Summer Weddings - How to pick a summer wine by Anu Karwa of Swirl Events

Special Guest Anu of Swirl Events is back with another helpful feature for choosing a summer wine, perfect for your wedding day. Be sure to visit her previous series in the Indie Wedding Guide What Types of Wines are good for Weddings and Wine Talk Continued.

How to pick a summer wine:

Summer’s soaring temps beg you to step away from heavy Cabernets and check out the gentler, lighter side of wine.  When choosing the perfect summer wine for your outdoor engagement party or wedding, think light, crisp, refreshing - and because people tend to drink more in the heat –lower in alcohol.  Nothing more prettily suggests summer than a dry (i.e. not sweet) rose.  Avoid the simple, syrupy versions and go for a
bit of spice with Spanish roses from the Monastrell (aka Mourvèdre) grape such as the Casa Castillo Monastrell aspx or more complex roses from a blend of Grenache and Syrah from the classic rose region of Cotes de Provence such as the Domaine HouchartRosé  Pick wines from countries where you imagine the locals sipping leisurely at sidewalk cafés while basking in the sun, like Spain. A Spanish fave is Albarino
from the Rias Baixas region. The Pazzo San Mauro Albarinomis a great example. Made to drink young, Albarino is a crisp, white wine with intense fruit, lively acidity and generally a lower level of alcohol. It pairs perfectly with summer foods from seafood to grilled vegetables. But you don’t need to swear off red wine for summer. Look for light bodied wines like Pinot Noir from Oregon like the Montinore Parsons'Ridge Pinot Noir or a Valpolicella from Italy , both capable of standing up to barbecued foods.  And don’t be afraid to put a slight chill on your red wine.  It is summer after all!

Visit Swirl Events to plan your next private event. They are kicking off a new series D-E-C-O-D-I-N-G the Restaurant Wine List that you won't want to miss.