Summer Wines, Not the Usual

You may well have seen other articles on what wines you should drink this summer. They likely told you to drink rosé, Sauvignon Blanc, Pinot Gris, and maybe Chardonnay, Grenache or Pinot Noir. I won't be mentioning those. These all work, but they can be kind of boring.

For the warm weather you want refreshing (that means good acid), dry, and chillable.

Following are a few whites and reds to enjoy in the warmth with lighter foods and BBQs. These wines are higher in acids and lower in tannins. Perfect for summer. You'll see that most of these grapes have their homes in warmer regions -- Spain, Italy, and southern France.

White

Albarino  al bah reen yoh

Albarino's origin is Spain and northern Portugal. A zesty wine that can have flavors of lemon and grapefruit to honeydew melon. A good hot weather wine. A great seafood wine.

Chenin Blanc  shen un blahnk

Chenin Blanc's home is the Loire Valley in central France. Dry ones can have minerality and a spicy, tart pear taste. Off-dry will have a richer pear flavors along with peach or honey. Goes well with lighter meats and seafood, and with a rich sauce. Grilled chicken and white fish work well.

Vermentino  ver men tee no

Vermentino is found in Italy and other nearby areas. Refreshing, citrusy and floral with lemons to pears to apples to tropical fruits depending on the climate where it was grown (cooler climates lemony, the warmest tropical fruit). Great with seafood or other lighter dishes along with fresh summer vegetables. Refreshing all by itself.

Red

Barbera  bar bear ah

Barbera found its fame in the Piedmont region of NW Italy. Lighter bodied, higher acid (good for food parings), and red fruit flavors. A classic Italian wine that goes well with classic Italian dishes using tomatoes, garlic, olives, or anything a bit spicy. Good with pork, steaks, sausages, or salmon from the grill.

Following are a couple of reds I'm not as familiar with
and will be giving them another try this summer
They can be a bit difficult to find

Cinsault  sahn so (or thereabouts)

Cinsault is from southern France.

Dolcetto  dole chet oh

Dolcetto is from Piedmont in Italy.