With Summer here, there is no doubt that many of us start reaching for wine from the fridge rather than the cellar. As the weather heats up, there is nothing quite like a chilled glass of wine to keep you from getting hot under the collar. And I am not just talking about white wine either.
There is plenty of great rosé around and I have seen enough of the other gender preferring a glass of the pink stuff to confidently say it is no longer considered ‘a drink for the little woman’. Often lighter in alcohol, these wines are definitely lighter in body than their red partners which is a welcome respite in the heat. To counter the perception that all pink is sweet and lolly like, there has been a revolutionary swell by producers to promote the drier side of rosé. Whether it is dry or sweet, there is no doubt about the ‘foodability’ of rosé with the sweeter styles matching well with the fragrant Asian flavours.
Chillable reds are also gaining some attention. These are red wines that are created with the fridge in mind, being fruit driven with little oak (if any) and soft tannins. Brown Brothers are leading the way with their Cienna, Tarrango and Dolcetto and Syrah. Some of these are also lower in alcohol too.
Then there are the bubbles. Sparkling wine always seems to offer more refreshment, or maybe it is in the lift of spirits that I feel just seeing bubbles floating their way to the top of the glass. We are very spoiled for choice in the range of Sparkling wines available in so many different styles. From the frothy, sweet, low alcohol Moscatos that we all enjoy, even in secret, to the very best Champagne.
Here are my five top picks for this summer:
- Juniper Crossing Semillon Sauvignon Blanc 2010 RRP $22. Silky and generous passionfruit and citrus with green apple freshness.
- Pike & Joyce Pinot Noir ‘The Bleedings’ Rosé 2010 RRP $23. A dry, pale pink rosé redolent with strawberry and cherry fruit with pleasing intensity. A good food wine.
- Pizzini Brachetto 2010/11 RRP $17. A sweeter style pink fizz offering well structured grapey berry enjoyment that even my husband will have more than one glass of this wine.
- Philip Shaw ‘The Dreamer’ Viognier 2010 RRP $20. A crisp, ripe creamy peach and apricot charmer that offers a lot of pleasure for the price.
- Taltarni T Series NV Sparkling RRP $17. White peach and melon with some zesty lemon pleases the senses while it refreshes.
