The warmth and humidity of an approaching summer affects the buying habits of many a wine lover. Lighter wines, especially whites and Rosés, are more refreshing and more appropriate for summer’s lighter dishes.
As delicious as a full-bodied red or a rich, buttery Chardonnay can be, they are often too heavy in texture and flavor for summer. They aren’t usually at their best when fully chilled and most sippers find a cool wine is more refreshing in the heat. Save those full-bodied reds for a cold winter’s night or an evening when someone gets too enthusiastic with the A/C.
One can find many white wines that offer fantastic flavors and very good value as well, ranging from dry to semi-sweet, that are refreshing and appropriately styled for hot days and warm nights. Sauvignon Blanc, Pinot Grigio, Chenin Blanc, Pinot Blanc, and Viognier are varietals (grape varieties) that meet the criteria and there are even lighter, softer whites including Torrontes or Italy’s Prosecco and Gavi di Gavi.
Even some of the lighter, un-oaked Chardonnays meet the criteria for summer sipping. They have a growing following of those weary of heavier, oaky Chards. One such Chardonnay is A to Z from Oregon. It is crisp, clean and delivers mouth-watering fruit flavors and aromas without being heavy.
A less known varietal, Viognier pairs beautifully with shellfish and fish. Yalumba’s “Y” series from Australia has wonderful aromas and the palate is rich with guava, star fruit and passion fruit flavors. Echoes of melon linger on the refined finish. It’s not as fat (concentrated, rich and low in acidity) as some Viognier. Its crisp acidity keeps it bright and refreshing. The past five vintages have all been quite consistent and have received “very good” and “best value” ratings.
A varietal often overlooked is Chenin Blanc. When well made, Chenin Blanc can be well balanced with flavors of melon and white peach. It has a delicate floral quality resembling honeysuckle and a fresh, lively finish. Look to France’s Vouvray (off-dry) and Savenniéres (dry) regions for some of the best French expressions of this grape, but don’t forget the excellent Chenin Blanc wines from South Africa, California and Washington State.
Check out Ken Forrester’s 2006 Petit Chenin from Stellenbosch, South Africa, a thirst quenching, dry version or the off-dry Sauvion Vouvray from France. Both are delectable and comfortably priced.
Sauvignon Blanc can exhibit a wide range of styles, from the grapefruit and lemon citrus flavors of New Zealand and its style imitators to the mango, papaya, nectarine and new mown hay of some California examples. Try Kim Crawford for the NZ style or California’s Matanzas Creek for the rounder style. Whatever your preference, these are great warm weather wines.
A Blush, Rosé, or light bodied red can be a wonderful warm weather alternative to white wines. Next month we’ll take a look at these flavorful styles
Meanwhile, join the adventure and experiment a little. Good hunting!
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Credit Cache.Wine.com
