Somm Shares Summer Wine Picks

When summer finally rolls around, it’s a great time to discover new wines and tap into some underrated options and pairings. Chris Hoskins, sommelier at Casa Don Alfonso Southern Italian restaurant inside The Ritz-Carlton, St. Louis, has some suggestions for summer wines.

Crisp, minerally whites

Sauvignon blanc in all its many forms (Sancerre, Pouilly Fume, Bordeaux, Napa), and some of the less-grapefruit-driven Marlborough New Zealand bottlings, are a no-brainer when the weather warms and the food gets lighter and greener, Hoskins says. His recommendations include Domaine des Buissonnes “Terre Blanche” Sancerre and Round Pond Sauvignon Blanc Rutherford from Napa Valley.

A riesling revival and other underrated sommelier picks

Riesling is a sommelier favorite that’s still underappreciated by the average consumer, “and there’s tons of versatility across sweetness levels and styles to find something for every drinker and occasion,” says Hoskins. One is of his picks is Trimbach Riesling, a dry, fruity wine from Alsace.

Other underrated picks for summer include medium-bodied reds, such as syrah and grenache. Hoskins notes that these red wines can be enjoyed year round but are great lightly chilled for summer gatherings. He likes 4 Monos GR-10 Tinto, a garnacha blend from Spain’s Vinos de Madrid appellation.

Summer pairings beyond “whites with fish”

Off-dry German rieslings such as kabinett and spätlese — especially those with age — will balance spicy dishes with acidity and subtle sweetness, Hoskins notes. California zinfandel, Southern Rhône reds and Australian grenache/shiraz will complement smoky, sauced dishes.

For example, wines such as Karthauserhof “Bruno” Riesling Kabinett Mosel, Oakville Zinfandel Oakville Napa, Isabel Ferrando “Saint Prefert” Chateauneuf du Pape would pair well with spicy summer dishes and seafood like shrimp ceviche with jalapeno or habanero/pineapple grilled cod tacos.

Terroir Trend: Mediterranean Sippers

From the Canary Islands to Lebanon, wines from across the Mediterranean Basin offer a distinct terroir and an “Essenza Mediterranea” story, Hoskins says. “These wines share a sense of place with every sip, and show a consumer shift towards ‘discovery’ wine regions from a previous ‘prestige’ terroir interest.” A few examples include La Santa de Ursula “Envinate” Tenerife Islas Canarias and wines from Chateau Musar (white and red) in the Bekaa Valley Lebanon.

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