In the languid heat of summer, we need wines with energy to lift our outdoor gatherings. Lighter textures, brighter flavors — we’re looking for wines that feel alive. Acidity is a key driver, making our mouths water while allowing flavors to linger. The refreshing impact on our palate gives a feeling of movement and energy that’s ideal for this time of year.
This energy is often linked to wines from regions with cool to moderate temperatures that give lower alcohol levels and preserve acidity. You’ll rarely go wrong with wines influenced by cool mountain air or strong ocean breezes. Below are some of my favorites for dinner parties outside this summer.
Whites
Petit Manseng is having its moment in Virginia vineyards, but I encourage you to seek out its benchmark wines from Jurançon Sec or Irouléguy in the Pyrenees foothills of France. Blended with its offspring Gros Manseng, it produces wines with layers of fruit, floral, and spice flavors and refreshing acidity that builds through the finish. It’s perfect for patio conversations that linger long into the evening.
Rosés
Look for a deep pink/salmon color. These are macerated wines, meaning the juice is given time to extract color, flavor, and texture from grape skins. The resulting wines are particularly well-suited for the light char of grilled foods. Tavel and Bandol in France or Rioja and Navarra in Spain give fine examples.
Reds
More than 13% alcohol? Pass for now; we want a wine that can dance alongside flavorful barbecue marinades without weighing us down. Pinot noir shines here. Try Santenay from Burgundy for a balance of fruity and savory notes, silky tannins, and refreshing acidity, or from Casablanca, Chile, for velvety structure and richer fruit. Give them a light chill in your ice chest — at 55 degrees, they’ll feel brighter and fresher.
Tracy Waldron is an internationally certified beverage educator and owner of the Virginia Wine & Spirits Academy.
Feature image, Newafrica/stock.adobe.com
This story originally ran in our July issue. For more stories like this, subscribe to Northern Virginia Magazine.
