

Muscat Grapes

Moscato

The “Moscato moment “is here to stay! This perky wine is crafted from Muscat Blanc grapes of the Muscat family, and has been used in winemaking for centuries. Despite the fact that over 200 varieties of Muscat grapes exist, only a few are used in wine production.

Moscato has a sweet, honeyed aroma similar to Gewurztraminer, and is usually crafted in a sweeter, light-bodied style making it one of the perfect wines for summer.

Serve a chilled Moscato with spicy Asian food to complement its flavor profile of citrus and white stone fruits.

Pinot Grigio Grapes

Pinot Grigio

This “grey” grape has a huge following, especially during the summer months. Pinot Grigio can be crafted in three different styles: dry with a focus on mineral flavors, dry with a nod to fruitiness, and as a late harvest sweet dessert wine.

Dry – Minerally

This type of Pinto Gris is aged in stainless steel tanks, which lets those more chalky, stone flavors shine through. Fresh and crisp, it goes wonderfully well with mussels and sushi.

Dry – Fruity

This style capitalizes on the flavors of melon, white stone fruits and apples, creating a very fruit-forward wine. Serve chilled with a light buttery or white-sauced pasta dish and seafood.

Sweet – Fruity

This style is prevalent in France and is crafted as a sweet dessert wine with a flavor profile of citrus and honey; an enjoyable late harvest wine for the approaching autumn.

Rosé

This wine has never garnered much respect, thanks to those gallon jugs that were popular back in the 1960s and ‘70s. But today things seem to be changing.

Rosé wines are not made from a specific grape(s). Instead, most are a blend of several grapes with the winemaker deciding what style to craft.  Rosé is usually made in a dry style, and as a semi-sweet. The color of the wine will also vary depending on the types of grapes blended and how long the wine was aged on the skins.

Definitely a wine to enjoy soon after purchasing. Rosé is very approachable and fun for picnics and casual dining during the warmer months ahead.

Gamay Noir

Gamay Noir

If you’re a die-hard red wine lover, those summer whites are just not going to cut it. But a Gamay wine will keep you “in the red” with a flavor profile of fresh berries and tart cherries with a floral nose. Gamay is best known as the grape used to craft Beaujolais. Take a bottle to the next BBQ and watch the reactions.

Summer's almost here - what are you drinking during the hot weather months?

~ Joy

10 Tempting Summer Vinos

Summer is fast approaching, and with it a chance to indulge in some lighter wines. This is the time of year where cool and light are the watch words; where you automatically reach for a white vino. But wait, there are reds that will suffice during these long hot summer months, along with a few "blasts from the past" to consider.

 

The Tried and True

1) Sauvignon Blanc

This herbaceous wine is perfect with anything green: salads, herbs and veggies. Plus, it’s an excellent accompaniment with seafood and poultry. You could say it tastes like "summer in a bottle."

2) Riesling/Traminette

The perfect fruit fare wines; serve with strawberries, peaches, apricots and blueberries because these wines meld with fruit, offering their fresh, crisp and aromatic attributes to any meal – perfect for hot weather drinking.

3) Pinot Gris/Grigio

If you’re looking for a white wine that “shares the love” with summer foods, then grab a lightly chilled bottle of Pinot Gris and dig into a fresh cut watermelon, honeydew or cantaloupe, or try with lobster, crab and sushi.

For A Bolder Taste

4) Malbec

If you’re grilling bold flavors, match your wine to the main flavor profile; the meat itself, the sauce, or the marinade. If it’s a BBQ burger or a steak, you'll want a robust red. A non-oaked Malbec can make this meaty meal a delight without being too heavy.

5) Pinot Noir

If you’re grilling chicken or chops, a glass of Pinot Noir will play nicely with the food, thanks to its softer tannins. Although Pinot Noir is known for its elegance, it breaks out of its shell during the summer months and becomes the perfect “lounge around the pool” wine.

 

Perfect For Everyone

6) Rosé

This is the ‘one size fits all’ wine for summer. Rosé is food-friendly and can be served room temperature, or nicely chilled, and you can even try a sparkling version for that "Tiny Bubble" effect.

7) Sangria

Sangria is a fresh fruit wine cocktail; this cool, refreshing summer wine option provides those light, fruity flavors that beg to be enjoyed during the summer. Make your own using a chilled bottle of sparkling wine, or go with a bolder red wine like Cabernet or Merlot.

Old Fashioned Wines

8) Berry Wines

This is the wine our grandparents made: blackberry, raspberry, blueberry, strawberry and any variation thereof. Perfect with light nibbles like chocolate, and a variety of cheeses.

9) Stone Fruit Wines

This includes cherry, peach, apricot, nectarine and plum wines, which are usually crafted on the sweeter side. Most will pair nicely with Asian stir-fries and summer desserts like angel food cake, cookies, and cheesecake.

10) Flower Vinos

There’s a ton of flower wines that home winemakers love to make. If you’re talented enough to be make your own wine, or know of a home winemaker who will share, be sure to try a glass of dandelion, elderflower, chamomile, hibiscus, orange blossom, even marigold wine on a sultry day; each one will offer a real taste of summertime.

As Ray Bradbury wrote: “Dandelion wine. The words were summer on the tongue. The wine was summer caught and stoppered.”  Enjoy the abundance of the season!

~ Joy

The Wines for Summer

With the arrival of Memorial Day comes our readiness to plunge into summer!  For the next three months, we’ll search for all things cool and comfortable – including our wines.  Now’s the time to relax, kickback, and enjoy a fresh, crisp wine - and there are several types to consider.

White wines are judged to be the mainstays for summer.  Their crisp, acidic flavors go well with white meats and those summer specialties, potato salad, veggies, even Gazpacho! 

We usually expect summer whites to be chilled and cool, but go don’t go overboard and freeze them.  Lightly chilled will keep the wines fresh, crisp, aromatic, and cool – perfect for hot weather drinking.

Summer time is salad time and, yes; there are wines that pair well with a salad.  The first thing to consider is the dressing you’ll be using.  One with a lot of acid and vinegar will compete with a wine.  Look for a more mellow dressing and pair the wine according to what’s in your salad.  Topping that salad with fruit?  Check out a Riesling or Traminette.  Fresh berries?  Head for a Pinot Noir or Beaujolais.  Is your salad heavy on the herbs?  Select a wine with herbal-notes like non-oaked Merlot or Sauvignon Blanc.

If you’re grilling white meat, chicken, pork or fish, and want a white wine, consider a lightly chilled bottle of Chenin Blanc or Sauvignon Blanc, both go well with white meats and veggies. 

If you’re grilling bold flavors, be sure to match your wine to the main flavor profile.  This could be the meat itself or the sauce or marinade you’ll be using on it.  If it’s a BBQ burger or a steak, go for a robust red, a non-oaked Shiraz or Malbec can handle this.  If you’re grilling chicken or chops but want a red wine, check out a Merlot or Pinot Noir.  Both offer a softer red flavor without overwhelming the white meat.

If you want to pair a wine with chips and dips, try a young sparkling wine.  Those fresh, crisp bubbles help cut the greasy chip taste away.

If you’re looking for a ‘one size fits all’ wine for summer – consider a Rosé.  It’s a food-friendly wine and can be served room temperature or chilled.

Or make your own Sangria!  Cool, refreshing and another great summer wine option.  Light, fruity flavors beg to be enjoyed during the summer.

And don’t forget, a light, sparkling wine can make a summer afternoon more bearable. Have it with cold food, hot food, or just because you've finished cutting the grass!

Here are ten great summertime wines, perfect for steamy days and sultry nights:

1) Sauvignon Blanc, 
2) Chenin Blanc 
3) Traminette
4) Merlot
5) Pinot Noir
6) Rosé 
7) Sangria 
8) Muscato 
9) Vidal Blanc
10) Sparkling wines   

Use these to experiment with, then dive in and discover what you like.  Find a great pairing?  Let us know! Just remember to keep it fun and light - After all, it’s summer – Enjoy!

~ Joy