Summer Red Wine: Chilled Reds are the Unexpected Wine for Summer

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Temperatures are heating up and our natural instinct is to shift from red to white wine to tame the sweltering summer temperatures.  SWTW takes on the task of finding the perfect chilled summer red wines perfect for every occasion!  From Lambrusco to Syrah and a few in between, we hit the highlights so you, too, can pop the cork on red wine throughout the dog days of summer. Tune in for a few of our summer wine suggestions.

What are the key elements which make a red variety perfect for serving at cooler temperatures (45-55 F)?  High acidity, red fruit flavors, thin skins for low tannins, and lower alcohol!  Winemakers pick grapes at the perfect point, likely on the early side, to achieve the crunchy, bright, light, fruity, summer red wine style needed to put on the chill. There's truly nothing better than a light bodied red served chilled on a summer evening.

Lambrusco is a moderately fizzy red made in the same way as Prosecco.  Grape varieties are little known Maestri, Marani, Montericco, and Salamino and translate to vibrant fuchsia deliciousness in the glass.  Gamay, most famous in Beaujolais as well as Pinot Noir are definitely in the perfect wheelhouse for summer chillables!  SWTW faves include Louis Jadot Beaujolais Village and our previous guest Morét-Brealynn Wines Pinot Noir. What's not to love!?!

The most surprising star of the summer chilled summer red wine show is cool climate Syrah!  We'll let you listen in to the story, but Division Wine Co's Gamine wins our vote along with Unison Vineyard's New Zealand "And Relax"! Chilling red summer wines is all the rage from New York state to South Africa!

Summer is here and we think it's the perfect time to put the chill on a great bottle of fruity red and sip your way through the season!

Cheers!
Charisse & Kristi

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Charisse and Kristi