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The Guardian
2 days ago
- Climate
- The Guardian
Summer calls for chilled red wine
Last week's column was a casual toe-dip into the lido of summer-centric drinks writing. I write these columns just over two weeks in advance, so I need Met Office/clairvoyant weather prediction skills to work out what it is we're likely to be drinking by the time the column comes out. But I'm going to go out on a limb here and declare that summer will be here when you read this. No, don't look out of the window. Keep looking at your phone screen, and imagine the sun's beating down outside. That calls for a chilled red, right? The Guardian's journalism is independent. We will earn a commission if you buy something through an affiliate link. Learn more. The types of red wine that fare best when chilled are those that are fruity, youthful and not too tannic. The punching down or pumping over of a wine can extract tannins from the skins, pips and stalks. Often confused with the mouth-puckering effect of acidity, the best way I can describe the sensation of tannins is it's a bit like when you drink the last dregs of a cup of green tea: it tastes all stemmy and dry, and you can feel where you've been biting the inside of your cheeks. 'In hot and sweaty Barcelona, we serve all our reds at between 11C and 12C,' says Benji Sher, owner and sommelier at the city's Fluid wine bar. 'That's definitely too cold for the super-tannic bangers, but I'd rather things slowly warm up in the glass. Better to be too cold than too hot.' 'A cold wine is more a thing to drink and less a thing to savour,' says J Lee, a New York-based food writer whose semi-anonymous musings on flavour I trust disproportionately considering I've never met him. 'I think the way we're consuming wine is becoming more casual,' he says. 'A cold wine is never so serious, and most other beverages that people drink casually are served cold: beer, cocktails, White Claw … I'm looking forward to ice cubes in wine coming back.' Perhaps that is the logical next step for those among us who want our reds to remain chilled all summer long? I have to confess, popping an ice cube in my wine glass isn't something I've yet tried for fear that it will dilute the wine, and therefore my drinking experience, which doesn't bear thinking about. But then I think of my beloved iced coffee. Not only is this apparently the reason I'll never own a house, but it's also something I suck up so ravenously quickly that the fact that the ice may dilute the coffee doesn't even cross my mind. Perhaps that's the thing: something as simple and delicious as a chilled red needn't concern itself with the heat. By the time the ice would have melted, it'll already be in your belly. Ideally alongside some saucisson. Morrisons The Best Côtes du Rhône Villages £9.75, 10.5%. Crafted in the Rhône village of Sablet by Boutinot for Morrisons own-label range, this is all dark fruit. W/O Organic Frappato 2023 £12.99 Laithwaites, 13.5%. Many a sommelier recommends frappato as a wine that thrives when chilled. Geyerhof StockWerk Zweigelt 2023 £12.95 The Wine Society, 12%. Rousing savoury tea and bramble fruit notes in this Austrian red, which tend generally to fare well when served a bit colder. Marchesi Migliorati Montepulciano d'Abruzzo 2022 £22 Passione Vino, 12.5%. Generous montepulciano from a remarkable independent importer. Check out their other stuff, too.
Forbes
5 days ago
- Entertainment
- Forbes
Drink To Summer: 5 Refreshing Wines For Hot Days And Hotter Nights
ST. HELENA, CA - SEPTEMBER 25: Galen Turner from Denver, Colorado, samples a glass of wine during a ... More private tasting at Tres Sabores Winery September 25, 2009 in St. Helena, California. Tres Sabores, a certified organic winery, has strated to harvest their grapes for the 2009 vintage as wineries throughout the Napa and Sonoma Valleys begin to harvest and crush grapes. (Photo by) The right wine can transform any summer scene, from sun-drenched afternoons to star-lit nights. This season, it's all about choosing wines that set the mood: crisp and energetic whites for long, languid days and sultry reds for warm, captivating nights. Whether you're hosting a breezy backyard barbecue, planning a chic dinner party, or simply beating the afternoon heat, the right bottle can take the moment from ordinary to memorable. Forget basic frosé. From mineral-driven whites to chilled reds with a hint of spice, summer wines can refresh the palate, spark conversation and turn a gathering into an elevated event. These six picks aren't just thirst quenchers; they're conversation starters, pairing champions and the key to making every summer get-together feel effortless… and a little more extraordinary. Pour generously, chill deeply and toast to wines as bold and inviting as your summer plans. 6 Wines to Make This Summer Unforgettable Monje: organic orange wine. This seven day skin contact orange blend wine features notes of mandarin orange and nectarine for a bright and juicy 'sea breeze' finish. Comprised of an organic blend of French Colombard, Gewürztraminer, Zinfandel and Albariño, the Monje is best served chilled on a hot summer day. Pair this wine with light bites like fruit salad, oysters and charcuterie. Get it here. A limited-edition, co-branded 'Selección Red' blend. This limited-edition wine was designed to honor the rich cultural heritage of Mexico and the passionate fanbase of the Mexican National Teams. Selección Red is a semi-sweet red blend offering notes of ripe dark plums, rounded tannins and a velvety, smooth finish that would be delightful with a meaty barbecue dinner or fresh pastas. Get it here. California in a bottle, this budget-friendly Gallo California Chardonnay is crafted to please a wide range of palates. This Chardonnay delivers a balanced yet distinctive profile with notes of citrus, ripe fruit, vanilla and a subtle hint of oak and its medium body and refreshing texture make it a natural pairing for seafood staples like buttery salmon and summery shrimp salads. This approachable white also complements poultry dishes and creamy sauces, making it a reliable go-to for a variety of dining occasions. Get it here. Hahn Pinot Noir for sultry summer evenings. Find your new favorite rosé or chilled red with Last Bottle Inc. While not a specific wine per se, this sommelier-curated wine experience is perfect for discovering new wines all summer long. Last Bottle Inc.'s personalized wine gifting service is a scout-led wine and champagne curation tailored to your individual preferences with access to rare, small-production bottles at insider prices. Get it here. Not drinking this summer? No problem. This Beaujolais non-alcoholic sparkling rosé is made from ultra-refreshing unfermented biodynamic Gamay juice, apples, ginger and wild herbs. It tastes like a fizzy rosemary elixir with just the right amount of sweetness to balance the palette and would pair beautifully with a roast chicken or grilled fish. Get it here.
Forbes
29-05-2025
- Lifestyle
- Forbes
10 Summer Wines Worth Sipping in the Sun
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.
