INSIGHT - WINE
Summer Wines

It appears we're going to have a true-blue summer in the great midwest this year, and South Lyndale Liquors is here to help you cope with [and enjoy] the heat with some great summer wines.

Refreshment is the key when choosing a good summer wine. Focus on wines of light to medium body, moderate alcohol and little to no oak treatment. Such wines can be found all over the planet and come in versions white pink and red.

Summer Whites

We all know the old stand-by's such as Sauvignon Blanc, Pinot Gris/Grigio, Chadonnay etc., so how about something different? Try some of these:

Vinho Verde could be the ultimate patio wine. It's light, crisp and refreshing with citrusy aromas and brisk acidity. It even offers a bit of effervescence. Low alcohol and a low price tag only add to the party-friendliness of Vinho Verde.

Rueda, located in western Spain makes fresh, aromatic white wines that are well suited to all things summer. Made largely from the Verdejo grape, as well as smaller amounts of Viura and Sauvignon Blanc, Rueda gives tropical, passion fruit, pears and smooth citrus aromas and can have a surprisingly soft feel, despite the sometimes racy aromas. Pair Rueda with seafood or fresh goat's cheese.

Bubbly! In our opinion, sparkling wine goes well with anything, any time. Sparkling wines come in many different styles. They can be big, intense, toasty, buttery and yeasty, lean, crisp and fresh or anything in between. Fresher styles ideal for warm weather include Italy's Prosecco, Spain's Cava and a few lighter-styled Champagnes, notably from Feuillate and Deutz.

A host of other good summer whites include Austria's Gruner Veltliner, Chenin Blanc from France, California or South Africa, and nearly everything from Italy. Out of the ordinary Italian whites to seek out include Pigato, Erbaluce, Roero Arneis and Pinot Blanc. And let's not forget Riesling, perhaps the one white wine that can be drunk with everything-including grilled meats.

Roses

Do you like red wine? Do you like white wine? Then you will like dry roses. Think of rose as a light, fruitier red wine, or as a fuller white wine that leans toward red fruits and melon rather than citrus. Think of it as the ultimate grilling wine- you can have it with steak, salmon, chicken, veggies, anything. Expect aromas of strawberry, cherry, melon, soft citrus, herbs and more, a light to medium body and a good dose of acidity.

Summer Reds

Red wine zealots will drink any red any time, but for the rest of us, a big Cabernet or Shiraz is too much for the summer. If you fall in the latter category, try out a lighter red- fresh young Garnacha from Spain, Beaujolais from France, lighter versions of Pinot Noir and inexpensive Sangiovese. These wines tend to be lower in tannin and higher in acidity than many other reds, keeping things light and fresh. You can even pop these wines in the fridge for a bit to increase the refreshing nature of these wines.