The variable Spring weather has finally come to an end and now the onslaught of beautiful hot summer days has set in.
It is often so toasty that your only desire is to find a cool spot in the shade and sip on something that is crisp light, refreshing, and will suitably bring your body temperature down to a comfortable level.
Your appetite for light dishes is paramount, while at the same time, light to medium-bodied red is perfect for all of the grilled meats that are enjoyed on the BBQ.
How should you choose a suitable summer wine?
The Summer heat is best enjoyed with light to medium-bodied white, rosé, and red wines (Anything with an ABV less than 13.5% should be suitable).
Wines that are heavy in alcohol often feel too heavy in the summer heat and are less enjoyable to consume. While summer is more commonly associated with white and rosé wines, if you are a hardcore red wine drinker, not to worry, there is a broad array of light to medium red wines that make excellent summer sipping.
Try chilling your red wine slightly before serving. You may be pleasantly surprised to discover how much lighter and more refreshing it will be to drink.
Half an hour in the refrigerator should be long enough to take the warm edge off.
What are the best summer wines?
|
Grape/Wine |
Characteristics |
|
Beaujolais |
The intense minerality of Beaujolais comes from the hilly terroir it grows in, just south of Burgundy France. The light gamay grape is perfect and can be paired with basically anything |
|
Barbera |
This easy-drinking red wine from Italy is perfect on a hot summer’s evening. It goes perfectly with pizza or can be enjoyed on its own. |
|
Chardonnay |
The perfect white wine for any season, Chardonnay is a favorite on its own as an accompaniment toa variety of different vegetable and meat dishes. |
|
Sauvignon Blanc |
The perfect summer wine with light citrus and grass notes, Sauvignon Blanc is perfect with fresh salads, chicken and fish dishes. |
|
Muscadet |
Muscadet from the Loire Valley is a perfect companion to seafood, especially oysters, or can be enjoyed on its own. |
|
Moscato |
A well-crafted Moscato makes for delightful summertime sipping with ripe juicy notes of honeysuckle and pear and drinks well on its own or accompanied by a dessert. |
|
Champagne/Sparkling wines |
There is nothing better than a light fresh glass of sparkling wine to make the heat melt away. Perfect on its own or with light dishes, you cannot go wrong. |
|
Pinot Grigio |
Summer and Pinot Grigio (Pinot Gris) go hand and hand. Fresh tropical fruit aromas and vibrant acidity make it perfect to drink with seafood or dishes that have a vinaigrette. |
|
Rosé |
Rosé wine is perfect for chilling down the summer heat and goes well with various light summer dishes and grilled food from the BBQ. A rosé is the perfect match for any hot summer day. |
|
Frappato |
Frappato is a Sicilian grape and makes a red wine that is exceptionally light (almost as light as a rosé) and is full of minerality from the volcanic soil that it grows in as well as has aromas of wildflowers. It is perfect for oysters or on its own. |
|
Riesling |
Riesling can be made either sweet or dry and its crisp acidity, peach, pear, and apricot flavors make it a very food-friendly wine that pairs exceptionally well with spicy Asian dishes such as Thai food. It is also perfect to drink on its own. |
|
Picpoul de Pinet |
Bright light refreshing wines that are rich in citrus and mineral flavors, Picpoul is perfect with light salads and fish dishes. |
|
Pinot Noir |
Pinot noir is perfect for any season and is perfect for sipping on its own and goes particularly well with meat-based dishes, grilled meat, and vegetables. |
|
Vermentino |
Vermentino is light fresh and dry and is perfect for light summer fare or enjoyed on its own. |
Texan wines are perfect to take away the summer heat
Many of the wines that have been suggested come from different parts of the world.
However, do not forget that there are many talented Texan winemakers who are continually experimenting with new grape varieties and producing some extraordinary wines from them.
Why not try a locally-made Sauvignon Blanc or Chardonnay? As always your first port of call should be your local wine expert who will be thrilled to guide you in the right direction and suggest the perfect Texan wine that will cool down a hot summer's day.
During the summer months, there is a lot of focus put into staying cool. We seek drinks that are light and refreshing.
We tend to prefer wines that are lower in alcohol and are crisp, light, and fruity.
Whether you are a white, rosé, or red wine drinker there are plenty of suitable wines to choose from.
If you are not sure which type of summer wine you prefer, then this is the perfect opportunity to experiment and try as many different wines as possible.
It is a great way to discover new and interesting wines while at the same time helping to expand your ever-growing wine knowledge.
