The Best Summer Wine 2022
Quench Your Thirst While Having Fun
Summer is here, and we can all feel it. The blistering grill is ready, and we’re all wearing light clothes. Now, all we need is wine. So, what’s the best wine for summer? That’s an easy decision; after all, many refreshing and thirst-quenching wines are out there, and they’re all relatively affordable!
What’s summer without a few glasses of bubbles? Generally, the best wines for summer include rosé, un-oaked white wine, light-bodied red wine, and sparkling wine. Here are our picks for this season, wines to keep the #summervibe going.
Côtes de Provence, France
Every wine-producing region makes some rosé, and the category is overall good. Still, nothing beats the most stylish rosé, the salmon-hued, cherry-scented, dry wine produced in Provence. These are blends of several grapes, including Grenache, Syrah, and others, resulting in mellow, mineral, and sometimes floral wines that taste like summer in Marseille.
What to Expect: Cherries, cranberries, dried herbs, and minerality over a dry, tart palate.
Food Pairings: Whitefish, shellfish, tuna, olives, and fresh cheese.
2. Albariño, Spain
The best wines come from the Rias Baixas appellation and are as fresh as a glass of cold lemonade. Un-oaked white wines abound, from Sauvignon Blanc to Vermentino. Still, this year we want to feature Spanish Albariño, a refreshing white wine made on the country’s Atlantic coast in Galicia.
What to Expect: Green apples, pears, lemon peel, grapefruit, and sometimes tropical fruit, along with a dry, citrusy palate.
Food Pairings: Octopus, shellfish, and oily fish like salmon, tuna, and mackerel.
3. Gamay, France
There’s room for red wine in summer, but make sure it’s not too bold or astringent. That’s where the fruity, cherry-flavored Gamay comes in. This young red wine is often labeled Beaujolais, the grape’s spiritual home, and it’s always crowd-pleasing delicious. Nothing too serious; Gamay is just tasty.
What to Expect: Bing cherries and violets on the nose over a juicy palate with silken tannins and sharp acidity.
Food Pairings: Cured meat, sticky pork ribs, BBQ sauce, tomato sauces, and more.
4. Conegliano Valdobbiadene Prosecco, Italy
Prosecco has a reputation for being an inexpensive, peachy wine of medium-quality at best. Still, things started to change in 2009 with the creation of higher-tier Prosecco, from which Conegliano Valdobbiadene #Prosecco stands out. This is a DOCG, the highest distinction for wine in Italy, and yes, it’s a bit pricier than regular Prosecco, but it’s worth it.
What to Expect: Peaches, apricots, and citrus peel over an effervescent palate with an elegant aftertaste.
Food Pairings: Fried finger food, stir-fries, cured meat, seafood, veggies, and more.