Ten Great Wines for Summer

It might only be Tuesday, but this time of year, even more than usual, the weekend is always top-of-mind. Whether you are headed to a barbecue, the beach, dinner with friends, or just staying home and taking in some sunshine, a summery wine can add to the festive, relaxed spirit. I love light, fresh, summer wines, and while I have many favorites, I thought I would share a few I have been loving over the past few months.

Meinklang Burgeland White – Austrian white wines are always great summer options. This blend of Gruener and Muscat is light, fresh, and crisp with tart notes of lime and lemon.

Bonny Doon Vin Gris De Cigare – This wine wraps up the best of summer fruit favorites,  like strawberries, nectarines, and peaches into a beautifully colored summer sipper that goes great with food, especially grilled fish and shellfish.

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Summer is all about food-friendly, affordable bubbly you can share with friends. At just around $12 per bottle, this Anna de Codorniu Brut is a delicious choice with an abundance of bubbles, nice acidity, and delicious hints of apple and lemon.

Blason Cremant De Bourgogne – At $10 a bottle at Trader Joe’s, this wine is a real steal. Candied lemon, pear, and grapefruit are all balanced with some notes of buttery toast. We absolutely love this wine on the boat or at any outdoor occasion that calls for sun and bubbles.

Croteaux 181 – I discovered on a wine tasting trip to Long Island how great Long Island wines are, and as I stated in that post, Croteaux 181, with its salinity, is summer in a glass. One sip, and you can almost feel the sun and salt on your skin after a day at the beach.

Travessia Pinot Noir Rose – Delightfully pink, dry, with notes of strawberry and even banana, this wine keeps popping up in my glass, from Wine Riot, to events, to tastings at the winery.

Tapeña Verdejo – This is another wallet-friendly wine, and it is as bright as the summer sun. Lots of acidity and fruit give way to minerals and a long finish. This wine is juicy, mouthwatering, and absolutely perfect for sipping in the sun.

Masciarelli Trebbiano d’Abbruzzo – I have enjoyed this wine many times, including on our magical visit to Masciarelli in Abbruzzo. It offers floral notes as well as a touch of marzipan and is a fixture in our wine rack.

Truett Hurst Salmon Run Rosé – We had the perfect summer day in April when we visited Truett Hurst, and we absolutely love their wines. This one has bright strawberry and passion fruit notes. Truett Hurst Sauvignon Blanc is another perfect summer wine, especially with some oysters and shrimp.

Gloria Ferrer sparkling wine – You can’t go wrong, whether it’s Sonoma Brut, Blanc de Noirs, or Va de Vi. Gloria Ferrer makes fun, delicious sparklers, and they always end up a part of our celebrations.

There are so many more wines to share that I could write a top 30 summer wines post and probably not cover them all, but this is certainly a good start. Luckily, summer hasn’t officially even started yet!  It’s lovely to think of all of those sunny months stretching out in front of us.

What are your favorite summer wines? Favorite wine and food pairings?