Nancy Sinatra sang about summer wine very beautifully: “Strawberries cherries and an angel’s kiss in spring. My summer wine is really made from all these things.”
With summer being all about relaxing, having fun and staying cool, how can your summer wine help you in these areas? In this article, I’ll highlight some tips for getting the most out of your summer wine.
Chill All Your Summer Wine
It’s true. Chill everything. Serving reds at 60 degrees instead of 70 degrees will bring out the wine’s fruitiness, which will make the wine that much more refreshing. Put your reds in the fridge for at least 30 minutes before serving.
Keep the Alcohol Content Down
Not only can alcohol go to your head more quickly in the summer, it can also negatively affect the taste in your glass. Wine heats up quickly on a hot day, which can result in an overbearing alcohol flavor, instead of the fruitiness or citrus notes you’re looking for.
Go for Acidity over Tannin
Tannin can feel quite heavy on a hot day and can actually make you a little thirsty. Acidity, on the other hand, is very refreshing. Think about lemonade. It’s one of the most refreshing – and acidic – summertime drinks. If you follow the lemonade vein when choosing your wine, you’ll be very happy. Your best bets are Sparkling Wine, Sauvignon Blanc and Riesling. Even die-hard beer lovers will have to admit that, on an extremely hot day, a glass of Sauvignon Blanc is actually more refreshing than even the best summer beer.
Cool Climate vs. Warm Climate Grapes
Grapes grown in cool climates tend to be more acidic, making the resulting wines more refreshing. So if you have an opportunity to drink an Oregon Pinot Noir or a California Pinot Noir this summer, choose the Oregon one, since it will likely be more acidic – hence more refreshing.
Can You Drink Red Wines in the Summer?
In colder months, we think fondly of drinking big, bad red wines that are higher in alcohol and tannin levels. These wines create a chewy, full-bodied experience that pairs perfectly with a warm fire. The wines warm you from the inside out.
The goods news is that there are plenty of non-chewy, lighter reds that are perfect for summer. These include Pinot Noir, Grenache, Tempranillo, Gamay and Sangiovese.
What Other Wines Are Good for Summer?
We should never forget Rosé, which in the last 10 or so years, has become a huge summertime favorite. Also, wine cocktails can be incredibly fun for summer nights. WineShop At Home recently shared six hot summer cocktails. I think you will really enjoy them.
If you have any tips that I didn’t share, I would love to hear about them. In the meantime, I hope you picked up on some good tips, and I hope that you thoroughly enjoy your summer wine. Cheers!
As an independent wine consultant with WineShop At Home, I absolutely enjoy bringing a taste of the Napa wine country home to you one sip at a time. Whether you simply love to drink wine, seek a special personalized wine gift, or are in search of a new wine jobs opportunity as a wine consultant, feel free to contact me for a truly unique wine tasting experience!
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