JFL’s Summer sipping: Why not wine?

Published 2:08 pm Friday, July 27, 2012

During the summer beer is king, and so are cocktails. Wine often gets left out which leaves this writer wondering why. I suppose some people associate wine with the delicious wintery red berry flavors of Cabernet and Merlot. Or the Buttery woodiness of America’s favorite wine Chardonnay. But that long winding wine aisle holds a lot of secrets, and a lot of them are great ways to beat the summer heat.

Champagne and sparkling wine – Bubbly finds a way to pair with any season. But nothing eases a hot muggy day like cold, crisp, citrusy bubbles. There’s plenty of pitfalls here, sadly. First, never buy a bottle that says Champagne that isn’t from France. Many American wineries call their bubbly Champagne even though it isn’t. Which doesn’t mean there aren’t fantastic American sparklers. They can save you a lot of money too. Look for Domaine Chandon and Domaine Ste Michelle and skip Andre’s, Cooks, and Korbel. The latter three cheapos get their bubbles from a big fake blast of CO2 which will give you a raging headache. Prosecco  is also a great pick. Look for bottles from the original classic regions of Valdobbiadene and Conegliano.

Moscato – This Italian dessert wine has become insanely popular over the last two years. Perhaps it’s because it indulges the sweet tooth of the modern palate. Or perhaps it’s because rappers love it. In either case you  can find a lot of interesting moscato in both still and sparkling in all range of prices. But you don’t have to pay a lot for a good bottle. Look For Petalo if you can find it. It’s actually very deep for the style. In general I choose Italian moscato when I can.

Port – This fortified wine from Portugal is one of summer’s most refreshing reds. There are pitfalls though. Lots of cheap port is made in the lake country of New York. For the good stuff select ports from Portugal, look for ruby or 10 or 20-year aged tawny ports. This is a great one because it’s okay to chill down like a white.

Riesling and Gewurztraminer – Originally born in Germany and Alsace these wines have really become very wonderful in America. Not as sweet as moscato but still lightly sweet. Gewurztraminer also had lovely baking spice notes. These can be chilled down well and enjoyed through the fall. Look for both from Chateau St. Michelle.

Sauvignon Blanc – A great food wine and also very nice and dry. Plenty of delicious ones come from France, the US and New Zealand. This tart, citrusy wine is great for those who don’t care for all the bubbles or sugar. I love to cook with it to. Brands like Kim Crawford, Clos du Bois, and Nobilo are very worth the time.

Red Zinfandel – There should be a bottle of red zin at every single barbecue and grill out with responsible adults. It’s peppery, spicy, and deep red berry flavor make it the perfect for smokey grilled dishes. A dry wine like sauvignon blanc, I don’t recommend chilling this one too long or the flavor will be sort of lost.

Hey, don’t get me wrong I love beer and cocktails in the summer. But don’t leave wine out, it can be a fun easy going part of any backyard get together.