10 of the Best Summer Wines to Enjoy This Year

By the pool. In the backyard. At the beach. All are perfect places to kick back and relax in the sun with a delicious glass of wine.

And while it’s true that not all wines are best enjoyed in the heat, there’s no reason to stick to just white or rosé wine during the summer months. No matter what type of wine you like, there’s a perfect excuse—and opportunity—to uncork your favorite and savor in the summer sun.

We’re here to help you choose the best summer wines that are perfect for sunny days chilling with friends.

With easy-drinking red wines such as Pinot Noir, whites like Albariño and elegant rosés from Provence, our easy guide to 10 of the best wines to enjoy in the hot summer months is a great place to start.

Best Summer Wines to Try

Pinot Grigio

A refreshing, easy-drinking white wine, Pinot Grigio is a popular choice for summer sipping. Dry with a balanced, bright acidity and light-medium body, it delivers essential summer flavors like citrus, honey, blossom and almond. Pinot Grigio pairs perfectly with light summer dishes, such as salads, chicken and seafood, as well as light pasta dishes and mild, creamy cheeses like Mozzarella.

This summer, opt for a Hungarian Pinot Grigio, like our Campanula Pinot Grigio 2020—it’s crisp and fresh with a deliciously nutty finish.

Frappato

Frappato is the unsung wine gem of Sicily. Loved for its flavors of ripe red berries, tobacco, blossom and incense spices, Frappato is a medium-bodied red wine with a satisfying acidity. It’ll become an immediate summer favorite when paired with a mouthwatering menu of charcuterie boards, white fish, stone-baked pizza and grilled red vegetables.

Juicy, intensely floral and best served at room temperature, our award-winning Sicilian w/o Frappato 2021 is made to be paired with good friends and a gorgeous sunset.

Pinot Noir

Widely considered the world’s most popular light-bodied red wine, Pinot Noir is best known for its high acidity, low tannins and silky flavors of cherry, clove and hibiscus. Pinot Noir is meant to be savored and is a delicious pairing for barbecue ribs, grilled pork, tuna and goat’s cheese salad. If time allows, decant your bottle at least 30 minutes before your guests arrive to help unleash the wine’s complex flavors.

Try our Le Champ des Etoiles Pinot Noir 2020 from southern France’s Languedoc region to add that final touch to a summer dinner party.

Provence Rosé

As iconic in color as it is in flavor, this rosé wine comes from Provence, the oldest wine region in France and home to some of the world’s finest pink wines.

A dry rosé, Provence Rosé is characterized by its ripe, red-fruit flavors and almost savory, wild herb notes, depending on the grape varieties used in the blend (typically Grenache and Cinsault).

Pair this rosé with grilled salmon or tuna, salads featuring fruit like watermelon, and roasted vegetable dishes to match its delicate style.

Savor our Grenache-based L’Art Provençal Rosé 2021—floral and mouthwatering, it’s best served chilled, in large, round-bottom glasses.

Cheers!

Sauvignon Blanc

Produced worldwide in various styles, Sauvignon Blanc is a summertime must-have for white wine lovers. Impossible to miss, thanks to its green herb flavors and zingy acidity, this white is typically crisp and vibrant, with flavors of gooseberry, tropical fruits and cut grass. Its characteristic lightness makes it the perfect partner to light summer dishes like chicken, calamari, Caprese salad and green pasta.

Serve our New Zealand The Jumper Sauvignon Blanc 2021 chilled from the fridge for a fresh and aromatic summer experience.

Brachetto

A semi-sparkling red wine produced predominantly in Piedmont, Northwest Italy, Brachetto is famous for its distinctive sweet strawberry flavor. With a medium-light body and low alcohol content, Brachetto makes the perfect dessert wine, paired with berry tarts, rich ganaches and creamy chocolate mousse for an indulgent end to a summer dinner.

Try our Villa Pani Brachetto 2020, slightly chilled and in tall flutes, to make the most of those lightly sparkling bubbles and concentrated fruit flavors.

Albariño

Albariño grapes may be harder to grow than others, thanks to their tiny size, but the wine they produce is worth the effort. With a light-medium body and a high acidity, Albariño offers wine lovers a taste of the Iberian Peninsula—honeydew melon, nectarine, saline, citrus zest and beeswax. Pair with fish tacos, vegetable risotto, oysters, fresh greens and herbs for a vibrant late-summer lunch.

If a visit to the coast features in your summer vacation plans, take our aromatic and refreshing Spanish Heredad Chavarri Albariño 2021 along for the trip.

Gamay/Beaujolais

If you’re already a fan of Pinot Noir, this is a wine you’ll want to add to your collection. Produced in the Beaujolais region of France, Gamay is a light-bodied red wine high in acidity and big on flavor—think cherry, plum, violet, raspberry and cracked black pepper. Food-friendly and very versatile, it’s a good match for mild cheeses, roast chicken salads and glazed salmon.

Try our silky-smooth Julien Revillon Fleurie 2020 for a refreshing and luxurious after-dinner treat as the sun starts to go down.

Sparkling Wine

There’s nothing like a long, sparkling drink on the rocks to help cool down a hot summer’s day, and the latest trend among top Champagne houses is sparkling wines made specifically to be served over ice.

Ice Cattin Premium Demi-Sec NV hails from the Alsace region. With its delicate bubbles plus ripe, gently sweet peach and blossom flavors, it will pair well with fruit-based desserts. Serve in a standard wine glass with four or five ice cubes, and enjoy!

Torrontés

Torrontés is an aromatic and deceptively dry white wine with origins in Argentina. Its floral aromas of rose petals and geranium make you think it’ll be sweet, but its lemon zest and saline flavors create a far more complex and exciting drinking experience. Since it’s best served chilled and has delicate aromas, this is a great wine for fresh sushi and can also complement spicy Asian and Indian dishes—opt for coconut-based curries and fish stews.

Our Ascencion Torrontés 2021 is one to add to your list this summer.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Karen, Personal Wine Advisor

The best moments of life involve entertaining friends and family over great meals, great wine and genuine laughter. I sometimes can’t believe that I get to do this for a living!

WSET – Level 2 Wines & Spirits Certified

Rhône Reds • Sonoma Reds • Barrel-Aged Rioja • If I can get a good, sumptuous lip smack from my glass, I am pleasantly charmed!

karen@laithwaites.com | (203) 523-2157