There's nothing better than sitting outdoors on a warm summer evening, relaxing with a nice glass of wine. Unless of course you are doing so on a beach in Hawaii.
Ah, summertime. The birds are singing, the flowers are blooming and the sun is high in the sky, warming our bones and tanning our skin - that's right, vitamin D is good for you! There are farmers markets full of fresh, locally grown fruit and veggies to eat, baseball games, and beach parties. Along with all this good, healthy summertime fun, you might be hosting (or attending) a garden party or backyard cookout. And what would a lovely soiree such as that be, without the perfect wine?
Naturally, people have various tastes, so how can you know what is the best choice for you, your guests or party host? You may find a trip to the store can be quite daunting since there is a plethora of fabulous wines to choose from. How can you find the right wine for the occasion AND not spend a fortune? The trick is to know what wines go with the food that is being serving and also to realize that a wine doesn't have to be "top-shelf" to be really good! I've had many wines under $15, that were out-of-this world.
As it is summer, I often prefer to serve lighter wines, both in body and color (whites and ros*), although there are some red wines which are light bodied as well. Here are a few suggestions to get you started in choosing the right wine for your summer adventures.
Riesling (white) - A wine for any occasion! When in doubt, choose a Riesling. Rieslings can be on the sweeter side, but there are drier varieties. The flavor is of fruit, citrus, minerals and can have floral notes as well. The sweeter Rieslings go well with desserts, or cheeses and fruits. The drier styles go wonderfully with grilled foods such chicken, fish or pork.
Pinot Grigio (white) - A very popular wine, produced abundantly in the northeastern regions of Italy. These wines are very crisp, dry (not so sweet) and refreshing. Typically you'll find these wines to have aromas of apples, pears and minerals. They are light to medium bodied and go nicely with shellfish, salads, fish and chicken.
Sauvignon Blanc (white) - Zesty and fresh, this wine will often have fragrances of citrus, melon, herbs, grass, and, if the wine was aged in oak (common for California vineyards), vanilla and spice. New Zealand is a favorite producer of Sauvignon Blanc. And what to serve it with? Grilled vegetables, chicken, swordfish and other shellfish such as mussels.
Chardonnay (white) - This will be the creamier of the whites, lingering longer on your tongue. You'll find that Chardonnays taste of apple and peach, grapefruit, pineapple and especially with the Californian varieties, vanilla, smoke and even butter. They go great with any kind of seafood, smoked meats, grilled chicken and pork, and although some may disagree, I think Chardonnay goes quite nicely with steak!
Pinot Noir (red) - A light bodied wine that is both elegant and exotic. You'll find Pinot Noirs offer earthy flavors as well as cherry, raspberry and even chocolate and tobacco. This is a SEXY wine, perfect for those romantic picnics, candlelit dinners or midnight walks on the beach. Pinot Noir goes quite nicely with light cheeses and fruits, salmon, pork or veal.
Merlot (red) - It sounds heavier than it is. Merlot is a medium bodied red wine, typically mellow and fruit-forward. You'll find Merlot to have aromas of cherry, strawberry, raspberry, cedar, smoke, tobacco, coffee and chocolate. It pairs fantastically with light cheeses, duck, game hens, lamb and steak.
This of course is only a small tidbit of information regarding wines in general, but hopefully it will help get you started in choosing the right wine for your special occasion. If not, well, just remember, it all tastes good after a glass or two!
Until next time, Salute!
If you have suggestions or questions for the Wine Snob, please email us at: winesnob@splashmag.com