SUMMER
Summer is here, the weather is getting hotter, and many wine drinkers will turn to white or rosé wine, but big fans of red wine may still stick with red wine.
In hot summer weather, most of the oak-rich, heavy-bodied red wines seem a little too depressing, so which red wines are more suitable for summer?
01
Characteristics of the best summer red wines
1. Light body
A light body
Aging of oak barrels, aged clay, and high alcohol content all increase the body and structure of the wine, and some varieties have more to produce wines with fuller and fuller bodies; Some varieties are lighter, such as Pinot Noir.
2. Low tannins and delicate
Low tannins and soft texture
Tannins increase the body of the wine; Tannins that are not softened will make the wine taste more "coarse". These will reduce the freshness of the wine, and in the summer you should choose some wines with fine tannins and low tannins.
3. Relatively high acidity
Relatively high acidity
Wines with low acidity usually feel more rounded, giving a less refreshing feel. Higher acidity allows people to secrete saliva and also balances the excess sweetness in the wine, making the wine feel more refreshing.
4. Rich in fruity flavor
Fruit flavours in abundance
In warm weather, red wine without oak barrels or light oak barrels is a good choice. Wines fermented or aged in stainless steel retain the wine's main fruit flavors, such as fresh red and black berry flavors, which often complement summer foods.
All in all, for summer red wines, we recommend looking for: light, soft, fruity wines with low tannins, low oak influence or no oak influence and high acidity.
02
The 5 wines best recommended for summer
1. Beaujolais production area
Beaujolais
Gamay is the most grown red grape variety in the Beaujolais appellation, and it can produce typical fruity red wines. Most of the Cameaux wines produced in the Beaujolais region have flavors of raspberry and red cherry, sometimes with hints of black pepper, low tannins and are usually very refreshing.
2. Primitivo/Xian Fan Dai
Primitivo / Zinfandels
In fact, although in the 1990s it was proved that Primitivo and Xian Fan Dai were actually the same grape variety. However, Primitivo wines in southern Italy have a lighter body and a stronger fruity flavor than American Sympians.
3. Black pearls
Black Pearl (Nero d'Avola)
Black pearls are widely grown in Sicily and Puglia in southern Italy because it is well suited to the high temperatures in these regions. Although heavier wines are occasionally found, most are soft and fruity.
4. Bardolino appellation
Bardolino
Produced on the eastern shore of Lake Garda in the Veneto region of northeastern Italy, Bardolino red wines often resemble those of Beaujolais in a fruity and light body.
5 Pinot Noirs
Pinot Noirs
Pinot Noir from the Palatinate region of Germany is particularly suitable for summer. It's light and elegant with soft fruity notes including ripe redcurrant, raspberry fruit, hints of vanilla and (light) oak-aged spices. Sweet and ripe red fruits, silky texture and acidity blend perfectly.
03
The drinking temperature of red wine in summer
Any of the above red wines can be refrigerated to 12-15 °C for drinking. Be careful though, as chilled wines can add to the tannins and mask the fruit aromas, so if you've cooled your wine before drinking it, you can warm it up a bit before drinking it, and then indulge!
Article source wines with attitude, asked to translate the culture