Refreshing Whites for Summer and Beyond

As with fashion and television shows some things peak during different seasons. The same can be said with wine. During the cold, dark nights of winter you’ll find many people sipping bold cabernet sauvignons by the fire, while during the summer big red wines feel heavy and hot. The dog days of summer can feel heavy and hot themselves so many of us turn to cool and refreshing whites to help satiate our thirst and pass time on the patio. Whether you need to pair a bottle with a light meal or are just looking for something to sip with friends, choosing a wine that fits your mood is as easy as a trip to your local wine shop — if you know what you’re looking for, that is.

Hot and bothered

When the temperature outside peaks, cool your palate with a wonderfully refreshing Sauvignon Blanc. With a crisp and clean aftertaste and zippy acidity it is usually very pale in colour and has aromas of fresh-cut grass, grapefruit and citrus but can also feature notes of passion fruit, elderflower or gooseberries. Wonderful examples come from New Zealand’s Marlborough region, South Africa and Chile. In the Old World, look for wines from France’s Pouilly-Fumé region and Sancerre in the Loire.

Serve with fish and seafood or mild cheese such as chevre and ricotta. Sauvignon Blanc also pairs incredibly well with simple flavours like sweet peas, basil, mint and lemon.

Best bet: Oyster Bay Sauvignon Blanc, New Zealand, $17.95

Sweet relief

Gewürztraminer can be difficult to say (pronounced ge-vertz-tra-meener) especially after a glass or two, but it is wonderful to drink and is one of the most exotic white grapes. With flavours of orange blossom, lychee, rose and cinnamon — and low acidity — Gewürtz tends to feel weighty in your mouth. France’s Alsace region is famous for producing fine examples of this grape but Canada, Australia and Chile also produce great wines.

Fantastic with barbecued foods, you can also serve Gewürztraminer with mildly spicy dishes, light curries, creamy pastas or tangy salads.

Best bet: Dopff & Irion Gewurztraminer, France, $16.15

Salt-of-the-earth

Riesling is a big up-and-comer on the world wine stage, so much so that some critics are touting it as the best grape variety globally. Riesling is similar to Gewürztraminer in that it has tones of citrus and floral, but carries more pronounced mineral notes — attributed to the soil the grapes grow in. Riesling table wine (as there is also sparking and dessert types) is not oaked and has a good balance between acid and sugar, making it a very versatile companion with food. Look for Rieslings from cool climate locations like Canada, New Zealand, Alsace, Germany and the Pacific Northwest.

Pop the cork on a Riesling at your next barbecue — it can stand up to the strong flavours of kabobs, grilled vegetables, spicy salads and salsa, or even sausages such as chorizo.

Best bet: Willm Riesling Reserve, Alsace, France $16.95

Leader of the pack

True, some of us have out grown those bottles of over-oaked Chardonnay but, when done well, a refined Chardonnay is the perfect summer wine. Bright and crisp, with flavours of apple, citrus zest and honey suckle, typical Chardonnays feature aromas of fresh bread or light toast, roasted nuts, butter or cream.

Summer dinner parties are still the venue where Chardonnay shines; ideal to pair with seafood such as seared scallops, crab or light pasta dishes with cream sauce.

Best bet: Xanadu Chardonnay, West Australia, Austrialia $20.95

Gris or Grigio?

There is a lot of confusion surrounding Pinot Gris and Pinot Grigio. Both are made from the same grape but use two different techniques in the wine making process. The result with Grigio, the Italian version, is lean, lithe wine, while the French style, or Gris, is juicy and full bodied. At least that’s the theory, unfortunately wine makers themselves debate endlessly over these qualities. Both wines exude summer fruit notes that feature white peach, citrus zest and floral aromas with mineral tones. For summer pairings go with the leanness of a Grigio, as it provides a slightly more refreshing twist.

A perfect companion to Mediterranean fare, seafood dishes like ceviche and whole grilled or pan-fried fish or grilled calamari.

Best bet: Bollini Pinot Grigio 2005, Trentino, Italy $16.95

First published at CanadianLiving.com