Summer-perfect wine pairings
Summer is on the way. From BBQs to picnics in the park, we can’t wait for the chance to have lighter, fresh and flavoursome meals from morning to night. This hot weather-style of eating brings with it endless opportunities for matching lighter, refreshing wines with simple with your easy-to-prepare foods. And while pairing your favourite summer dish isn’t any different from other food and wine pairings, there are some tips to make the food and vino experience even more delightful.
When it comes to picking wine for the warmer months, simply go for something you like, but if you ever need guidance, follow the food and wine pairing principles to get a good idea of which wines pair nicely with flavours of the dishes on the menu at each meal time.
One thing that is different come summer dining and wine, is the serving temperature of your wines. While this is by no means a hard and fast rule, we’re sure you’ll agree that having a well-chilled wine is absolutely delightful in the heat.
With salads a fixture at meal time in summer, selecting an ideal wine to pair with these healthy spreads very much depends on the dressings and ingredients. A salad full of meats, nuts and cheeses is very wine friendly and can be paired with a good variety of wines. When it comes to salads full of crispy raw vegetables, things can be a little bit more challenging. Raw leaves, for instance, can make wines taste bitter. In this case pair wines that are round and with a bit more texture. Again reds (that chill nicely), whites with great acidity and fruitiness are great options for salads, but if you are ever unsure, a delicious bubbly is the perfect accompaniment that will always go well on a summer’s day!
Asian-inspired dishes are another summertime favourite. If you dine this style, go for the classic aromatic wines for pairing – again have them chilled beforehand to bring absolute satisfaction in the boiling summer. Wines such as tart whites, light and fruity reds, rosé and sparkling are great choices. Great examples include sauvignon blanc, riesling, pinot gris and non-oaked chardonnay for the whites; dry and off-dry rosés; fruity reds that are nice chilled and sparkling.