10 Summer Wines Worth Sipping in the Sun

Forbes

29-05-2025

getty
National Wine Day might be in the rearview along with Memorial Day Weekend, but the days of sipping summer wines have just begun.
Though stereotypes tend to flaunt summer as white wine and rosé season, Jesse Carr, director of food and beverage at Virgin Hotel New Orleans sets the record straight: 'Summer is a great time to indulge in a wide range of wines.'
For example, if you're heading to a barbeque, bubbles and chillable reds are perfect for cutting through the fatty meats. 'Look for high acid options like Cava, Cremant, or tank-fermented French sparkling wines,' says Carr. For reds, he generally suggests Jura reds, red pét-nats, and Beaujolais as they shine when slightly chilled.
Of course, white wines have their place at the table this summer, including homegrown labels as well as emerging international varieties within the U.S. market like mineral-forward Txakolina from northwest Spain or Italian Vermentino, the latter of which Diego Deleon of Kaori Miami appreciates as a poolside wine — skipping bubbles for Vermentino's 'crisp and thirst-quenching' characteristics. 'It's refreshing without being too serious,' he says.
Below, discover a mix of personal favorites and industry expert recommendations for the ultimate summer wines to stock up on.
If you're looking for a light wine with some structure, this skin contact wine from The Vice is it. While it's refreshing on its own, Deleon suggests pairing skin contact wine with anything grilled. 'The oxidative, nutty notes in a good orange wine complement the deep umami and char of grilled meats and vegetables beautifully,' he explains. 'They have just enough grip and complexity to hold their own without overpowering the dish.'
I often find Napa Valley Sauvignon Blanc to be overly green or overly oaked, but Whitehall Lane Winery pleasantly proved otherwise. Their 2022 Sauvignon Blanc is simultaneously crisp and round to create a refreshing yet complex sip. Savor a pre-dinner glass to appreciate the layer of lemongrass, yellow apples and white peach or pair it with a soy-glazed chili salmon to tame down the heat.
Early Mountain's Intention is pure sunshine in a bottle. The respective 52- to 48-percent blend of Petit Manseng and Sauvignon Blanc results in a structured white wine with tropical notes flanked by zippy acidity. It's an optimal complement to garden kebabs on the grill with a lemon vinaigrette or a shrimp scampi.
For a 'pungent yet aromatic' presentation of orange wine, Tamra Presley Weiss, the Wine Director of Coco Pazzo in Chicago, recommends this dry, skin-contact moscato. 'It's delicious well-chilled on its own as an aperitif and pairs with virtually any hors d'oeuvres,' says Weiss. Don't be alarmed if it looks cloudy, she adds: it's just an indicator that it's a natural wine and that it will offer more weight and flavor.
As an enduring fan of Vermentino, Italy's light-bodied, dry white wine that's made for warm weather, I'm enjoying its increasingly prolific appearance on stateside menus alongside the usual suspects of Pinot Grigio and Sauvignon Blanc. This bottle is everything a Vermentino should be; herbal yet laced with floral undertones and decidedly fresh on the finish. It's a perfect pairing for summer charcuterie boards around the pool.
Crisp, refreshing and slightly effervescent, Spain's Txakolina is a sleeper for fans of Portugal's Vinho Verde. 'It's got that light spritz and coastal salinity that makes it perfect for patio weather or a barbecue,' shares Kai Wilson, bar manager for Mercat a la Planxa. This particular bottle from Ameztoi, according to Wilson, is one that 'really defines traditional Getarian-style Txakolina' with its 'naturally low alcohol, super crisp' sip. Wilson recommends it as a summer go-to for seafood—raw or cooked—hard cheese, and white meats.
When it comes to chillable reds, Italy really stands out with some impressive examples from central- to island wine regions — Capezzana's Barco Reale di Carmignano among them. This Sangiovese-dominant red blend (with 15% Cabernet Sauvignon, 5% Canaiolo and 5% Cabernet Franc) makes an ultimate chiller due to its palate of juicy red berries and bright acidity. Its delicate notes deserve a simple pairing to let the wine really shine like prosciutto or lightly seasoned grilled chicken.
Lush and juicy, Pablo Braida, the first master sommelier from Argentina, likes to serve this Malbec from the southern Uco Valley of Mendoza with some chill. 'Malbec is full of ripe red and black fruits—plums, dark cherries and wild berries. The bouquet is enhanced with notes of fresh violets, liquorice and hints of black pepper and sweet baking spices,' shares Braida, who adds that the soft and easy drinking wine is 'a great wine for summer grilling—burgers, red meat in general, and even grilled fish.'
Produced from the Cabernet Cortis grape, a dark, thick-skinned grape most comparable to Cabernet Sauvignon (it is a natural crossing of Cabernet Sauvignon and wild varietals Aestivalis & Rupestris), this natural wine is full of cassis and fig jam. The unique palate benefits from some chill to blend its naturally herbal and earthy notes with the wild fruit. Enjoy with bruschetta or a straightforward spaghetti pomodoro.
It's no secret that southern France is a powerhouse of the world's best rosé (which have become the most popular summer wines) and this classic blend of Mourvèdre, Grenache, Cinsault upholds the prestige. Light-bodied but still layered, Hecht & Bannier Bandol Rosé offers distinct citrus notes of red grapefruit and blood orange combined with apricot jam. The mid-palate is round but the finish is dry and crisp so it's a versatile pairing with summer foods from salads brightened with fruit to wood-oven pizza.