5 Best Wines to Enjoy This Summer
The warmth. The sweet summer smells. The time spent outside with friends and family. There’s much to look forward to in summer, and finding the right wines to help complement this season is nothing short of a must. What are the best wines to enjoy this summer? What makes a wine among the best summer wines at all? There’s much to consider as you select the right bottle for an evening outside, an impromptu dinner party, or a summer picnic in the park.
What To Look for In a Summer Wine
What do you think of when you think of the season itself? If you’re like most people, the words light and refreshing probably come to mind, and that’s true for summer wines, too! The best summer wines really manage to bottle light and refreshing in one delicious package.
In the cooler temperatures of the fall or in the depth of winter, you typically look for a full-bodied, heavy wine. When summer comes, though, you want something quite the opposite of that, so you’ll want to search for crisp, stimulating tastes.
How exactly does all of that translate when you’re shopping for the best wines to enjoy this summer?
Look for wines with a higher acidity level. This can truly refresh your palate thanks to the zesty feel that creates in your mouth.
Search for options that have a light to medium body. These tend to be delicate and subtle, so they’re the perfect option for warm summer afternoons and evenings because they’re so easy to drink.
Consider those that have lower alcohol content. Great summer wines tend to have an alcohol content that runs between 11 and 13%. That tends to make them easier to drink in the heat of summer.
Find a wine that features summer fruits. Those that include notes of citrus fruits, tropical scents, or berries help enhance the experience of summer wine and truly add to the refreshing characteristics they tend to have.
Add wines that pair well with your favorite summer meals. Summer cuisine often includes dishes with vibrant flavors and lighter ingredients. Whether it's seafood, salads, or grilled meats and vegetables, you’ll want to select options that can complement and elevate the dishes on your table.
Choose wines that are best served cold. Summer wines are meant to be refreshing! That’s only going to happen during this season if they’re chilled, so choose those that need to be refrigerated before serving. Most experts will tell you to select an option that can be served at 43 to 55 degrees. It will help enhance the subtle tasting notes as well as improve the overall experience.
The Best Wines to Enjoy This Summer
What bottles should grace your wine rack as you prepare for the summer? Try one or all of these five options.
2021 Rainstorm Pinot Noir Rosé:
This Pinot Noir Rosé really is an ideal choice for your summer table. It offers a bright acidity, which provides a zesty and refreshing sensation the moment you taste it. Perfect for those hot summer days, you’ll find it pairs well with a number of summer dishes like salads, seafood, grilled vegetables, lighter meats, and various picnic fare. With each glass, you’ll notice the scents of summer including strawberries and rose petals. Crisp and elegant, it’s the perfect choice.
2018 Ramos Vineyard Gewurztraminer:
If you’re searching for something unique, this is a great choice. Intensely aromatic, you’ll smell and taste a variety of bright summer flavors here including passion fruit, melon, and tangerine. Offering slightly more body than the Pinot Noir Rosé, this Gewurztraminer has a rich mouthfeel, which makes it perfect as an evening glass after the day is done or with a meal.
Its interesting flavor profile makes it a great companion for a variety of cuisines, particularly those with aromatic spices and bold flavors, like Thai, Indian, or Middle Eastern dishes. It can also pair well with grilled meats, poultry, and fruit-based desserts.
2021 Sweet Riesling:
If you’re looking for a touch of sweetness, you’ll find this option to be a delightful and refreshing experience during the summer. It’s the perfect balance of sweetness and acidity, and it features two key summer flavors - pineapple and white peach. The combination of those two fruity flavors and balanced acidity creates a lively and refreshing taste profile, making sweet Riesling a great choice for hot summer days.
It also pairs exceptionally well with a wide range of foods, making it a versatile wine for summer dining. It can complement spicy cuisines, such as Thai or Indian dishes, as well as light salads, seafood, and grilled meats. Like other white wines, sweet Riesling is best served chilled, enhancing its refreshing qualities.
2021 Rainstorm Pinot Gris:
Light on the palate, this is one you’ll certainly find refreshing no matter how high the temperature gets. With bright acidity, you’ll find this to be an approachable, easy-going wine, perfect for summer get-togethers. The bouquet of crisp pear, melon, and honey-blossom aromas is the ideal complement for various cuisines, light salads, seafood, grilled vegetables, and lighter meats, making it a versatile wine for summer dining. Whether you're having a picnic, barbecue, or beach outing, Pinot Gris is a crowd-pleasing wine that suits the relaxed and social atmosphere of summer gatherings.
2020 Rainstorm Pinot Noir:
Light-bodied reds like this Pinot Noir are ideal when you’re having friends over for a grill party. With a bouquet of strawberry, rosehip, and cranberry, it complements summer the moment you open the bottle. It pairs well with a wide variety of summer dishes, including grilled chicken, pork, or salmon, as well as various salads and vegetarian options.
Summer really is the season for a perfect bottle of wine, and if you’re looking for the best wines to enjoy this summer, look no further than our complete catalog. Take a look at the many varieties we have available for order now.