5 Wines That Are Perfect for Summer: You Have to Try These
Although we’re stuck at home this year, the weather is warming up and it’s about time to start drinking those “summer wines”.
Yes, even in sunny California, my wine-drinking is seasonal.
For me, summer wine-drinking involves a lot more than just rosé. Don’t get me wrong, I most certainly am drinking plenty of rosé this summer, but I love all styles of wine too much to completely commitment to only pink wines for the warmer months.
When it gets hot in LA, I love to stock up on refreshing wines to cool me down in my AC-free apartment, take along to the beach or pool, or pair with some lighter, hot-day-friendly cuisine.
5 Wines You Need for Summer
Summer-sipping for me means lots of rosé, refreshing whites, and even some lighter-bodied reds that take well to some chilling.
It also involves summery foods like cheeses, salads, and grilled things. Here, I’m also sharing how each of these wines pair with your favorite summer cuisines.
1. Stag’s Leap 2017 AVETA Sauvignon Blanc
This is a wine that I continued to remember after the first sip I had, and now it’s become a go-to for me.
Its high acid makes for a refreshing wine that’s light-bodied, but still full of texture and flavor.
The aromas transport you to a tropical island...pineapple, guava, lychee, passion fruit, ripe yellow peaches, cantaloupe, and elderflower.
The finish lingers in your mouth for quite a while, revealing the high quality of this Napa Valley gem.
It’s dry, aromatic, full of fruit, and in my opinion, the piña colada of white wines.
I’d pair this with some goat cheese and crackers, salads, or seafood.
2. Diatom 2018 Bar-M Chardonnay
This unoaked, stainless steel chardonnay from Santa Barbara County is crisp, textured, and an unabashed expression of the chardonnay grape itself.
Without oak influence, this wine is sharp and full of fruity flavors like white peaches, lemon, and yellow apples.
The ocean influence of the Santa Barbara makes for a distinct kelpy-saline quality in the wine, which plays well with the fruit to create a sort of salted-caramel-apple vibe.
This wine would be delicious with grilled fish or chicken.
3. DAOU 2019 Discovery Rosé
Talk about easy-drinking!
From Paso Robles, CA, this rosé is inspired by the styles of dry rosé wines from southern France.
It’s thirst-quenching, succulent, and juicy, with aromas and flavors of watermelon candy, ripe peaches, strawberries, honeydew, and a touch of vanilla.
This is one of my favorite rosé wines of the season! Check out this post for 11 more rosé wines I love.
You’ll love this wine on its own, or paired with some smoky cheese to bring out the fruitiness in the wine even more.
Also try pairing this with shrimp skewers, grilled chicken, or veggie burgers.
4. Angeleno Wine Co. 2018 Bike Path
Where are my chilled red fans at?!
Chilled red wines are basically the new rosé wines. Are you guys with me on that?
This blend of grenache and tempranillo is the perfect red wine for a light chilling.
From right here in LA County, this wine is mellow, enticing, and unique…such an easy sipper!
Its bright red fruits are accompanied by some vanilla, cherry cola, and a touch of cedar.
Bike Path is perfect for enjoying alone or paired with summer fare like BBQ chicken or light tomato sauces.
5. Longford Estate 2018 Pinot Noir
I was pleasantly surprised by this wine, considering the price point is only around $13! And you can pick it up at your local grocery store.
I often struggle to find value pinot noir, but this one from Monterey County, CA, checked all the boxes for me.
Its structure is that which you’d expect from pinot noir - medium tannin, medium-bodied, bright acidity. The balance of red fruits, sweet oak spices, and a touch of earth make it approachable and perfect for a few minutes of chilling
Grab a glass and head to the porch, or pair with grilled salmon, mushroom pizza, or BBQ ribs.
Have you tried any of these wines yet? Let me know in the comments what your favorite summer wines are!
P.S. If you want to learn the basics of wine tasting to help you discover wines you love, book a wine tasting with me! Tasting are completely customizable, so we can stick to the summer wine theme, if you like!
You should also try some of these 12 rosé wines that I’ve been loving all summer!
Ready to further your wine education? Enroll in a WSET class today and use code LexiStephens for a discount.