It’s summer in Nashville—hot and humid, but spectacular all the same because Nashville comes alive during these balmy months. Street fairs and outdoor concerts abound, as do neighborly cookouts and parties on patios. The residents of Music City love to be outdoors during the summer, and they love to imbibe while doing so. You have to cool off somehow, right? Nothing fits into a Midstate warm weather social setting like a nice white wine. While red wine is still heavily consumed around the city through even the most blistering months, it’s the whites that best fit the outdoor lifestyle Nashville enjoys so much during the summer months.
About now you may be thinking this article will be chock full of Chardonnay suggestions—Nashville consumes insane amounts of Chardonnay. Even during the dead of winter, it outsells Cabernet in many stores—strange but true, and that’s exactly why I’m not going there. There are so many other wines that fit the season just as well that don’t get the play of Chardonnay. Don’t look for any Pinot Grigio suggestions either. While both wines are fine in their own right, and I enjoy them, they’ve been done to death. So if you’re stuck in a Chardo-grigio rut, I encourage you to stretch your wings a little this summer. You’ll thank me later.
Lets first look at Viognier because it’s my personal summer substitute for Chardonnay. A good Viognier (VEE-oh-nyay) is full, ripe and round. It’s a rubenesque style of wine that pops with floral and stone fruit aromas and flavors. These wines echo lush outdoor beauty and the sun’s warming richness in a glass. It’s like drinking the essence of summer. That is, as long as you pick up a good Viognier.
Unfortunately, the Viognier grape is often harvested too early for the fruit to show its best in the final product. Most grape varieties are harvested when the balance of sugar to acid is at a certain level that the winemaker desires. However, using those same criteria in Viognier often leaves the final product too acidic and green-tasting. This grape needs time to hang on the vine and develop. The wine shouldn’t be high in acidity. It should be plush and luscious. So look for wineries that really focus on Viognier to increase your chances of getting a good representation. Try Viognier with a light summer salad and most defiantly on the patio in the evening.
OK. So you don’t want something as full as a Viognier—you want something to cool you off while enjoying the outdoors. You’ve got plenty of choices and perhaps the best place to start is with Sauvignon Blanc. My summers often consist of a stream of friends, entertaining, laughter and events, and I can usually gauge the amount of fun in any given sunny July day by how many bottles of Sauvignon Blanc we go through. Nothing quenches the thirst that comes along with a sweltering day like the crisp, clean flavors of this grape.
The current trend is the super grapefruit and gooseberry flavors of the Sauvignon Blancs of New Zealand. They’re great if huge, gripping citrus and searing acidity is what you’re after. Most are perfect if you’re looking to remove the enamel from your teeth. Lets just say that subtlety isn’t in the lexicon of many New Zealand Sauvignon Blanc makers. Instead, I tend to look at South America, California and France for more palatable offerings that don’t overpower everything. You can easily find great examples in every price range and taste profile. I enjoy a Sauvignon Blanc that shows a crisp citrus characteristic balanced with acidity and a little minerality. Flavors of lemon zest and grapefruit alongside a little herb component and a flinty finish make for the perfect lubricant on a 90-plus-degree day of socializing on the lawn.
Then there are the forgotten—or unknown—wines, perfect for the summer months. The most overlooked must be Champagne and sparkling wines. Bubbly is outstanding during the warm weather, yet seldom consumed. Want to have an amazing day on the patio? Serve up your favorite light summer lunch and serve it with a sparkling rosé. Light, crisp flavors and refreshing acidity will make you wonder why you don’t do this every day.
Still further off the beaten path is Pinot Blanc. It’s hard to find, but well worth the search. These wines can range from crisp and bright to lush and figgie. They make fantastic summer wines, and I recommend those from Alsace in France. There’s also the rising cult of Gruner Veltliner. These Austrian wines are clean, apple-driven, light-bodied gems that make the perfect palate pleaser at the end of a hot afternoon.
No matter what you summer plans include, there’s a super summer wine at your local retailer. As always, ask your wine store’s staff for recommendations to ensure you’re getting what you’re looking for. Then go home, pack a picnic, head for somewhere high on a hill with plenty of green and scenic views, and pull a cork and enjoy. Summer wont last long. Enjoy it while you can.