Wines for Summer... tried and tested!
All in the name of research we recently held our annual Summer wine tasting to consumer test the ideal drop for the Summer months. One sure and fast winner was rosé. Ranging from delicate pale onion skin coloured rosés from Provence such as the Angelvin - as featured in the Wine Merchant Top 100 - to a fruitier drop with a soft sweetness like the Nube Rosado from Rioja in Spain, there is a rosé for everyone. Try a Provence Rosé with a light seafood salad or as an elegant aperitif.
A hidden gem is Vinho Verde from the north east corner of Portugal where Atlantic breezes make for ideal growing conditions. You could almost think of it as their answer to Sauvignon Blanc - with its fresh bright citrussy style perfectly suited to grilled fish or sushi and it is slightly lower in alcohol at 11% ABV. The Vila Nova Vinho Verde 2016 has just been named as the best Vinho Verde in Portugal.
Do you find reds a difficult match in Summer months? Well let's think a little differently 
and consider chilling them. This doesn't suit all red wines but those with a good fruity profile are ideal for this as it makes the great fruit notes leap out in a refreshing way. We like the Pasion de Bobal, grown at high altitude to organic standards just inland from Valencia, Spain. When chilled this wine exudes cherry berry flavours and is a good match for sharing charcuterie plates.
If you like your reds a little beefier – and indeed a perfect partner for your BBQ burgers and sausages – then soft and smooth is the way forward for an easy summer drinking experience. Another tried and tested winner at our tasting was the 100% Mourvèdre ‘Savoir-Faire d'Autrefois' from the Languedoc. Not an easy grape to tame but this wine has been calmed by time on oak yet without completely containing the true character of this grape. It will stand up to the strong char-grilled BBQ flavours but not rival them so you enjoy the best of both.
If you want any more advice or recommendations for your summer events and parties, then please contact us or call in the shop -we may even have a winning wine open to taste!
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