Hard to believe that Memorial Day weekend is right around the corner, signaling the start of summer. As you fire up the grill or head out to the lake, make sure you have some refreshing sippers on hand to keep your guests happy.
Denise Clarke is an avid wine enthusiast who loves sharing and teaching people about wine. She is a Certified Wine Educator, Certified Sommelier, WSET Advanced graduate and an expert on Texas wine. Owner of Denise Clarke PR, she currently represents Texas Fine Wine and the Texas Department of Agriculture’s Wine Marketing Program. She has lived in Austin for more than 30 years and when she is not swirling and sipping wine, she can be found on her bike, climbing every hill she can find.
Follow Denise on IG at @deniseclarkeTX for more wine recommendations.
Anyone who knows me knows I love racy white wines, those with lower alcohol and high acidity that make your mouth water, wanting more. But many of my friends and family love rounder, full-bodied whites that express juicy fruit and a hint of oak.
When it comes to reds in the summer, I lean toward lighter-style reds, with bright, ripe fruit, lower alcohol and lower tannins (tannins give you that bitter, drying sensation in the mouth). These reds are often best served with a slight chill on them.
Here are some wines to have on hand for sipping and grilling; I’ve included images of few producers I have recently enjoyed for each:
Melon de Bourgogne from the Muscadet region in the Loire Valley of France. These are lean, minerally wines with notes of lime, seashell and green apple that pair perfectly with seafood.
Chablis, 100% Chardonnay from the Chablis region, known for its chalky soils, that is crisp with notes of green apple, lime peel and chalk.
Apremont whites from Savoie in the French Alps are made from the Jacquère grape, producing light, dry whites with notes of green apple, citrus, white peach and great minerality.
Roussanne is a full-bodied white from Southern France with notes of lemon, apricot and pear that pairs well with buttery dishes like lobster and paté. Some consider Roussanne to be Texas’ Chardonnay; great examples from Llano Estacado, McPherson Cellars and Duchman Family Winery.
Beaujolais reds made from the Gamay grape offer bright, fruity wines with notes of red and black fruit and sometimes offer a bubblegum note that reminds me of Bazooka as a kid; this versatile wine pairs with so many foods. Serve with a slight chill.
Carignan, a fruit-forward grape that hails mostly from Southern France makes red-fruit driven wines with notes of cranberry and raspberry. Serve slightly chilled! (Look for the William Chris Carry On at Central Market – delicious and best slightly chilled.)
Torrette from the Valle d’Aosta in the Alps of Northwest Italy is a newer wine to me, but it’s right up my alley. Made primarily from the Petit Rouge grape, Tourette offers a floral, red fruit wine with nice minerality. (I’m cycling in the Dolomites this summer and will look for this wine!)
Your best bet in selecting a good bottle of one of these wines is to go to your favorite wine store and get to know the buyers. Let them know your style of wine and price point and they will steer you in the right direction.
Cheers!
