At the end of a long, hot day, there’s nothing better than sipping on a refreshing glass of wine. There is no better way to lull yourself into summery bliss. But how to know which wines are best for summer drinking? And what wines go best with food during the season? Well, we’ve got you covered with this list!
Here are our top refreshing red and white wines that will make your summer memorable.
Top White Wines for Summer
Riesling
Riesling is one of my favorite summer grapes. It is crisp, sweet, and made in a variety of styles. In the summer, pair it with crisp and sweet nature with seafood to make a simple dinner. A nice tradition with Riesling is to serve it with oysters on the half shell or even a shrimp cocktail.
Chenin Blanc Reserve
Chenin Blanc has a somewhat similar flavor to Riesling but is a bit less crisp and softer in texture. It also has higher acidity and color concentration, which makes it ideal for summer foods. Try it with grilled fish or vegetables, fried chicken and pork chops, lighter pasta dishes, and light desserts, like apple pie or berries.
Sauvignon Blanc
Sauvignon Blanc is an ideal summer grape. Its medium acidity makes it refreshing with foods like white fish or fresh salads. Its flinty and spritzy character makes it pleasant with many seafood and poultry dishes.
Pinot Gris
Pinot Gris is a wine made from the same grapes as the more popular Pinot Grigio from Italy. The wine is clear and pale yellow. With its light, fruity nature, Pinot Gris is a refreshing summer wine with white fish or fresh salads as well as, chicken dishes.
Gewürztraminer
Gewürztraminer is a spicy, aromatic white grape that’s grown in many spots around the world, including Alsace and Michigan. In the summer, pair it with lighter foods like pasta and fish. Its spicy and floral character is a perfect complement to spicy Indian food as well. It’s also a nice match for fresh fruit desserts such as berries or stone fruits.
Chardonnay
Chardonnay is an oak-aged white wine grape that is sometimes known as the “king of grapes” because of its complexity. Its high acidity makes it a perfect match for light fruit salads and common cheeses, both summer, and winter.
Albariño
Albariño is one of the most exciting white grape wines being made in Spain. Its high acidity makes it a great summer grape, especially for seafood dishes and poultry. It also pairs best with fresh fruit desserts.
Top Red Wines for Summer
Chianti Classico
Chianti Classico is a style of wine made from the grapes that are used to make Chianti Classico from Italy, except the grapes’ skin has been removed. This result makes it lighter and easier to drink wine than Chianti from Italy. It is also sold in two different styles: sweet and dry. Either is perfect with pasta dishes, grilled chicken or pork chops, and lighter fish dishes.
Beaujolais
Beaujolais is a red wine that’s made in France from the Gamay grape, but it’s slightly different than Beaujolais from France; especially in California. In the summer, it’s light and refreshing with many dishes like grilled chicken or seafood as well as fresh salads or appetizers such as soft cheeses or bruschetta.
Pinot Noir
Pinot Noir is a red wine variety that’s made from the same grapes that are used to produce the more popular Pinot Noir from France. However, it has been aged in oak barrels. Aged in oak barrels, it develops a darker and more complex flavor than wines made from other varieties of pinot noir. It’s ideal with summer food like grilled chicken or fish as well as fresh salads and light pasta dishes.
Frappato
Frappato is a grape grown in Sicily that makes a medium-bodied red wine with higher acidity and fruitier flavors than many Italian reds of the same vintage. Pair it with fresh fruits desserts or light pasta dishes, especially in the summer heat.
No matter which of these wines you choose to serve, be sure to remember that wine should always complement the food you’re serving it with. If you’re pairing your wines with food, be creative and vary the types of food with each serving. Also, keep in mind that some wines pair better than others and every grape variety has its own unique style, so don’t be afraid to experiment.
