The summer reds of 2015

Food off the grill, summer picnics on the beach or your own backyard deck, and late suppers outside, summer is here and our diets move to lighter foods. Along the same lines, as the days lengthen and the temperatures warm, we see our tastes in wine change, too. Barbecue and dining outside just naturally lead us to drinking wines with a bit lighter body to go along with the temperatures. Here is a rundown of some of the new summer reds and some of our old favorites.

The aptly named Rib Shack Red ($12, wine club price $10.80) has been one of our best sellers in the shop for three years now, and the current 2013 vintage will continue that trend. This blend of Pinotage and Shiraz from South Africa is all it promises on the label: "extra smooth." The fruit is vibrant, though, and balanced by nice acid, allowing it to pair great with ribs. The twist cap makes it perfect for picnics and barbecues with easy access.

Grenache and barbeque is one of the great wine food pairings. Next time you sit down at the picnic table for a barbeque feast, try this trick: pop the bottle of Grenache in the refrigerator or the cooler for just 20 minutes to give it a slight chill. You will have no better treat with your ribs. The 2012 Tempus Grenache ($27, wine club price $24.30), from owner winemaker Joe Forest, is the perfect choice. We just featured this one in our wine club and it was a big hit, the flavor profile features loads of ripe spring cherry with aromatics of cherries and a smoky meat character.

The 2011 Cotes du Roussillon from Domaine Cabirau ($17, wine club price $15.30) is a blend of primarily Grenache, and is also a great choice. Unoaked and loaded with vibrant cherry flavors and a firm lengthy finish, it will go great with all things off the grill, or will do fine with a picnic lunch of cured meats and cheeses.

One of our favorite summertime meals is whole chicken cooked on the rotisserie of our backyard grill. When it comes to poultry, nothing highlights the dish like Pinot Noir. We just brought into the shop the 2013 Heron Pinot Noir ($15, wine club price $13.50). It is classic California Pinot with loads of cherry and earthy aromatics leading to more cherry flavors on the palate, just a joy to drink and a great value.

I recently had the chance to taste the wines from Ehren Jordan and his Failla Winery located in St. Helena, in the heart of the Napa Valley. Ehren is nothing short of a superstar in my opinion; his focus is Pinot Noir and Chardonnay. After trying the wines we brought two into the shop: his 2012 Sonoma Coast ($40, wine club price $36) is lush in the mouth and perfectly balanced between richness and enough acid to keep the wine lively. The cherry fruit is pronounced and framed by silky tannins. The 2013 Failla Keefer Ranch Pinot Noir ($60, wine club price $54) is seamless and elegant, again highlighting cherry fruit flavors but showing texture and length of finish that is remarkable. While that is a big dollar amount for any of us, the wine should not be missed for a special occasion it is truly a level above all others. Either of these wines will be great with grilled salmon, seared duck breast salad or the aforementioned rotisserie chicken.

The 2012 Gin Gin 25, wine club price 22.50 from the Priorat appellation in Spain is a slightly different take on a summer red. The Priorat features blended wines that include Cabernet and Carignane the wines are dark and dense, with firm structure but minimal oak, allowing the fruit to shine through and really pair well with food. Crack this one open with either a nice thick steak or your favorite burger. It is wonderful.

Back when we lived in Wine Country and were working at wineries, we coined the term "Zinfandel Sundays." Mary typically worked Sunday, but I was off. I would set to cooking us dinner and have a couple glasses of "Zin" while doing so. It became a great fun tradition, at least for me and more so for Mary once she arrived home, and Zinfandel became one of our go to varietals with summer meals. The 2013 from Dry Creek Vineyards is perfect for your Zinfandel Sunday, featuring jammy fruit and a bit of pepper on the finish, it will be great with an arugula salad with beets and bleu cheese topped with marinated grilled flank steak.

For these and other great summer reds, swing by the shop or chat with your favorite wine professional about the great choices that are here and those still to arrive.

If there is a topic you would like to read about, or if you have questions on wine, you can email George@thedinnerpartyshop.com, or make suggestions by contacting the Healthy Community section at the Coeur d'Alene Press.

George Balling is co-owner (with his wife Mary Lancaster) of the dinner party, a wine and tabletop decor shop by Costco in Coeur d'Alene. George has also worked as a judge in many wine competitions, and his articles are published around the country. You can learn more about the dinner party at www.thedinnerpartyshop.com. You can get all of these articles and other great wine tips by friending us on Facebook http://www.facebook.com/#!/dinnerpartyshop.