SEASONAL...Wines For Summer

When the weather gets hotter our thoughts turn to grilling. Why heat up the kitchen when you can fire up the grill? Below we have suggestions for summer pairings and summer sipping.

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Sipping:

Prosecco: - A sparkling white wine from northern Italy. Prosecco is a dry sparkler that is wonderful chilled and drunk as an aperitif. Drop some frozen grapes, starwberries or even peach slices into the glass and you have summer bliss. Keep in mind that prosecco is also perfect with grilled veggies, salty olives (salty anything) and cheeses.

Champagne - Sip it ice cold. Imagine the bubbles inside the glass competing with the condensation building on the outside. There is nothing more perfect for summer and champagne goes with everything!

Moscato D'Asti: -A sweet white and light wine that is perfect for sipping, wonderful with dessert and a sublime hot summer evening thirst quencher.

Everything Else...

Grilled beef: - Go for a nice tannic and full bodied cabernet. Its flavors are robust enough to stand up to the richness of the meat as well as the delicious charred bits. An Argentinean Malbec is especially delicious with grilled burgers. Other choices: Shiraz or Zinfandel.

Mild to Medium Spice - White Wine: If you are having a curry or grilling chicken or pork with a spicy rub or marinade then go for a Riesling or Gewürztraminer. Both have a light sweetness that is a perfect balance to the spice and their flavors are strong enough to come through without being over powered by the spiciness of the food.

Mild to Medium Spice - Red Wine: Try fruity, robust hearty reds such as Garnaca (Grenache), Tempranillo, Malbec, or a red blend such as Pinotage or Meritage. Remember you can also pair spicy grilled chicken or pork with a nice light pinot noir. Another choice: Chianti

Extremely Spicy foods: - Skip the wine and go for a lager, such as Sam Adams. Extreme spice will completely annihilate any wine you might choose so a fuller bodied beer works best to balance out the spiciness.

Crab Boil, Shrimp Boil or Clam Bake: - Try a full bodied chardonnay, a dry Riesling, a Spanish Albariño, a crisp Sauvignon Blanc or a hearty Sam Adams Summer ale. Take your pick because all will go well with any of these summer staples. But be aware that if you are doing a spicy boil then go with the beer and/or the Riesling or Spanish Albariño.

Grilled Fish: - Try a dry Riesling, or a semi-dry, fruity Chenin Blanc. Chardonnay also goes well with grilled fish.

Also, when it comes to fish, keep in mind the following:

Light fish - go with a crisp Sauvignon Blanc or a dry, citrusy Pinot Grigio.
Oily fish - a medium bodied, fruity and acidic Viognier or a semi-dry and fruity Chenin Blanc is a good choice.

Grilled Vegetables: - Both red and white wines can compliment grilled vegetables. If you prefer a red then we suggest a Tempranillo or Roja. If you prefer a white then we suggest a Riesling, an Albarino. Want something in between the try a dry rosé. Another Choice: Pinot Grigio.

A Few Suggestions:

1. Banfi Rosa Regale Brachetto D'Acqui (lightly sweet sparkling rose) (Italy)
2. Perrier Jouet Grand Brut (France)
3. La Marca Prosecco (Extra dry) (Italy)
4. D.Pedro De Soutomaior Albarino Rias Braixas (Spain)
5. Kanu Chenin Blanc (South Africa)
6. Robertson Winery Gewurztraminer(South Africa)
7. Covey Run Gewurztraminer(Washington State)
8. Kris Pinot Grigio (Italy)
9. Genesis Riesling (Washington State)
10. Leasingham Magnus Riesling (Australia)
11. Kim Crawford Sauvignon Blanc (New Zealand)
12. Babich Sauvignon Blanc (New Zealand)
13. Box O' Birds Sauvignon Blanc (New Zealand)
14. Hazard Hill Rose (semi-dry) (Australia)
15. Carpineto Rosato (dry) (Italy)
16. Dona Cristine Desires (sweet) (Italy)
17. Concha Y Toro Marque de Casa Concha Cabernet Sauvignon(Chile)
18. Borsao Tres Picos Garnacha (grenache) (Spain)
19. King Estate Oregon Pinot Noir(Oregon)
20. Echelon Pinot Noir(France)
21. Bogle Vineyards Petite Sirah(California)
22. Peter Lehmann Shiraz Barossa(Australia)
23. Columbia Crest Grand Estates Chardonnay (Washington State)
24. Robertson Winery Pinotage(South Africa)
25. Buzzard Tree Meritage(Australia)
26. Diseno Malbec(Argentina)