Favorite White Wine Varietals for Summer 2024
Summer is Loading. What wines are you bringing to the party?
As soon as we start sweating outside, we know that summer is loading. Living in the Dallas, Texas area means we get hit with the heat wave a month or two before Summer really begins.
So before you get caught up searching for wines in the heat, plan your summer snags now with my top 5 white wine varietals this year.
5. Pinot Grigio
The wine most commonly associated with Italy is best served cold at 45-55 degrees Fahrenheit. This is a great starter wine if you’ve been tasked with bringing the fruit salad. You can anticipate a lot of stone fruit and citrus energy with each Pinot Grigio glass.
4. Riesling
Not only should we expect a lot of summer fashion styles, but also a lot of summer Riesling styles. Riesling can be made dry, off-dry (a little sweet), or sweet. If you’ve graduated from sugary drinks, the wine most commonly produced in Germany is a great choice. Riesling also pairs well with many global cuisines such as Asian and Indian foods.
3. Chenin Blanc
Chenin Blanc can also come in a plethora of styles from dry to off-dry. I enjoy the variety that Chenin Blanc can deliver with Thai food. Chenin Blanc is most commonly grown in South Africa and the French wine region, Loire Valley.
2. Sauvignon Blanc
Sticking with high-acidity white wines, Sauvignon Blanc delivers a variety of styles for any taste preference. If you prefer a pungent/herbaceous flavor profile, I recommend snagging Marlborough, New Zealand Sauvignon Blanc wines. There are plenty of great Sauvignon Blanc wines across the world including from California and France (ex: Pouilly-Fume, Sancerre)
1. Unoaked Chardonnay
I tend to lean towards Unoaked (or lightly oaked) Chardonnays during the hotter seasons. Oaked Chardonnays for me have a place in the cooler seasons as they carry more body on the palate. My favorite is a crisp Chablis due to its high acidity and minerality.
What wines within this group would you bring with you this summer?
