Summer is nearly here. You can almost smell the freshly cut grass, feel the heat of the grill being fired up, hear bikes and sneakers on the pavement. Red, ripe tomatoes dot the farmers market, sunflowers are in bloom, and ice cream trucks are just around the corner.
The days are longer, and the nights are warmer. The weather is heady, and the sky is an unbelievable cornflower blue. People are starting to plan picnics in the park or trips at the beach. Friends call to have long, leisurely brunches at the patio—and bottles of wine are ready to be opened without even the slightest hesitation.
So what are you waiting for? Here are three summer wine pairings that you can try at your next gathering. The best part? You can get online wine delivery with Palate Club:
1. Chardonnay with cheese or roast chicken
A very popular grape that originated from Burgundy, France, this golden-hued wine is a favorite of many. Generally dry and medium-bodied, Chardonnay has a lingering finish. New World Chardonnay, however, is usually rich and bold, and aged in oak.
Serve this white wine chilled and enjoy the refreshing flavors of citrus, butter, and vanilla; although take care not to let it go too cold or too warm so that the temperature will not overpower your palate.
If you’re a cheese lover, you’re in for a treat. Try the Rossidi “Unison” Chardonnay-Gewurztraminer, Thracian Valley, Bulgaria 2014 ($17)—it brings out the rich texture of lovely, delectable cheeses, like the buttery Camembert, for example, or the sweet and salty blue cheese, or fresh, earthy goat cheese.
Having Sunday chicken roast? No problem. Oaked chardonnay will match it nicely. Some even include it as an ingredient for the marinade! The herbs and the chicken fat balance it all, and if you’ve seasoned your dish with lemon or made creamy gravy, all the better.
2. Trebbiano with poached fish
Would you believe that Trebbiano is mostly used in balsamic vinegar? A sought-after and probably the most planted grape in all of Italy, its high acidity makes it ideal for such a purpose. And for that very reason, it is an important component in cognac as well.
With citrus flavors like lemon, apple, and peach, it also has basil and seashell notes, making it the quintessential wine to pair with a fish dish or perhaps seafood pasta, or other Italian or Mediterranean dishes. It is light-bodied and crisp, and best enjoyed young, within three to five years of being bottled. We recommend the 2016 Ottella Le Creete Lugana ($29), top-rated by wine lovers worldwide.
On a hot summer day, Trebbiano is most outstanding with straightforward preparations such as poached white fish, or spaghetti tossed with mussels, shrimps, clams, and scallops. There’s no need to decant or aerate this particular wine, too.
3. Grenache with grilled meats and spicy cuisine
From the Rhone Valley through Provence in France, Grenache red grapes are widely planted, alongside Syrah grapes. A hardy vine, it can also grow in an arid climate found in places such as Australia and California. In another Old World country like Spain, this grape is called Garnacha, and is characteristic of its licorice and cherry taste.
Rich and spicy in flavors, Grenache has notes of berries and white pepper, sometimes of anise and tobacco, as well as hints of cinnamon. It yields high alcohol content. When served slightly chilled, it can be an antidote to a burning tongue after having indulged in too much spicy food. Moreover, it holds up well to grilled and juicy meats if you’re having a more robust dinner or a barbecue party.
If you want something stronger on the palate, this is the wine to serve, such as the Domaine des Grands Devers, “L’Enclave,” Grenache-Syrah-Mouvedre Blend, Cotes du Rhone, Southern Rhone, France, 2012 ($23). Round and supple, light-red and medium-bodied, with few tannins and a fruity finish, it is vibrant summer captured in a bottle.
Endless summer
The fantastic Evelyn Waugh once wrote, “If it could only be like this always—always summer…the fruit always ripe…” Ah, how everything magical always happens during this season. Is it possible to even detain ourselves a little, a day more, and perhaps a day more?
With majestic wines like these, you’ll have memories to keep for sure. For better, personalized recommendations of wines that will arrive at your door, Palate Club offers a wine subscription that makes use of data science. By employing an algorithm that consists of over 200 wine traits, together with your ratings, you’ll get matched to bottles that you’re bound to love—because your taste matters.