The days are growing longer and the mercury is rising, so we’ve assembled our list of go-to summer wines—the poolside companions and breezy afternoon standbys to have on hand all season long, no matter where you’re headed.
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Shop Our Summer Wines:
2018 Pascal et Alain Lorieux Cuvée Agnès Sorel Saint-Nicolas-de-Bourgueil
“I always have a Loire Valley Cab Franc, like the Pascal et Alain Saint-Nicolas-d-Bourgueil, on hand. Cabernet Franc is known for its elegance and perfumed aromas, plus a lighter body and beautiful soft tannins which make the wines versatile with lots of proteins off the grill—from salmon to chicken or burgers, and even grilled veggies. These wines are great served with a light chill—ideal for hot weather.”
—Master of Wine Vanessa Conlin
2019 Domaine Huet Le Haut-Lieu Vouvray Sec Loire Valley
“I will be stocking my fridge this summer with the 2019 Domaine Huet Le Haut-Lieu Vouvray. Huet is arguably the best producer in Vouvray, certainly in the top 3, and I feel confident that it gives the best and most accurate representation of Chenin Blanc from the village of Vouvray, year in and year out. Plus, it’s fresh enough for raw summer salads, but has the dimension to seriously wow with complex meals.”
— Master Sommelier Sur Lucero
2020 Azur Rose Napa Valley
““During the summer, I like to sit outside as much as possible, and nothing beats the heat like a nice, crisp glass of rosé. I’m a big fan of the lighter Provençal-style rosé wines. Though this wine is not from Provence, I find this Azur delivers the same light body and bone-dry finish with a little more concentration and depth of fruit—perfect as an aperitif or with a lighter summer salad.”
— VP of Wine Robert Emery
2018 Stéphane Ogier Le Temps Est Venu Côtes-du-Rhône Rhône Valley
“If the weather is nice, I like to find any excuse to light up the grill. This medium-bodied red has a smoky and spicy character that works with a variety of grilled or barbecued foods, from brisket to swordfish steaks or even pizza. If you’ve never grilled pizza before, you should try it. It is a game-changer.”
— VP of Wine Robert Emery
NV Bodegas Hidalgo La Gitana Manzanilla Sanlúcar de Barrameda
“This is absolutely always in the fridge and ready to go. It’s bone-dry and refreshing with a touch of perceived salinity. There’s really nothing better than sherry on the patio with a handful of Marcona almonds. Perfect.”
— Wine Access Personal Concierge Laura Koffer
2018 Morgen Long Chardonnay Willamette Valley Oregon
“This Chardonnay is graceful and lively, with just enough ripe fruit and a touch of oak to add depth. It is my ideal year-round Chardonnay, and a regular on summer afternoons with crudité or my guilty pleasure—crab dip.”
— Wine Access Personal Concierge Laura Koffer
2019 Sohm & Kracher Gruner Veltliner Lion Niederosterreich
“The Sohm & Kracher Lion Grüner Veltliner is really ideal for any occasion. It’s lively and cleansing without pretense—my go-to, easygoing summertime white wine. It’s always in my fridge and usually what you’ll find me bringing to parties. Grüner is incredibly food-friendly, so when I’m not sure what’s on the menu, this is a perfect match, every time.”
— VP of Wine Eduardo Dingler
2019 Graci Etna Bianco Sicily
“I love Graci’s Etna Bianco. It has fantastic mineral tension and spice that is ultra-refreshing on really hot days. It’s one of my favorite pairings for innovative seafood, like Thai-inspired shrimp and scallops in a peanut sauce.”
— VP of Wine Eduardo Dingler
2018 Von Winning Riesling Winnings Pfalz
“This is hands-down my favorite Riesling for summer—it’s got weight and complexity but is priced to drink every day. I love it with spicy fish tacos by the pool or with the freshest produce I can find.”
— Editor Laura Burgess