When the weather is hot, drinking wine is less pleasant than a good ice-cold beer. However, hard-core wine lovers won’t give up easily their favorite drink. Some wines are qualified as fresh. Actually, the sensation of freshness we have in the mouth when drinking a wine is given by the level of acidity. The more a wine is acidic, the more we have a perception of freshness.
One of the most friendly wines to drink when temperatures are on the rise is Sauvignon Blanc. If you like bone-dry wines with aromas of green fruits, you can pick up a Sauvignon Blanc from such as a Sancerre or a Pouilly-Fumé from the Loire Valley. If you prefer a tropical fruit aroma, you can go for a Sauvignon Blanc from New Zealand.
If you do not fancy white wines, you can choose a rosé. They are increasingly popular in most international wine markets, where their seasonal consumption peaks in summer. They can be made with a wide range of grape varieties like Grenache, Cinsault, or Syrah. The classic region for the production of rosé is the south of France, especially in the appellation of Côtes de Provence, where it represents 80 percent of global wine production.
High temperatures do not mean that you must avoid red wines, but you should skip Cabernet Sauvignon, Syrah and all full-bodied wines that might be too heavy to be enjoyed in hot weather. You can find your best red wine companions among the high-acid light- or medium-bodied wines such as a Beaujolais (Gamay grapes) or Cabernet Franc from the Loire Valley such as Bourgueil, Saint Nicolas de Bourgueil, or Chinon. The grassy flavors of this grape variety combined with the firm acidity should be a good choice.
But considering the wide range of wines available, a dry sparkling wine such as a Champagne Blanc de Blancs could turn out to be a great option too to endure a hot day in the Land of Smiles.
