Seasons of Wine

When the weather begins to warm up, many wine drinkers notice a change in their buying habits.  Of course there are exceptions, but the warm weather lends itself to lower alcohol and lighter bodied wines.  What intrigues me the most is that during this time wine drinkers tend to be open to exploration.  Grapes which otherwise may be greatly ignored, become rock stars of the beach, lake, or pool deck.  I have discovered some of my favorite everyday sips this time of year and encourage you to do a little exploration of your own.  To help you get started, I have included a few suggested alternatives for your seasonal consumption.

Chardonnay
There is something seductive about the creamy texture of Chardonnay, but the rich flavors don’t often play well with the summer sun.  As an alternative to Chardonnay, search out white wines from the Rhone.  Roussanne, Marsanne, and Grenache Blanc are often blended to create wines with similar texture and weight, but with more summer fruit flavors.

Sauvignon Blanc
Although it is already a great wine for summer sipping, Sauvignon Blanc can be a bit intense when the sun beats down.  Instead of reaching for that Sauvignon Blanc this summer, try grabbing a wine from Rueda.  These Spanish whites are predominately Verdejo, but may also contain a splash of Sauvignon Blanc.  Expect subtle citrus notes followed up with aromas of white flowers.

Pinot Grigio
Pinot Grigio is probably the wine that doesn’t need an alternative, but if we are exploring we might as well give it a mention.  Almost every region in France has a wine dedicated to the local fresh seafood.  They are light, crisp and charged with wonderful minerality.  My favorite this year is Picpoul.  A chilled bottle of Picpoul and some grilled oysters or mussels from is my idea of a perfect summer evening.

Reds
The most common summer sipper for red drinkers is Pinot Noir, but there are other great wines for warm weather red drinking.  Many entry-level Cotes du Rhones are fermented in steel tanks or concrete vats and are bottled young.  These methods keep the wines fresh and youthful, providing crushed cherry and bright raspberry flavors.  I love putting a bottle in the fridge for a few minutes.  The cooler temperature makes the wine seem brighter and can temper any alcohol heat.

You should be able to find all of these wines at your local wine shop.  While there are expensive versions of some of the wines, you can find fantastic versions for under $15.  One more bit of advice: When in doubt, open a bottle of Champagne!

Stop in anytime at Johns Creek Wine & Crystal and let us help you find the perfect wine for any occasion!