The Best Wines To Drink This Summer
Summer has officially started, we can finally invite friends over again, and what’s better than a nice glass of wine. Rosé is often touted as the summer drink — sometime you need a variety when it comes to what wines you can enjoy in warmer months.
In fact, there’s a whole slew of delicious options to choose from for any occasion, whether you’re lounging by the beach, picnicking with friends, or just staying in after a long day. So, we scoured our favorite wines for you to drink all Summer long.
Kim Crawford Illuminate is a lower in alcohol and lower in calorie take on Kim Crawford’s core Sauvignon Blanc and Rosé expressions, with only 7% ABV and 70 calories per glass.
Perfect for all occasions, particularly delicious with fresh seafood and vegetables. Elegant yet full flavored, its crisp acidity is highlighted with a refreshing herbal and citrus finish.
Avaline Rosé (SRP: $24.99) 13% ABV
Avaline Rosé is a new, clean and vegan-friendly wine by Cameron Diaz and Katherine Power, offering a light and fresh mouthfeel with flavors of melon and zest to bring the wine’s light pink hues to life. Made with organic grapes and free of unnecessary extras like sugars, colors, and concentrates, this fruit-forward French wine ideal for any time, whether it is cozying up inside or spending an afternoon in the sun with your best friend. Available for purchase on wine.com
2017 Stags’ Leap Winey Napa Valley Petite Sirah ($47.00) Notes of blackberry, blueberry, and black cherry fruits seamlessly integrate with the more floral musky notes of violet and jasmine in this robust Petite Sirah. On the palate, you are met with macerated blackberry, cherry kirsch, peppered plum, and black licorice. This Petite Sirah is a wonderful companion for a hearty and flavorful burger or BBQ ribs, straight off the grill.
2019 Banfi La Pettegola Vermentino Toscana IGT (SRP: $19.99)
Recommendation: For seaside or beach sipping, enhanced by an ocean breeze and fresh caught seafood
La Pettegola’s translation has double meaning: it refers to coastal seabirds and is also a term for a gossiper. Delightfully fresh, La Pettegola Vermentino is the talk of the town for the quality-for-value it offers. The Vermentino grapes are sourced from around Maremma, and fermentation takes place in stainless-steel tanks to preserve the purity of this wine. Fruit-forward with notes of exotic fruits, a hint of spice, and touch of salinity from the proximity to the Mediterranean coast.
Tenuta Luce Toscana
Luce is a singular and irresistible expression of Montalcino, a Super Tuscan with an exotic side, and above all full of pleasure. The spectacular estate’s diversity of soils, expositions and biodiversity of olive groves and forests come together in a wine as vibrant and exciting as the landscape.
The Merlot and Sangiovese grapes are harvested and fermented separately in multiple harvests, with rigorous fruit selection during picking and meticulous hand sorting. Fermentation is spontaneous with no added yeasts. Blending takes place immediately after fermentation and maceration and prior to barrel aging.Aging takes place exclusively in French oak in order to develop the wine’s potential and achieve a perfect balance of flavors while respecting and reflecting the characteristics of the vintage. Luce 2018 has a dark ruby red color. The nose is a prelude of aromas of black fruits, blackberries and violets, with marzipan and black pepper that further enrich the bouquet. In the mouth, the wine is soft and voluminous, balanced by a solid tannic structure, before closing with a persistent crisp finish.
Montecucco Parmoleto Riserva
With a distinguished and intense red ruby color, Parmoleto Riserva has an aromatic nose of red cherry, red plum, rosehip, and strawberry and a spiced taste that reminds of myrrh and amber. On the palate this dry, medium bodied sangiovese that is aged for two years in big oak barrels, has a somewhat-tart, red-fruit flavors supported by medium acidity and medium tannin. Perfect if paired with grilled meat and game.
SIMI Sonoma County 2019 Sauvignon Blanc (SRP $15) offers bright notes of lime zest, Meyer lemon, pink grapefruit, lemongrass, honeysuckle and a hint of wet stone. SIMI’s Executive Chef, Kolin Vazzoler, would recommend pairing the wine with pesto pasta, goat cheese with olives, barbequed shrimp, vegetable stir fry and roast chicken. The 2019 vintage is also available in a mini 375ml bottle, perfect for toting to picnics, boat outings or outdoor movies.
Vera Wang PARTY is a premium Italian prosecco made for celebrating life’s moments, big and small. Vera Wang's attention to detail has shaped every step of PARTY from grape to bottle. Designed to look chic on any table, the bottle is a sleek matte silver with "PARTY" in bold neon yellow letters exuding a modern, easy sensibility. The back of the bottle features an invitation to PARTY from Vera.To craft the prosecco Vera Wang looked to find a winemaker with both heritage and pedigree. She turned to the top winemaking region Piemonte, known for its sparkling wines, and to Araldica, producer of the best-selling Moscato in America. Vera Wang PARTY is crafted from 100% Glera grapes and boasts aromas of apple and stone fruit, citrus notes and fresh acidity on the palate, with a soft and fruity finish. This new prosecco offers a fresh perspective in the sparkling wine category with its crisp effervescence, coupled with a bold aesthetic and playful voice.
2016 Castello Banfi Magna Cum Laude Toscana IGT (SRP: $39.99)
Recommendation: Toast to a graduate with this aptly named wine, whether you celebrate them with a fun, casual barbecue or an intimate dinner party.
Latin for “high honors,” Castello Banfi’s Magna Cum Laude combines Montalcino’s historic Sangiovese Brunello clone with international grape varieties of Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, and Syrah. Bottled unfiltered, this wine is full-bodied with notes of blackberries, plums, licorice, black olives, and pipe-tobacco. Its supple tannins and layered complexity makes for an ideal match for rustic bean soups such as the Tuscan classic Ribollita and grilled meats such as hangar steak.
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