If tequila’s not your style, perhaps you’d fancy a glass of wine at your next patio party—or with your dinner indoors as you beat the true heat of summer? Regardless of where you serve these best summer wines, you’ll be treated to a refreshing, tasteful beverage pairing for your meal (or a sunny day, a breezy hammock and a brand-new book).
Read on to discover the qualities to keep an eye out for in a summer wine, no matter the brand or varietal. Then score tasteful recommendations for the best wine pairings for summer from two savvy sommeliers.
What to Look for in the Best Summer Wines—Plus, What to Avoid
Just like you can absolutely wear white after Labor Day, you certainly can drink red wine in summer. You just have to choose wisely.
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“Color isn’t important,” explains Vanessa Held, the Florence, Italy-based owner of the virtual food and wine community Mamablip.
What you want to keep an eye on is alcohol content: Aim for 12 percent alcohol by volume (ABV) or lower, adds Brianne Cohen, a Los Angeles-based certified sommelier and wine educator.
“During summertime, seek out lower-alcohol wines with a strong acid backbone,” Cohen says. A good rule of thumb: Wines made with grapes grown in cool climates or at high altitudes tend to naturally offer more acidity. “Wines with less than 12 percent ABV allow you to imbibe a touch more without the effects of higher alcohol wines—ideal if you plan on day drinking or having more than one glass. Wines with good acidity give a refreshing and crisp sensation, perfect to combat the summertime heat.”
If you tend to prefer whites, “feel free to choose between a fruity or mineral white wine—avoiding over-aged or oaked whites,” Held says. When in doubt, reach for “a joyful rosé, which can cover all gastronomical needs, from aperitivo to a light main course.”
Just try to steer clear of anything too boozy or highly tannic red wines, Cohen confirms.
“Red wines with high tannins are anything but refreshing. Tannins give a drying, bitter and astringent sensation that doesn't mix well with rising summer temps,” Cohen says. “So what should a red wine drinker reach for in the summertime? Chillable red wines with high acid and lower tannins!”
6 of the Best Summer Wines, According to Sommeliers
Here are six sommelier-approved bottles that will allow you to put the theories above into practice. Stock up and prepare to sip your way through summer.
2021 Luna Hart Sauvignon Blanc
Santa Barbara, California
Thanks to its “bracing high acidity and summertime fruit bowl of aromas and flavors,” Cohen deems sauvignon blanc “the consummate summer sipper.” You pretty much can’t go wrong with any bottle made with grapes grown in Marlborough, New Zealand, but this one is a sleeper hit hiding a bit closer to home. “It’s female-owned and made from grapes grown on a biodynamically farmed vineyard in Happy Canyon. Orange wine is used as a blending component—33 percent of the wine is fermented on the skins—which gives a slight ‘natural wine’-style funk,” Cohen says. The result: Aromas and flavors that are anything but ordinary, yet ideal for pairing with food and sharing with adventurous wine fans.
Luna Hart Wines Sauvignon Blanc 2022
2021 Tormaresca Calafuria Rosato
Puglia, Italy
Rosé is another hot summer drink trend, and this refreshing, “youthful and fresh” option from Italy is a perfect example why the pink drink is back en vogue. Grapefruit, orange and peach notes shine in this wine that’s made from the negroamaro grape, which is a common grape grown in Puglia. “This wine makes you feel like you’ve dipped your toes in the Mediterranean,” Cohen says, and at 12 percent ABV, it’s something that can definitely allow you to embrace the concept of “rosé all day.”
La Crema Brut Rosé NV
Russian River Valley, California
If sparkling wine is more your style, “this premium sparkling Brut Rosé from La Crema is the perfect glass of bubbles to quench your thirst in the summertime heat,” Cohen says. Family-owned and operated La Crema might be better known for their chardonnay and pinot noir, but its high time their bubbly blend had its moment in the sun. “Made from pinot noir and chardonnay in the traditional method of Champagne [that’s made in that region of France], this serves up luxury all the way. This wine has bright red fruit notes of summer strawberries and raspberries,” Cohen explains.
2018 Le Casematte Peloro Bianco
Sicily, Italy
Pop open this white wine, which comes from a vineyard on the seaside of the Gulf of Sicily, and pretend like you’re on a coastal vacation. “This features a blend of Sicilian typical grapes like grillo and carricante,” Held says. “The grapes’ proximity to the sea confers mineral notes which play nicely with the flavors of white floral, yellow peach, chamomile and Mediterranean herbs.” This wine's fresh, tangy flavor and vibrant acidity makes it a dreamy pair for any richer barbecue fare or that showy cheese board appetizer.
le casematte Le Casematte Peloro Bianco 2022
2020 Two Shepherds Cinsault
Lodi, California
“If you don’t think reds are for summertime, think again! The entire category of chillable reds is perfect for summertime picnics and barbecues,” Cohen says. Reach for a light-bodied, low-ABV option, like this 12 percent pick from California, and aim to serve it around 55 degrees F. At that temp, “it’s totally ‘crushable,’ as the kids say,” Cohen explains. Very pale in color and serving up slight floral aromas on the nose—rose petals perhaps—this is one wine that’s easy to drink and enjoy, but is also definitely worth savoring. “The grapes for this wine come from the oldest surviving cinsault vineyard in the world,” Cohen adds.
2020 Tenuta Mazzolino Terrazze Pinot Nero
Lombardy, Italy
Ready to feel fancy? Tell your guests that this wine is made from one of the “noble grapes.” That’s right, pinot nero is practically regal in the wine world, since it’s made from one of the highest-quality international varieties of grapes grown on Earth. Curious why you haven’t heard of it before? You have; this is a synonym for pinot noir.
“About 60 miles southwest from Milan lies the Oltrepò Pavese, a beautiful area for growing pinot noir,” Held says. This particular creation mixes mineral elements like limestone and chalk, which provide freshness, with red fruits and subtle spices for depth. Chill the bottle, then pour a round of glasses for each party guest and prepare to chill out yourselves.
