By Kurt Wieneke
Summer weather is still in play! In fact, it’s been downright hot this year, especially here in central Indiana. While white wines are a ‘slam dunk’ in the summer, there are some red wines which will go best with your summer cookouts. The main thing with summer reds wines is you want them to be fruit-forward, unpretentious, and light on their feet. Here are some reds to seek out this summer:
Zinfandel
Zinfandel (the grape) was brought to California in the late 1800s by Italian immigrants, who planted vines near their homestead as the source for their ‘house reds.’ In my book, nothing screams ‘summer red’ more than California Zinfandel. It’s versatile and is a good match with many different kinds of grilled fare, such as ribs, chicken, or even salmon.
Next time you hit the deck, make sure to bring along the Zin!
Beaujolais
This is a French wine made from Gamay Noir, which is basically a cousin of Pinot Noir. Beaujolais is a relatively large wine region extending southwest of Macon in southern France. The hallmark of Beaujolais is freshness and low tannins, with a taste profile of strawberry and violet, along with subtle earth and mineral notes.
Look for the wines labeled as ‘Beaujolais-Villages,’ as they are slightly better quality. The Louis Jadot is a quality production house which makes a consistent, genuine Beaujolais-Villages year in and year out.
Zweigelt
This grape hails from Austria and is a charming, light-bodied red with plenty of zip. Zweigelt is a cross/hybrid of Blaufrankisch and St. Laurent grapes invented by Fritz Zweigelt in 1922.
Years later, in 1978, this brilliant cross came off the shelf to be cultivated throughout Austria. I always like the slight hint of black pepper in a Zweigelt. With its bright acidity and peppery nuance, Zweigelt can be the perfect match for your next barbeque.
You can easily find a decent Zinfandel, or Beaujolais in your local supermarket. The best place to find a Zweigelt would be your local wine merchant, or a larger liquor store chain.
Cheers! Enjoy the Reds of Summer.
