Best Picnic Wines To Enjoy This Summer

The sun’s shining, the great outdoors is calling—it’s the perfect time for a picnic. Eating outdoors in a park, at the beach or simply in your backyard is a wonderful way to enjoy nature, good company, delicious food and the perfect wine pairing.

Picnics can include a wide range of finger foods from sandwiches and fried chicken, salads and slaws to cheeses and desserts—and the right wine can elevate an ordinary outdoor snack to the best lunch table in town.

So, what’s the best wine to match your al fresco meal? From crisp light white wines to silky light red wines, frothy sparkling wines to fruity rosés, the perfect picnic wine is out there—you just need to know how to find it. Read on to find out how to pick the ideal picnic wine.

Wines for Picnics—The Basics

Hosting a picnic takes some planning, and that includes your wine selection. Before you decide on the right red, white or rosé, consider:

The season—Will you be in the fresh spring air or enjoying the summer heat?
The location—Are you picnicking at the beach, a park or an urban lunch spot?
The occasion—Is your picnic a casual get-together or a large-scale celebration?

Casual occasions with simple dishes could benefit from a lighter red or white wine pairing, while more celebratory picnics could be an excellent opportunity to pop open a bottle of sparkling wine or enjoy a rosé alongside charcuterie platters and desserts.

Best White Wines for a Picnic

Albariño

Light and fresh, Albariño is a white wine that originates from Spain.

Known for its light-bodied style and bright, zippy acidity, the wine features lime, grapefruit, pear and honeysuckle notes. Spanish Albariño is known for its distinct saline hint, resulting from the terroir in breezy coastal vineyards.

A bottle of Albariño will be perfect if your picnic includes tapas, any seafood (like fish tacos), soft cheeses and fresh salads with a little bit of fruit, such as melon or nectarine.

Sauvignon Blanc

Sauvignon Blanc is known for its refreshing character and vibrant notes of citrus, tropical fruit and white blossom. It’s typically dry in style and known for its versatility. Pair it with a goat’s cheese salad, herby chicken or cold sausages.

Chardonnay

Enjoying a well-chilled bottle of Chardonnay can add a classy touch to your picnic feast. The rich, buttery undertones and crisp fruity notes of a well-balanced, oak-aged Chardonnay beautifully complement a variety of picnic foods, such as cheese, cold meats, pasta salads and fruits.

Pinot Grigio

Typically light-bodied and crisp, Pinot Grigio is another great choice—its bright acidity and citrus flavors can be cooling on a sunny day. It’s also highly versatile and works well with various picnic foods.

Shrimp salads, grilled vegetables drizzled with lemon juice, turkey sandwiches layered with green pesto and soft cheeses all become even more delicious with a glass of Pinot Grigio.

Best Rosé Wines for a Picnic

Grenache

Grenache grapes make easy-drinking, refreshingly dry rosés. Intensely fruity with a crisp acidity and fresh finish, this variety of rosé is a good choice for a picnic featuring hearty foods.

Soy-glazed salmon with rice, fresh salads topped with Feta, and a charcuterie board of cured meats and cheeses are all delicious when paired with a glass of Grenache rosé.

Provence Rosé

Provence rosés are known for their delicate pink color, dry style and juicy flavors of red fruit, citrus and melon. These wines also have a refreshing, cleansing minerality, which makes them delightful for sipping during a picnic.

Best Light Red Wines for a Picnic

Gamay

A lively French red from the Beaujolais region, Gamay is a popular picnic choice thanks to its easy-drinking style, light to medium body and high acidity. Expect raspberry, red currant and cherry notes, an earthy undertone, and a subtle hint of pepper—perfect for pairing with a savory picnic.

Pair Gamay with a Mediterranean feast of fennel bread, black olives and spanakopita (Greek spinach pastries). Spicy tuna sushi and wood-plank salmon also make a delicious match.

Pinot Noir

Pinot Noir’s light body, refreshing acidity and bright fruit flavors mean it’s a suitable red wine for an al fresco lunch.

Its red berry character and pronounced acidity work well with lighter fare and foods with some fat. Ideal picnic pairings with a glass of Pinot Noir include barbecued chicken sandwiches, smoked salmon bagels and soft cheeses like Brie.

Best Sparkling Wines for a Picnic

Prosecco

If your picnic demands sparkling wine, Prosecco is a great choice. This Italian sparkler is creamy and elegant, with fine bubbles and mouthwatering melon, green apple and peach notes.

Pair Prosecco with a spread of sushi, melon in prosciutto, grilled shrimp and bagels with cream cheese for a party in the park. The bubbles are a refreshing contrast to fattier foods.

Moscato d’Asti

Moscato d’Asti is a delicate frizzante sparkling wine from Italy. It’s light and refreshing, with low alcohol content and notes of grapes, peach, apricot and orange blossom.

The wine’s slight sweetness makes it the perfect choice for pairing with light sponge cakes and fruity, creamy desserts, while the fizz makes it the ideal partner for salty, savory bites. Salami, salted nuts, blue cheeses and pâté spread across salt-crusted bread make good pairings with a glass of Moscato d’Asti.

Sparkling Rosé

A sparkling rosé can add a celebratory touch to a simple picnic. Typically dry and delicate with a bright acidity, sparkling rosé wines can feature notes of strawberry, citrus, watermelon, green apple and white blossom.

This versatile style of wine pairs well with everything from salty snacks like potato chips to tuna and salmon sushi, crispy fried chicken and creamy cakes.

Serving Wine at a Picnic

Ensuring wine is at the right temperature will unlock its delicious aromas and flavors. White, rosé and sparkling wines are typically served cool (45-55°F), while red wines are usually enjoyed slightly cooler than room temperature (54-64°F).

White and Rosé Wines

Before going out on a picnic, chill your wine for a few hours or overnight.
Place your wine bottles in a cooler. Wrap ice packs in a cloth and place them around your wine bottle.

Red Wines

If it’s a hot day, chill your red wine slightly in the fridge before you leave and store it in an insulated carrier to maintain a stable temperature.
Keep your red wine in the shade, as sunlight will heat your wine. Aim to keep your red wine cool, not cold, as overly chilled red wine can suppress its flavors and aromas.

Don’t forget to pack essentials like a corkscrew and a wine stopper for any leftover wine. Stemless wine glasses are ideal for easy packing and stability on uneven picnic grounds.

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