Those velvety, dark, big red wines don’t do so well out on the patio when it is 95 degrees, so I’ve got some fun summer wines for you to try, along with some great dishes to pair with them.
First, there are sauvignon blancs – wonderful hot-weather wines that go great with a variety of summertime foods. There are different styles of sauvignon blancs, and the flavors vary depending on where they are made. Cool-weather areas produce crisp and acidic wines with green apple and grapefruit notes, while warm-weather areas produce wines that are crisp and acidic with softer fruits like oranges and melons. Both are wonderful; experiment to see which you like best. There are some good sauvignon blancs to be had for $15 or less.
Sauvignon blancs go great with fresh salads piled high with spinach, arugula, fresh veggies and even goat cheese. They also work well with scallop dishes, which are always easy to prepare whether you grill or pan-sear the scallops. Bruce Auden, a chef with Biga on the Banks, has a delightful recipe for spicy, seared scallops and pineapple relish on my Web site that would go great with a sauvignon blanc. Second, there are Albariños. These inexpensive Spanish wines are wonderful with all kinds of seafood and delightful served ice-cold all by themselves. Most Albariño wines are less than $12.
Next, “think pink,” as in rosé. Rosé wines are perfect for summertime, and they pair nicely with a lot of different foods. Most rosé wines are not sweet; they’re dry with beautiful raspberry and strawberry bouquets. Their delicate balance between acidity and fruit makes them attractive to drink alone or with a meal. Rosé wines actually pair nicely with grilled meats, salads and all kinds of seafood. Ever had a rosé wine with sushi? It’s wonderful!
The Fig Tree Restaurant offers a delightful rosé-pairing menu every summer. The restaurant’s chef shares a wonderful recipe for crab-stuffed squash blossoms on my site, but I suggest dining on its romantic Riverwalk patio!
Another summertime wine worth exploring is sparkling. Champagne (a term “legally” only used for French wines) is a perfect summer wine, and just like the rosé, you can drink sparklings with just about any food you like or all by themselves. I always keep some sparkling in my refrigerator. Why wait for a special occasion when you can celebrate life every day? Champagnes are wonderful with French fries, oysters, hamburgers – you name it.
There are a lot of different styles of sparklings from the sweet, lighter ones like Italian Prosecco to the toasty, nutty, dryer wines of France. Cavas from Spain are a nice choice, too, and they’re usually easy on the pocketbook.
The next time you are at Zinc Champaign & Wine Bar downtown, check out its menu of sparklings by the glass. Zinc always has a big selection, so experiment and find the style you like.
I’ve got a lot of great recipes and wine-pairing suggestions on my Web site at www.goodtastewithtanji.com. Be sure and sign up for my newsletter while you’re there. Enjoy!
