Seasonal changes
Most of you know by now that we don’t enjoy drinking the same thing all the time. The joy of our wine journey comes in trying different things, and while each of us is different in how much variety we like in our wine diet, even the most linear of wine enthusiasts will vary their consumption based on the season. In the last week, as the weather has warmed, we have had countless wine customers come in requesting more white than red, and across the color spectrum of wine, requesting lighter bodied varietals to enjoy outside in the warm sunshine.
As Chardonnay and Cabernet remain the most requested varietals, two that we can all agree represent the fuller bodied of the wine grapes grown, many of us are not as familiar with the lighter bodied grapes. Each of us has our favorites when it comes to varietal selections, so here are some recommendations to lighten things up a bit with your next selection when the temperature approaches 90 degrees.
The bold richness of California Chardonnay is unmistakable; with all of the butter and oak it is tough to resist. When it warms though it can be a bit much. The easiest transition is to try one fermented and aged in stainless steel as opposed to oak barrels. Similarly, Chablis, which is Chardonnay from a cool region of Burgundy which results in higher acid and lower sugar levels, is aged and fermented in either stainless steel or concrete vats, leaving one with a more crisp and light interpretation of “Chard” that is simply more refreshing.
Another option to replace Chardonnay come summertime is to choose a white of similar texture and palate weight, but with brighter fruit, higher acid and lower alcohol. Grenache Blanc, Columbard, Gavi and even Albariño are good choices to leave one with the texture we crave, but with lower alcohol and cleaner fruit flavors to make the overall presentation lighter.
We all have friends and we may even enjoy big, bold and tannic Cabernet and Merlot most of the time. It is possible too, that we find them to be a bit much for a summer barbecue. If you want to stick with Cab and Merlot, the best bet may be to shift continents. Cab, Merlot and wines based on those grapes from Bordeaux in France, Priorat in Spain, or the Bulgheri Coast of Tuscany all offer a bit lighter take on these full-bodied varietals. Europeans tend to harvest with lower sugar levels resulting in lower alcohol. Their oak treatment is less aggressive too, allowing more fruit to shine through. Both are good when we are looking for summer alternatives in big rich wines.
If you really enjoy Syrah, try some of the lighter bodied Rhone varietals that will exhibit similar flavor profiles but softer, more integrated tannins. Grenache is growing in popularity by the day, and along with Mourvédre offers a lighter take when you need a red Rhone wine as the choice. A lovely and light Côte du Rhone blend of all these grapes is a popular choice. For a special trick with barbecued ribs or grilled lamb, chill a bottle of Grenache for just 15 minutes in your refrigerator for a wonderful summertime food pairing.
Even for those of us whose palates are oriented to lighter bodied wines, we may want to lighten up even further in the hot weather. Many a Pinot Noir drinker will turn to vintage Beaujolais during August. Vintage Beaujolais is a completely “different animal” than the watery and uninteresting Nouveau Beaujolais that comes out each year around Thanksgiving. The wines are lovely with great aromatic depth and layered palates, but are lighter than traditional Pinot Noir, so it’s really great while dining outside on a warm summer evening.
Whatever your regular tastes or preferences are there are always alternatives to meet your seasonal cravings. It is a great opportunity to find something new to add to your wine playbook and in the process, you may find your own set of new favorites to deploy with any season. Stop by the shop or consult with your favorite wine professional about all the great wine that will go perfectly with summer.
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George Balling is co-owner with his wife, Mary Lancaster, of the dinner party — a wine and gift shop in Coeur d’Alene by Costco. The dinner party has won the award for best wine shop in North Idaho twice, including for 2018. George is also published in several other publications around the country. After working in wineries in California and judging many wine competitions, he moved to Coeur d’Alene with Mary more than 10 years ago to open the shop. You can also follow us on Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/#!/dinnerpartyshop.