Well, it’s hot out there. Not just “hot”, scorchingly hot! A family barbecue, a beach gathering or a Summer party call for wines that suit this warm time of year. No one wants to stroll around in this heat with a glass of big, weighty, chewy Cabernet Sauvignon or a heavy, oaky Chardonnay. This season calls for chilled white wines or very light red wines. Yes, I said “red” wine, but not your typical red wines – Cabernet Sauvignon, Zinfandel or Merlot. Yes, there are many types, varietals and blends out there that call for Summer but here are a few of my favorites. Again, these are “my” favorites. Let’s see if you agree. White Wine Pinot Grigio - This wine has held its popularity for many years and it is perfect for summer months. The flavors from the California and Italy grapes lean toward citrus, apple and pear making this a light, crisp, dry-ish wine with a nose that’s floral. While the New Zealand grapes will have more of a citrus, melon and pear flavor range with a sweeter nose. This wine is great to pair with light seafood dishes, gri l led chicken and fresh summer salads and cheeses. Viognier - Now this wine is a great Chardonnay substitute. The major difference in this wine is the “bouquet” or the smell. It can only be described as “floral” and that’s putting it mildly as sometimes when opening a bottle the first thing to hit your nose is the scent of flowers! It’s almost like a bottle of flowers in your hand. But don’t let the nose of this wine fool you, it is not sweet, fluffy and fruity. It is quite bold, semi-dry and rich with tons of tree fruit and nut flavors. This wine would go quite well with any grilled chicken or pork dish and most seafood fare as well as most salads and cheeses. Moscato - This Italian grape (Muscat Blanc) has grown in popularity in the past three years – so popular that a new seems to pop up every month. This wine is usually thought of as sweet dessert wine it has suddenly become a Summer go-to wine. The wine itself imparts a perfumelike 32 Explore Palm Beach | Welcome to our world™ fragrance with fresh pear, apple, apricot, peach and light citrus flavors on the tongue. You can pair Moscato with such foods as summer salads, fruit breads and cakes, and fresh fruit and berries. Gewurztraminer – Now this name is a little long so if you need to shorten it you may call it a Gewurtz (guh- VURTS). The grape is grown in regions of France, Germany, the United States and Italy, where it is thought to have originated. The wine has a nose a sweet flowery nose with apple cinnamon and pear qualities but with the added richness of spice and lychee notes. This a great wine to serve with all Asian food and white cream sauce Italian dishes as well as everyday pizza. Albariño or Alvarinho – This wine is produced from a thick-skinned white grape. The skin is so thick that only a low volume of juice is actually extracted. The wine itself is a creamy, light, rich liquid with multifaceted flavors of apricot, citrus and peaches. Think of it as a similar wine to Gewurztraminer or Viognier, but with a slightly more acidic finish. Although Spain and Portugal are the primary regions for growing Albariño, you will now find it grown in such areas as the United States and other parts of Europe. Known as one of the most expensive white wines in Spain, the variety you will find in your local market will still be quite reasonable. Albariño is a nice wine to drink with fresh fish, grilled Is It Too Hot To Enjoy Wine Now? Never!
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