Enjoying Wine During the Summer

Summer is all about relaxing, having fun and staying cool. When you think about enjoying wine during the summer, the same rules apply. Drink wine that allows you to relax, have fun and stay cool. So how do you do that?

A Few Tips for Enjoying Wine During the Summer

1. Keep it simple. In my recent article on barbecue wines, I quoted Dick Rosano who is a big advocate for summer simplicity. He says that the spirit of outdoor dining necessitates serving lighter, less cerebral, beverages. Think crisp, acidic and refreshing. What immediately comes to mind is Sparkling Wine, Sauvignon Blanc and Riesling. I also think of Rosé, which can be incredibly refreshing. Sangria is another wonderfully fun, refreshing option.
2. Chill everything. Serving reds at 60 degrees instead of 70 degrees will bring out the wine’s fruitiness, which makes it more refreshing.
3. Keep the alcohol content down. Not only can alcohol go to your head more quickly in the summer, it can also negatively affect the taste in your glass. Wine heats up quickly on a hot day, which can result in an overbearing alcohol flavor, instead of the fruitiness or citrus notes you’re looking for.

Fun Summer Wine Facts

I thought I would end this article with some fun summer wine facts from vinetalk.com.

• “The United States is the second largest consumer of rosé wine in the world, second only to France, where rosé outsells white wine. According to Vins de Provence, in 2012, France was responsible for 36% of worldwide rosé consumption and the US was responsible for 13%. Since then, rosé consumption has grown in both countries.
• “The red wine produced centuries ago looked more like rosé than the deep red wines we are familiar with today. This is because after crushing grapes, ancient winemakers did not leave the skins soaking in the juice to impart their color and tannins.
• “Sangria, which originated in Spain centuries ago, was introduced to the United States at the 1964 World’s Fair in New York.”