4 Red Wines to Enjoy This Summer

Vino 301's  2017 Red Wines Picks

 Red wine can be enjoyed year-round. People who love red wines LOVE red wine.  They would never consider switching to white wine because it is summer.  Red wine lovers just switch to a lighter red during the summer.  If you are a serious red wine drinker or thinking about trying a summer red, here are Vino 301’s recommendations for summer red wines. 

Summer Sipping

Red wine does not evoke images of sipping a cool glass of wine on the deck or rocking on the porch swing with a glass of wine.  We have a red wine that will forever, change your mind.2015 Chambourcin Melot, Boordy Vineyard The Chambourcin Merlot blend is a pleasant sipping wine that can be served chilled.  We recommend chilling it an hour before serving.  It has aromas of fresh raspberries.  The residual sweetness from the grapes is a welcomed surprise to the palate.  It is a semi-dry wine. 

Grilled and Smoked Meats

Grilled hamburgers, steaks, lamb, ribs or smoked brisket generally warrant medium to full bodied red wines.  These red wines have the muscle to stand up to these rich, layered meats.  Full bodied reds have as much flavor as the food. 2013 Cabernet Franc Blend, Chateau Bu-DeThe Cabernet Franc is a blend of 78.6% Cabernet Franc, 16.1% Cabernet Sauvignon and 5.4% Merlot. Big bold fruit flavors like cherries, raspberries are on the nose.  Peppery notes, like black pepper, linger on the palate.   This medium body wine is perfect with steak and lamb. White wine with white meat is the guide most people use to pair their food with wine.  This is a safe rule to use for the most part, but there are times you can break the rules.  Today we are breaking the rules.  Grilled chicken on the bone or a fatty pork chops can be enjoyed with a red wine. 2013 Barbera, Crow Vineyard Do not let the Barbera’s dark color fool you. It’s color is synonymous with full body red wines, but is composition is really a medium body wine.  Bright cherries, and strawberries are on the nose. Green pepper and cinnamon is on the palate.  Medium tannins, high acid and a medium finish describe the wine.   It will complete fatter white meat dishes without stealing the spotlight. 

Seafood

We are breaking the rules again and pairing red wine with white meat. Light red whites do well with big flavor fish.  Salmon, tuna, swordfish and other fatty, meaty fish can hold its own when it is enjoyed with a light red wine. Sangiovese, Running Hare Vineyard Running Hare’s Sangiovese is a light body red wine.  Sour cherries and currants on the palate and nose.  It has minerality and medium tannins.  The wine’s medium acidity is why it does not over power the fish’s flavors. You can purchase the wines online, just visit their websites.  You can contact the vineyards to locate where you can purchase the wines at local wine stores or restaurants.