Four Wines to Chill out with This Summer
As someone who grew up in Washington state, I will always be partial to a full-bodied red – but it’s summer.
I’m a seasonal eater, a seasonal dresser, a seasonal decorator, and a seasonal wine drinker.
My favorites currently include anything effervescent, bright in color and flavor, and maybe a little funky – preferably enjoyed chilled and outdoors.
Here are four fun wines to help you beat the heat.
“Bonny Doon Vineyard has always taken an uncommonly holistic approach to viticulture and winemaking, seeking to learn and harness the power of the land and cosmos to create wines of repute and delight.”
Tasting Notes
2023 Le Cigare Orange – $17.99
A bright orange skin contact wine that you can likely find stocked in your local wine shop. Look for the flying cigar!
“Aromas of fresh apricot, citrus, and tangerine blossom. Bright, fresh palate with peach, apricot and citrus peel. Textured and vibrant.”
Located in the Sierra Foothills AVA, Arquils Wines is just a couple hours outside of San Francisco. While tastings are by appointment only, you can find Arquils in many wine stores throughout California. Each wine has a stunning color, and is enveloped in simple yet elegant label representative of winemaker Arquiles Carlos Caruncho’s vision and sustainable practices.
“All wines are undisturbed from beginning to end, unfiltered, unrefined, unracked. Zero sulfites”
Tasting Notes from Jancis Robinson
Chardonnay/Sauvignon Blanc/Pinot Noir 2023 – $25
“This would go down extremely well in a natural wine bar. It tastes just off dry and, even though there is little aroma, there’s an attractive peachy finish that’s quite assertive. A wine to be approached with caution but to be embraced by natural wine converts.”
Look forward to our upcoming article featuring Arquils Wines and the natural wine movement happening in the Sierra Foothills.
An Albariño from Oregon recommended to me by SipNYC’s wine connoisseur, Chris. Led to a fabulous reprieve from the sweltering heat of Manhattan.
Tasting Notes
James Suckling – “A solid, medium-bodied white with ripe and generous fruit character and a polished texture. It offers aromas of candied citrus fruit and peaches with dried flowers and a hint of orange peel. Round-textured and sleek on the palate. Drink now. Screw cap.”
As Tessier was the first interview that I did for The Grapevine, it holds a special place in my heart – and my shelf. Tessier sources sustainably farmed fruit, no round-up, tending towards organic, unfined and for the most part unfiltered.
Available in stores across the country or available for purchase directly on the website.
Tasting Notes
2023 Clements Hills Grenache Blanc – $30
“Straw Yellow with a golden hue. Aromas of calendula, chamomile and pear with lemon curd, beeswax and tangerine peel on the palate.”
Editor
Natalie is co-founder and editor of The Grapevine Magazine where she helps winemakers big and small tell their stories. She lives in Manhattan, New York City.
