With summer having been in full effect for the last couple
of months, it really is the season for lighter wines. Some people opt for
spritzers, others just prefer a lighter white, or rose. Personally, I like my
wine straight up and delicious, so I tend to gravitate towards a Vinho Verde or
lovely Rose. There are others who love spritzers, as they do make for a
wonderful and refreshing drink. When opting to add soda water or some sort of
fizzy beverage (some people even do sprite), I would suggest a crisp and light
wine. You do not want to have anything overly full, oaky or aromatic. This
basically rules out Chardonnays, Rieslings, New Zealand/Australian Sauvignon
Blancs and most French wines (due to their price point). You also do not want
to use a pricey bottle, because when you are diluting the wine, you do not need
to spend a ton of money. I would opt for bottles within the $10 - $12 range.
Some top suggestions would be:
-
Jackson-Triggs Pinot Grigio (the $10.95 version,
not the $17.95 one)
-
Jackson-Triggs Black Series Sauvignon Blanc
($12.95)
-
Two Oceans Sauvignon Blanc ($10.25) – super
inexpensive, and when mixed with sparkling water it is surprisingly delicious!
-
La Vieille Ferme ($11.95)
-
Most French Table wines – usually crisp and
refreshing, and at a reasonable price point.
As you can see, most of these are pretty standard wines. The
tasting notes for each of these would tend to be light, crisp wines with a
moderately acidic finish – all of which pair perfectly when making a spritzer.
Happy Summer everyone! Enjoy some light and refreshing
beverages when you still have the time!
HM
