Crisp and delicious, summer wines offer a great way to cool your palette, enhance your dining experience and simply chill out. Nothing takes the sting out of a hot summer day like a juicy Riesling, a chromatic Rosé or a buttery Chardonnay. To kick off the summer and to help keep your cool, we’ve put together some recommendations for our three summer favorites that you can find while dining at Restaurant 2 Vine and at your local wine store…
Being America’s most popular grape, it’s no surprise that chardonnay is more food-friendly when selecting a nice fat and flavorful white to dine al fresco. We’ve chosen a local favorite; Casa Larga, CLV, 2009 Chardonnay. With a blend of four types of oak-aged chardonnay, CLV is a medium-body wine, both rich and spicy with nuances of vanilla and a toasty finish. Try this heartier white with richer sauces or lobster.
Don’t forget the versatility of the often overlooked rosé. Made using a couple of different methods, our pick this summer is sure to make you blush under the summer sun. Rosé wines serve as an excellent alternative to a big, bold red when the heat is on. With great flexibility when it comes to pairing foods; rosé fits nicely where both reds and whites typically reign. The 2009 Chateau du Roquefort, Rose Corail, Cote de Provence serves up bright raspberry and strawberry overtones in the front palette with a dry and clean finish. Extremely versatile, this dry blush drinks well with flavored sausages, flatbread pizzas and chilled roast pork tenderloin.
If you’re looking to satisfy your sweet tooth; check out a traditional German favorite, Riesling. Higher in sugar content upon harvesting, the 2010 Lamoreaux Landing, Semi-Dry Reisling provides a luscious, sweet and fruity dessert wine. Exploding with apricot and aromas of tangerine and honeydew, in addition to revealing hints of honey and raspberries, this beauty finishes with a rush of white peaches. This sweeter wine stands alone or as a great way to book end a light summer meal or compliment spicy cuisine. Try it with a fresh summer salad of watercress and endive, raspberry, candied pecans, Maytag bleu and white balsamic.
