Summer is FINALLY here! Long hot summer days need refreshing wines that pair well with lighter foods. Months of quarantine has many of us relishing the summer, wanting to spend more time outdoors with friends and family enjoying summer meals.

Did you know that summer foods pair perfectly with high acidic wines? High acid wines are more invigorating and make better matches with summer fare because they are more vibrant and juicy, which gives them citrusy note characteristics. The less phenological ripeness in fruit means lower sugar and higher acid in the wine.  During the hot summer months, we tend to eat more fruits, vegetables, seafood, salads, and grilled foods, which pair best with lighter wines. Some guidelines to keep in mind when pairing summer wines with food:

• Match the body of the food with the body of the wine
• Match the intensity of flavors between wine and food
• Wine should not overpower the food
• Wine should be more acidic than food
• Stay with fresh fruit for dessert
• Leave the sauces out or match to the sauce (BBQ sauce is exempt from this rule of course!)

Here we introduce 12 easygoing summer wines, broken down into sparkling, summer reds, rosés, and whites that are sure to keep you refreshed while you enjoy your summer meals. 

SPARKLING

NV Campo Viejo Cava Brut Reserva

Enjoy this sparkling Cava’s clear, greenish-yellow hue with fresh and well-balanced palate elegance and aromas of white and hints of wood. Pair these bubbles with fresh vegetable and fruit salad or grilled fish.

2018 La Bioca Moschiaccio Moscato d’Asti DOCG

This Moscato Sparkler has flavors of fresh ripe cantaloupe, nectarine, and floral notes similar to the sweetness of Moscato d’Asti style. Pair this bubbly drink with grilled chicken breast or grilled shrimp salad.

2019 Chandon’s Carneros By The Bay Blanc de Blanc Blend

Born French and raised in California, this cuvée sparkling wine blend is aged in French oak barrels. It has notes of white flowers, lemon, apple, grapefruit, brioche, and almond throughout with mineral aromas that pair well with tiny raw brine-fresh oysters.  

ROSÉ

2019 La Grand Courtâge Tres Chic Rosé

This rose petal hued wine produces a rosé with flavors of red berries, citrus, and tropical fruit, balanced by floral notes and a nice length on the finish. It pairs well with both cheese and spicy food. 

2019 Bonterra Organically Grown Rose 

This organic, dry rosé on the palate has red-berry fruit notes—tart cherries, cranberries, pomegranate, a hint of peach and cotton candy joined by aromas of bright grapefruit acidity, orange blossoms.  Enjoy with steak tip kabobs!

Maivino Rosé No. 7

How cool is this vegan, environmentally friendly pouched wine? Made with Syrah grapes and spiked with Riesling, you can pair with BBQ and spicy fare. The pouches also come in Sauvignon Blanc and Pinot Noir wine flavors! 

SUMMER REDS

2018 Shadow Chaser Red Wine

Bring Australia to your backyard with this deep and earthy Garnet red wine with notes of strawberries, blueberry, and cedar with hints of eucalyptus. The palate finish is of smoky tart cherries and oaky blueberries that pair well with grilled steak and hard cheese.

2018 Badia a Coltibuono Cetamura Chianti 

Ruby red-hued wine with palate notes of cherry and blackberry and aromas of cinnamon and cloves will have you feeling light on your feet after a long summer night. Pairs well with BBQ chicken and soft or hard cheeses.

2018 Gnarly Head Pinot Noir

This wine has aromas of ripe black cherries followed by notes of black cherry and plum and has a palate finish of toasted hazelnut and tobacco, making it a little bit on the heavier side. Enjoy with salami, antipasto, or grilled pork loin.

WHITES

2018 Beyond Sauvignon Blanc

This wine is jam-packed with notes of passion fruit, melon, kiwi, and lime with a mineral and verbally finish. Enjoy this light white with seafood or pasta salads.

2019 Broadbent Gruner Veltliner

Elegant, delicious juicy white wine with plenty of lime, peach, and green apple flavors with herbal and peppery palate finish. Pair with a charcuterie board of sliced meats and cheeses or chicken shrimp kabobs.

2018 Ken Forrester Old Vine Reserve Chenin Blanc

This dry, white packs a punch! Notes of apple, pear, melon, oak, vanilla, butter, honey, minerals, and stone pair well with spicy food, shellfish, and mild or soft cheese.

Fire up that grill and get to sipping!

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