Hot Weather Wines
Staving off the summer swelter
The hotter the weather gets, the more our minds turn to cooling off. Whether in the shade, by the pool, or on the beach, a refreshing beverage should be close by. Most people will reach for a cold beer or a soft drink to quench that thirst; but don’t underestimate the quench-ability of a glass of crisp white wine.
At the top of the list for hot weather coolers are Pinot Gris and Grigios. Despite the different spellings, Gris (French) and Grigio (Italian) both translate as “grey” and refer to the same grey-blue hued grape, itself a mutation of Pinot Noir.
The Pinot Gris originated in France and, as the Italian derivation suggests, is also grown in northern Italy. But the one I like most is not from Italy or Alsace, France or even Oregon, but Germany. The Villa Wolf Pinot Gris by Ernst Loosen ($12) is grown in the Pfalz region of Germany, north of France’s Alsace region. What makes this wine so refreshing is a balance of bright acidity matched with soft fruit flavors.
Another great hot weather sipper is the Green Lip Sauvignon Blanc from New Zealand ($14). Many New Zealand Sauvignon Blancs tend to stress the grapefruit character they are known for exhibiting. The Green Lip, named for a mussel found in the waters surrounding Marlborough, New Zealand, has more of a citrus lime character and pairs well with fresh seafood such as oysters or shrimp ceviche.
The perfect wine to be enjoyed next to the pool on a hot summer day is the Fâmega Vinho Verde ($7) from northern Portugal. The wine is refreshingly light with a slight zing to it. For the cost-conscious among us, consider stretching this already-inexpensive wine by mixing together a zesty white sangria. The Famega also has low alcohol content, perfect when the sun has left us muddle-headed enough.
Steve Staples has been encouraging the enjoyment of wine in Baton Rouge for twenty-seven years. By day a rep with Glazer’s Companies of Louisiana, by night Steve teaches a series of wine education classes as part of the LSU Leisure Classes program. For information and to register, visit lsuunion.augusoft.net.