12 Wines to Try This Summer

Food

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As you fire up the grill for your next summer celebration, pour a glass of wine and enjoy the crisp, fresh flavors of summer. When the temperatures climb, we tend to reach for easy-to-drink white wines, but bubbly and rosé are also seasonal mainstays. When you’re firing up the grill, refreshing red wines are also wonderful for carefree picnics or cookouts.

This year, raise a glass to the warm weather with one of these 12 wines to try this summer, all delicious food-friendly bottles for any occasion.

White

White wine, corkscrew, dishes and flowers, on a white tablecloth.

Mia White

Mia White is a young, fruity wine made from a blend of Macabeo, Xarello and Parallada with a touch of MOscatel grapes. With a bright, straw color and an aroma reminiscent of apples, pears and bananas, the wine is refreshing, fruity and light with hints of honey and orange blossom on the finish. Pair it with manchego cheese, salads, grilled chicken or even spicy Thai food ($10, miawines.com).

Spirito d’Italia Pinot Grigio

Pinot Grigio is always a crowd pleaser, especially this version full of ripe melon aromas. With bright citrus and grapefruit flavors, delicate floral notes and a lingering melon finish, Spirito d’Italia is crisp, dry and easy to drink. If you’re looking for a versatile wine that will please at a party or be perfect for a glass on the terrace on a summer Sunday night, you’ve found it ($7.99, spiritoditalia.com).

Lucien Crochet Sancerre

My favorite summer white wine is a crisp Sancerre, from the Loire Valley of France. This wine, made from hand-picked grapes, has notes of of citrus fruits, grapefruit flavors and aromas and a touch of minerality. It’s a perfect aperitif pairs well with seafood or light summer fare ($30, lucien-crochet.fr).

Rose

Vintage glasses with pink rosé wine

Lot 33 Rosé

Made with a blend of Syrah, Grenache, Cinsault, and Mourvedre, this is one wine perfect for picnics and other outdoor festivities. Aromas of ripe strawberries fill the glass accompanied by mild notes of Provencal herbs, white pepper, and cotton candy. It’s the ideal choice for washing down prosciutto and roasted red pepper sandwiches, nicoise salad, or crispy fried chicken ($11.99, ninetypluscellars.com).

Justin 2014 Cabernet Sauvignon Rosé

If you’re a fan of Justin’s flagship Cabernet Sauvignon, this summertime sip is aptly described by the winemaker as “tasty, racy and mouthwatering, with tangy plum and raspberry flavors.” Light and refreshing with a twist, it’s made from cabernet sauvignon grapes ($20, justinwine.com).

2014 Endless Crush Rosé of Pinot Noir

From the Russian River Valley ($25), Endless Crush is one of the more subtle summer wines, with strawberry, passion fruit and honeysuckle aromas plus blood orange and watermelon flavor notes. Top that off with a beautiful, pale, delicate pink color  for a wine that is both crisp and refreshing ($25, inmanfamilywines.com).

Sparkling

Chilling Champagne

Moët Ice Impérial

The first champagne ever created to be served on ice, Moët Ice Impérial is an exceptional blend of pinot noir, pinot meunier and chardonnay with tropical notes and sweet spices. Pour it over three ice cubes for a refreshingly crisp and innovative way to drink Champagne, or add garnishes like fresh raspberries, strawberries, a citrus twist or sprig of mint to bring out the drink’s complex fruit aromas ($75, reservebar.com). 

La Marca Prosecco

With its iconic blue label, La Marca Prosecco is one of my go-to wines for summer sipping. With a golden straw color and a bright, bubbly effervescence, La Marca Prosecco has hints of fresh citrus, honey and white flowers. Topped off with a refreshing, crisp finish, this will take you from the beach to a summer cookout to a celebratory toast. They’re also available in 187 mL bottles, great for party favors or those nights when you just want a glass without opening the whole bottle ($17 for 750 mL, $5 for 187 mL, lamarcaprosecco.com)

Segura Viudas Brut

If you have been looking for an everyday bubbly (because, who doesn’t need an everyday bubbly in their repertoire?) then you need look no further. Segura Viudas Brut is a cava defined by fruit, freshness and complexity. This wine delivers aromas of white fruit and citrus, along with tropical and light floral notes. It is refreshing and smooth on the finish, with balanced acidity ($9.99, wine.com).  

Red

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2007 Jargon Pinot Noir

In the summer, red wines need to be easy to drink, it it can easily overwhelm the palate. A smooth and straightforward Pinot Noir is the way to go if you can’t make the perma-switch to lighter wines for the season. Dark cherry flavors add to the smoky, smooth taste of this easy-drinking medium-bodied red. Savor the wine on its own or pair it with pork chops, roasted salmon, or grilled mahi mahi ($12, jargonwines.com).

Elena Walch 2013 Schiava

If your idea of a summer vacation is a weekend in Venice or Milan, the next best thing is probably a flight of Italian reds. Elena Walch 2013 Schiava is an ideal summer red from northern Italy. It’s loaded with red cherry, strawberry and almond notes alongside soft acidity and subtle tannins. ($15, elenawalch.com).

Vega Montán Joven Mencía

Winemakers in northwest Spain are rediscovering forgotten hillside plantings of old-vine mencía, bringing this festive, gregarious varietal back to its rightful place at the table.Weighty with ripe plums, fresh acidity and deep concentration of flavors, this wine is light,, fruit-forward, simply delicious to drink. Chill slightly, so it will be perfect for summer sipping  ($10, bodegasadria.com).

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5 Comments

  • Reply
    Meg @ With Salt and Wit
    September 4, 2015 at 9:25 am

    This is the best list! Keeping it for next summer when I can enjoy a glass of wine 😉

  • Reply
    Katerina @ Diethood
    September 3, 2015 at 7:34 am

    Just about to hit PRINT! This is a very useful guide. My husband will most certainly appreciate it!

  • Reply
    Michelle @ The Complete Savorist
    September 3, 2015 at 2:00 am

    Fantastic guide. I am trying to build my wine palate and always looking for advice.

  • Reply
    Krista @ Joyful Healthy Eats
    September 2, 2015 at 7:41 pm

    Seriously love this! My husband and I love wine and this will be a super helpful guide to use this summer! Great post!

  • Reply
    Becky Hardin | The Cookie Rookie
    September 2, 2015 at 7:32 pm

    LOVE THIS!!!! Doesn’t get better than wine for me! Great post 🙂

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