Summer is here, which means it’s time to serve wines that are especially alluring on the hottest of days.
What makes a wine perfect for summer drinking? Ones that are crisp, I’d say, refreshing and, of course, easy to drink.
White wines should be dry, light to medium bodied and high in acidity. Albariño, Dry Riesling and Sauvignon Blanc are good choices.
Red wines should also be light to medium bodied, dry with low or refined tannins. Beaujolais, Cinsault and Pinot Noir work well.
In selecting a rosé look for dry, lower tannin varietals, such as Barbera, Grenache and Pinot Noir.
Champagne may make you think of the holidays and formal celebrations but it’s an ideal hot weather libation, too. Its effervescence, bright acidity and versatility make it a good fit for any occasion. Select non-vintage ones that are brut with elegant profiles, citrus and mineral notes, and save Champagne with rich, creamy and yeasty styles for colder weather.
Time to chill the red wine
No, that’s not a typo. Some red wines actually benefit from a little cooling down. Lighter-style higher acidic reds will show their vibrancy and their bright red-fruit characters won’t change with the temperature (full, tannic red wines tend to shut down when they get cold). Try chilling your summer reds for 30 minutes in the fridge or on ice for 20 minutes before serving.
Pairing summer wines with food
In addition to being ideal summer sippers, lighter-style wines showcase the food typically served this time of year:
White wines
Albariño: Fish tacos, grilled artichokes and pesto pasta.
Sauvignon Blanc: Grilled vegetables, lemon-marinated chicken and oysters.
Dry Riesling: Prosciutto-wrapped melon, smoked salmon and Thai curry dishes.
Champagne
Caprese salad skewers, shrimp, sushi and fried or roast chicken.
Rosé
Charcuterie platters, gazpacho and grilled tuna.
Red wines
Beaujolais: Chicken salad, grilled sausages and vegetable pasta.
Cinsault: Smash burgers, grilled lamb chops and wood-fired or grilled pizza.
Pinot Noir: Beet salad with goat cheese, grilled pork chops and smoked beef brisket.
Recommended: 12 great wines to help beat the heat
Ronan by Clinet 2021 Bordeaux Blanc, France. $15, 305 Wines, Miami, 305wines.com.
Honig 2023 Sauvignon Blanc Napa Valley. $20, ABC Fine Wine & Spirits, abcfws.com.
Pazo Pondal Mila Albariño, 2022 Rias Baixas, Spain. $23, Forum Wine Shop, Fort Lauderdale, forumwineshop.com.
Piccoli Zefiro 2022 The Light Breeze Valpolicella, Italy. $24, Small Wine Shop, Fort Lauderdale, smallwineshop.com.
Château Minuty Prestige 2023 Rosé Provence, France. $30, Total Wine & More, totalwine.com.
Barbacan 2022 Rosso Alpi Retiche, Lombardy, Italy. $32, West Palm Wine Co., West Palm Beach, westpalmwine.com.
Quinta do Romeu 2022 Atelier Palhete Biodynamic, Douro, Portugal. $32, Small Wine Shop, Fort Lauderdale, smallwineshop.com.
Alex Foillard 2021 Brouilly, Beaujolais, Burgundy, France. $40, The Wine Wave, Delray Beach, thewinewave.com.
Dog Point 2020 Pinot Noir, Marlborough, New Zealand. $49, Virginia Philip Wine Spirits & Academy, Palm Beach, virginiaphilipwineandspirits.com.
Champagne Baron Dauvergne Blanc De Noirs Grand Cru NV. $60, Forum Wine Shop, Fort Lauderdale, forumwineshop.com.
Etude 2022 Carneros Pinot Gris. $32, Crown Wine & Spirits, Doris Markets and Wine Watch, Fort Lauderdale, etudewines.com/products/2020-carneros-pinot-gris.
Beringer Vineyards 2022 Private Reserve Chardonnay. $50, Crown Wine & Spirits, Doris Markets and Wine Watch, Fort Lauderdale, beringer.com/en/2022-private-reserve-chardonnay.
Did someone say cocktail?
If you’re in the mood for a summer cocktail, the White Lotus is a popular choice at City Oyster in Delray Beach.
“This is a nice and refreshing cocktail similar to a piña colada that can be made without a blender,” says Daniel Sobey, City Oyster’s general manager. “The sparkling wine finish lightens up the cocktail, which makes it a great selection on a hot summer’s day.”
White Lotus
2 oz. Papa’s Pilar Rum
1 oz. lemon and lime juice mixture
1 oz. pineapple juice
1 oz. Real brand coconut purée or cream of coconut
Prosecco or sparkling wine
Combine ingredients with ice in a shaker. Shake briskly. Strain into a martini or coupe glass. Top with Prosecco or sparkling wine. Garnish with edible flowers or a lime slice.
City Oyster is located at 213 E. Atlantic Ave., Delray Beach, cityoysterdelray.com.
Peg San Felippo is a certified sommelier who served as a judge at the recent Los Angeles Invitational Wine & Spirit Challenge, the annual American Fine Wine Competition, South Florida’s home-grown national wine event; and THE Rosé Competition.
Mark Gauert also contributed to the recommended list.
![In those rhapsodic locales to our north whence so many of us have hailed, summertime is the giddy season that redeems the restive hibernation of winter. Then, for the sunny span of 93.6 days, it is imperative for everybody to get outdoors and soak in every frolicking one of the 8 million-plus seconds of feetingly beautiful weather. That’s the prevailing notion, anyway. But it’s one that doesn’t really hold in South Florida, does it? For many of us here, the reality is more: “Summer? Meh.” If you take away the vacations and throw in the H-word, the season just ain’t […]](https://www.sun-sentinel.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/05_LES_MIS_TOUR_2022_S2_5618.jpeg?w=525 "In those rhapsodic locales to our north whence so many of us have hailed, summertime is the giddy season that redeems the restive hibernation of winter. Then, for the sunny span of 93.6 days, it is imperative for everybody to get outdoors and soak in every frolicking one of the 8 million-plus seconds of feetingly beautiful weather. That’s the prevailing notion, anyway. But it’s one that doesn’t really hold in South Florida, does it? For many of us here, the reality is more: “Summer? Meh.” If you take away the vacations and throw in the H-word, the season just ain’t […]")
