Summer is here. That means sunny days spent outside with friends and family and wines that revitalize the soul while soaking in the sun’s rays. This time of year is a favorite of mine as a sommelier because I can showcase a category I like to call “Porch/Patio Pounders.” These wines offer a zippy acidity, refreshing minerality, juicy summer fruits and a bit of florality. They are bright, light, and refreshing. Not much beats opening one of these bottles with loved ones during the best season of the year. Make sure you chill an extra bottle or two: they’re so tasty that you won’t even realize the first bottle has disappeared.
Have a Pretty Little Porch Pounder Summer With These Wines
My first recommended pour is a low abv banger from Portugal: Herdade do Rocim “Goivo” Vinho Verde 2023. Light and spritzy, this wine is the perfect thirst quencher on the warmest days. Showcasing lemon-lime zestiness with refreshing mineral-driven acidity, going through a bottle of this is easier than closing the patio door behind you. I suggest pairing this pretty bottle with a watermelon salad to keep it light bright & flirty.
Let’s fly east to the land of ancient philosophers, Herculean tales, and the birthplace of the Olympics. The Greeks did a lot of great things, but their best accomplishment was their wine, Assyrtiko especially. Assyrtiko is a stunningly complex white wine with many bright flavors, strong acidity and a salinity backbone. It pairs well with a myriad of foods perfect for summer Sunday afternoons. Its full body complexity with a light body finish brings you closer to the shores of Santorini with every sip. I’d enjoy this with some grilled fish or a strawberry kale salad to start the night off.
Heading down to the southern hemisphere where it’s sunny for Christmas and winter in July. Argentina is mostly known for their world class Malbecs, but I promise you this white wine is nothing to sleep on. Crios de Susana Balbo, creates such beautiful Torrontes that it makes me think, “This is what the water in heaven tastes like”. Presenting stunning aromatics that uplift the palette before the nectar reaches touches your lips, the florality is coupled with supple peach and Meyer lemon zippiness. It’s a lovely wine full of juxtaposition, complexity, & sass that pairs with a sushi platter or plate of poke in the most holy of ways.
Picpoul (pik-pool) de Pinet. Ever heard of it? Maybe not, and that’s totally alright! It’s a light body wine with high refreshing acidity that goes down all too easily. But that’s not always the worst thing in the world, is it? The grape is an old French varietal that’s now starting to catch some stardom, and rightfully so. It’s bursting with citrus blossom, thyme, lemon and a dash of salinity. I cannot get enough. Bring this wine along to the family clam bake this summer and watch people fall in love. Showing up with a case will make you the talk of the party. My favorite thing about picpoul is that you will always get an amazing price for this wine.
This summer isn’t all about white wines! There are a few other categories of vino with tremendous porch pounder potential. Rose all day ring any bells?
Sicily is a wine lovers dream, full of amazing wines of all types and for all seasons. In particular, Mt. Etna is a volcanic area that deserves the recognition that is starting to accumulate. My Pietradolce selection from this region is special. Made from 100% Nerello Mascalese from the northern slopes of the volcano, it’s a wine that will stand out and become a staple in your fridge.
I’ve never sipped a rosé with such beautiful complexity and summer essence! Soft, ripe nectarines with a raspberry coulis nuance help bring enliven the palette, only for it to be refined with the elegant volcanic minerality taken directly from the volcano. Let this wine open to reveal realities you never thought were possible. Though this wine will go with so many vibrant summer dishes and proteins, personally I’ve enjoyed pairing it with a lovely panzanella salad.
Take a boat across the Mediterranean to Spain, where some of the best wine deals in the world reside! There you’ll find a Rosado by Hacienda Lopez de Haro that is perfect for just about every BBQ. The wine is a blend of Garnacha and Viura, presenting a gorgeous salmony, copper-like color which attracts attention even from across the room. There’s a deep minerality here of rustic spices & dried earth. The fruit of the Garnacha first washes the palate with ripe stone fruits and orange peel, and then follows up with a subtle florality that comes up on the back end in a tuneful way. I’m pairing this wine with a pulled pork sandwich or even some seafood. Better yet I’ll take both.
Ready for an “unsung hero” wine country? Take a trip to the city of Kamptal in Austria, the country’s biggest wine producing sub-region at the foothills of the Heiligenstein mountains. This region is impressive because of its ancient ice age bedrock soil, its vast temperature changes, and the lovely terroir-driven wines that result. The Cistercien Rose by Schloss Gobelsburg is the quintessential expression of the mineral-driven wines that are outstanding for summer vibes. It drinks like a white wine, but its St. Laurent grape carries in red fruits perfectly in harmony with the subtle traces of baking spices. Its ripe, bright acidity pairs perfectly with a charcuterie board, olives & closest friends.
Hello, all you red Wine lovers out there! Don’t fret, I’ve got you. We’re going to start our red selection in the region of Nemea, Greece with a killer summer red blend by Gai’a. I personally have this wine on my list at Fish nor Fowl, and it has become a favorite of both staff and guests. A blend of 85% Agioritiko (Ah-your-yeek-tiko) & 15% Syrah, it reveals a flush of dark fruit intensity, young black peppery spices, and soft tannins that refresh your palette in every way on a warm summer day. Put a chill on this and write to me later to thank me after you’ve been transported to the land of Nemea with your first sip. Shock your friends with this wine at the BBQ. Sip it along with some brisket and corn bread, and don’t forget the mac and cheese.
Hop on a boat & let’s travel back to Sicily for the indigenous grape that made me fall in love with the island. Frappatto is as much fun to say as it is to drink. There are many expressions of this versatile grape, but one stood out so much that a group of 16 people, including myself, had to embark on a journey in ‘23 to see where it was made. Feudi del Pisciotto, located just south of Niscemi in southern Sicily, just does thing right on so many levels. Their Frappatto is aromatic, fruitful & refreshing. There are notes of pomegranate and cherry, made complex with subtle violets, yet structured and elegant from the terroir. Bring this wine to a slight chill, put a branzino on the grill & fry up some arancini to create a true Sicilian summer evening.
For all of you New World wine lovers, I have not forgotten about you. A personal favorite for these summer nights with friends and a grill comes from Ron Rubin in the Russian River Valley of California. Their Pinot Noir is so beautifully done that you won’t hesitate to fill your wine rack with a case. Here we’re given a wine that presents a subtle sweet vanilla tone with fresh ripe berries and a subtle baking spice note that tingles the palette. I love this wine for its brightness and ability to change wonderfully after chilling. It’s elegant, fun complexity is a my personal choice for a good burger or grilled salmon. Add only the laughter of friends to complete the evening.
Whoops, I almost forgot about the Bubbles, how could I be so rude. An absolute gem of a sparkling wine, this beautiful bottle comes from the Mosel region in Germany from one of the country’s most reputable producers, Dr. Loosen. This is a 100% Riesling sparkling wine and I immediately swoon when that first sip hits my soul. I’d say this has a spine-tingling sensation when you enjoy it on a hot day, thanks to bright, refreshing Honeycrisp apple notes, and a soft honey coating that uplifts the peach flavor that follows. It’s effervescent with an elegant light mousse-like structure for a body. Pairing this with a ceviche or summer cucumber salad will be the go-to move!
In summertime I think of rosé as a vital occupant of everyone’s refrigerator, so why not add some sparkling rosé to the collection! This is a wine with so much quality and bang for the buck that I truly felt it needed to be included. I give to you Cava Rose by Casteller 100% Trepat from the Cava region in Spain, aged 12 months on the lees in the bottle before disgorgement and shipping. I love the umami-fruitiness that this wine presents from the terroir. It offers up a sexy mineral structure that gets slowly washed away from the gorgeous cranberry and raspberry fruits in the Trepat. I can drink this daily with a myriad of summer foods. Anything hot off the grill will be a delight. Baby Back Ribs anyone?
Story by Alexander C. Riola
Photo Courtesy of Fernando Stahelin
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