It might be hard to believe, but summer is almost here. Hard to believe, at least, from my East Coast vantage point. As we roll into summer, we tend to roll into a new season of eating and celebrating, and the wines that match.
Summertime for me means trying to relive my youth — youthful as I may be. That means taking things easy and not too seriously. I want to kick back and drink beer out of a red Solo cup. Except it’s not really beer, it's red wine. It’s not really a red Solo cup, but a nice tumbler will do! All-white party? How about a footwear optional afternoon in the backyard instead?
As you can see, summers of my youth were — how shall we say — somewhat frivolous and filled with simple pleasures. These simple pleasures were the rationale for this selection of red wines.
Summer’s here, so let’s not worry too much about the details. Instead, just find a few wines that’ll make spending time with friends and family easy and carefree.
Schiava aka Vernatsch aka Trollinger
This is almost embarrassing. Just last week, I included a specific bottling of Schiava in my Italian Wine Bucket list because it was great and not imported into the states. Well, lo and behold, Girlan Gschleier is now available here, at least in New Jersey, and is only $23 a bottle. Quite the deal for a bucket list wine!
Schiava, or Vernatsch as it is known in the Alto Adige, where the bulk of production comes from, is an ideal summer red. It drinks almost like a rosé and takes a slight chill eminently well. Pair Schiava with salumi and cheese on your next picnic or with simply prepared grilled pork for a fabulously refreshing summer red experience
- Girlan Gschleier $23
- Nalles Magre $15
While Blaufränkisch comes in many styles, the lighter and perhaps more traditional style is what I would reach for this summer. Another favorite with pork, this is a great wine when we start to dip into spicy sausages of both the pork and poultry persuasions.
Two to try:
Piedmont is famous for famous wine. Its less-famous wine? Well, they’re not very famous! Pelaverga is one of the hidden gems: light-bodied, peppery, bright and fresh with a wildly perfumed combination of pink peppercorn, red berry fruit and a little raspy minerality. Pelaverga’s home is the sleepy village of Verduno, which has mostly escaped much attention from wine lovers in the USA, even though it is home to several wonderful producers. Pelaverga is a great wine to pair with game birds. Duck grilled rare and served rare is a lovely match here, especially when it’s served with a little ratatouille and some pasta with arugula pesto.
Carmenere
Summer is not all about light fare. Sometimes, you just need a thick, juicy steak. Finding a wine that pairs well with that grilled steak without being just too big for the weather can be a challenge. This is where Chilean Carmenere comes into the picture. Carmenere, a lost grape of Bordeaux that was rediscovered thriving in Chile, combines the softness of Merlot with the freshness and herbaceousness of Cabernet Franc. In fact, Carmenere can be way more herbal than even Cabernet Franc, but like with Chimichurri sauce, that herbal quality and bright, juicy acidity works like a charm when complementing grilled red meats. At your next BBQ, go easy on the sauce and instead pop some Carmenere!
Two to try:
- Carmen Carmenere $18
- Lapostolle Carmenere $12
Petite Sirah
Okay, I surrender. Even in summer, you might need something kind of big but still juicy and not too overwhelming. Petite Sirah is just the ticket. Plump with rich fruit, Petite Sirah tends to be a little less rich than say, Zinfandel, with alcohol that is a touch lower and acidity that is a touch higher. The resultant wine was born to wash smoky BBQ from your greasy, little, upturned lips. It’s just that good. Weirdly, my favorite pairing with Petite Sirah, though admittedly one of the lighter styles, has always been spicy, smoky jerk chicken. It is a versatile wine that can take a bit of a chill, while still being ready to battle your boldest BBQ adventures.
Read the original post on Snooth.