sparkling Wines help Beat the Heat But red Wine Rules Dinner

I find that the older I get, the less disagreeable I am to beer. While a hot day is always best approached with plenty of water and a nice ocean breeze, sometimes we need a little zest to the day. Most people who bring adult beverages to the beach seem to bring beer. Since it’s not on my menu, I prefer sparkling wines, like prosecco, cava or champagne.

You don’t have to be fancy to drink a glass of bubbly. Lately, I’ve found that I really enjoy cava. Cava is is a region in Spain that produces very nice sparkling wines. They’re crisp and light, and economical. In fact, you may recognize a few brand names from your local retailers. Freixenet, Campo Viejo and Marques de Caceres all offer great cava at a great price. If you don’t want to lug a whole 750ml bottle to the beach, look for individual sizes that usually cost around $6 a piece.

How to choose a summer red wine

When the sun goes down, I like to have a glass of red wine with my dinner. Red wine is a very personal drink. There are so many varietals, growing regions, wineries and price points that it’s hard to find one wine that all red wine drinkers like. So here’s a quick, but broad breakdown to help you choose.

You can also take this quiz to get a a more personalized idea of what you like.
If you don’t like quizzes, then here are some virtual tastings you can do to learn more about wine.

Pinot Noir – This is usually the summer red retailers advertise. It’s lighter than other reds and it goes well with seafood. So this can be a good choice for the beach. Premier producers in the US are in Oregon and Washington state. These pinots are usually at a higher price point.

Beaujolais – Beaujolais is France’s answer to a light, drinkable, more fruity red. It’s a great wine to bring to a dinner party or gathering at the beach. I like mine slightly chilled since summer nights on a Texas beach can be pretty hot and humid.

Bordeaux – The Bordeaux region in France is one of the premier wine regions in the world. Many people hear “bordeaux” and think, “Way too pricey for everyday wine.”
Not true! Many red blends from Bordeaux are very affordable and far superior to wines at the same price point from US Wineries. I encourage you to taste a few. Each chateau has unique flavors that can vary from fruit forward spicey to complex flavors of minerals, spice and tannins. I think Bordeaux is one wine that deserves exploration so that you can find your personal everyday favorite. Whatever you choose, you can guarantee the wine will be a quality beverage.

Cabernet Sauvignon – This all American wine that is best produced in Napa Valley is a slippery slope, in my opinion. In order to get that true “cab” experience, you will definitely pay more than $50 a bottle. That’s not to say you can’t find delicious cabs at affordable prices. You can. J. Lohr, Josh and Rodney Strong vineyards produce good affordable cabs. So does Liberty School. Many producers in Chile, Argentina, Europe and Australia offer very good wines that many people really love.

Merlot – Think of this wine as Cab’s little brother. It sometimes gets overlooked. However, It’s a great choice for a surf ‘n turf meal. Usually not as expensive as a cab, it can certainly be just as expressive, elegant and delightful. If you want to put a high end winery’s product on your table, but you don’t want to fork out the price of a cabernet sauvignon, then try their merlot. It will cost less and be a great addition to any elegant dinner party. My fancy “go-to” is Stags Leap. This winery is a godfather of Napa in my opinion, but I hold the cabs I buy for very special occasions, and opt for the merlot as an impressive substitute.

I could go on, but these varietals will get you started for your evening meals. I also encourage you to try local wineries. You might be surprised at what you find, plus you will be supporting the local economy.

Don’t forget to save your wine bottles! We’ll be posting tutorials on how to upcycle them into cute home decor.

I use wine.com to find great wine because they do a great job helping me choose wines I know I’ll like. If you want to save a heap and make an order for your summer shindigs, use this referral code for $30 off your first order! https://refer.wine.com/Christy214

Enjoy!