As much as we enjoy sparkling wines, crisp dry whites, and rosés in the warm summer months, you may also want to enjoy a glass of red wine as well. Wines with lower tannin levels (that is the component in red wine which makes your mouth feel dry and “furry”) are particularly enjoyable when cooled down on a hot day. By cooling down, put them in the fridge for 20-30 minutes and try a sample – play around with the temperature until it appeals to you and works with whatever you are eating. The cooling process also helps to exaggerate the fruitiness of the wine, so a potential win; win as they say.
Examples of black grapes and wines which have lower levels of tannin and can be enjoyed cool include:
• Pinot Noir (red Burgundy)
• Beaujolais (made from the Gamay grape)
• Valpolicella (a blend of Italian grapes)
• Grenache – which also makes wonderful rosés (especially in Provence) and in Spain where it is called Garnacha
o Please do look at the options in the Wine Trust “Light & Easy Drinking” Red Wine Section – all of these can be enjoyed cooled down in warmer weather
Some of our favourites:
Beujolais Villages, Manoir du Carra
Newton Johnson, Family Vineyards Pinot Noir
I‘ll see you on part 3 , where I will be talking about seasonal foods and wine matching suggestions.