Summer Sippers
Bright, crisp, and clean with floral and fruit notes that rise up from your glass and beckon you in for a sip. The wine hits your palate and washes over it with refreshing, bright, stone fruit notes and mouthwatering acidity. The wine speaks to you like a welcome friend of summer and leaves you with a cool respite from the heat.
We have rolled into summer with a rush of heat. The temperature is rising with record heat in some areas. Refreshing white wines are on the list of items to buy to help cool off and lighten the spirit.
What are some of those great varietals that fit the bill of being light, fruity, and refreshing? What should you choose? Here are some of my favorites to consider for your summer companions.
Chardonnay, of course, comes to mind, yet not the oaked and heavy buttery kind. Just recently I drank a Chateau Montelena, 2015, that was really refreshing and very flavorful. Another option in the unoaked category is Stony Hill, which gives you a leaner, purer Chardonnay flavor profile.
Sauvignon Blanc also comes to mind. One of my favorites is Spottswoode. It’s an iconic Napa Valley winery that delivers a crisp clean wine to enjoy. Here are the winemaker’s notes on what to expect: “lime zest, lemon pith, and citrus blossom. It then opens to white peach, nectarine, mandarin, cream, with hints of vanilla and lime curd, both on the nose and on the palate. Rich and texturally enticing, with great balance and length.” Other excellent Sauvignon Blanc choices are from New Zealand. Two of my favorite producers are Cloudy Bay and Greywacke.
Want to try something light on alcohol and big on refreshment? Consider Riesling as an option. These are wines that typically present with ripe peach, apricot, nectarine, and citrus flavors along with minerality. Kabinett represents a style that is low in residual sugar and as low as 8% alcohol. That is refreshing and easy drinking in my world. My favorite area to choose from is Mosel, Germany. One of the wineries to look for is Dr. Loosen. Riesling has five levels of residual sugar, so you can choose to go sweeter with a Spatlese or Auslese.
Another cool crisp white that also offers a creamy texture is Albariño. This is a grape native to Spain and finding a home here in California as well. Some of the most regarded Albariños come from Rias Baixas in Spain, yet many California producers are doing a great job with this varietal. A great example is from Gallica Wines made by Rosemary Cakebread.
Enjoy!
