Texan Magazine
By Jim Peterson
Wine Enthusiast & Instagram Wine Influencer
So many people associate summer with white wines or rosé, but there are some fun red wines just perfect for summer sipping. Despite misconceptions, you can chill certain red wines and serve them colder than normal cellar temperature.
These are the types of wine you want to serve poolside, perhaps enjoy with a barbecue, or to simply sip outside on a hot summer day. What do I look for in a summer red wine? I do have my favorites, so let’s explore some of the best red wines for summer sipping.
BEAUJOLAIS AND OTHER GAMAYS
The king of summer red wines must be the wines made from the Gamay grape, and the top of the list for Gamay wines is Beaujolais. It may be that you think of Beaujolais Nouveau when you hear Beaujolais, but trust me when I say there are far better versions of Beaujolais you should be trying.
What makes Beaujolais ideal for the summer? I like my summer reds to be light, bright, and effusive with a cheerfulness that brightens my mood. That defines Beaujolais!
A lot of Beaujolais is vinified using a technique called carbonic maceration, where the whole cluster grapes are sealed in a tank with carbon dioxide, and the grapes sort of ferment from the inside-out. This produces fresh, fruit-forward wines with very low tannins that pop on the palate. A little chill on these wines (45-50°) does not diminish that high-powered fruit profile at all, and that’s what makes them perfect for the summer.
There is a distinction between Beaujolais Villages, where the grapes can be sourced from anywhere within the Beaujolais region, versus Cru Beaujolais where the grapes are from one of the ten defined appellations within Beaujolais:
St-Amour, Juliénas, Chénas, Moulin-à-Vent, Fleurie, Chiroubles, Morgon, Régnié, Brouilly, and Côte de Brouilly.
The Cru Beaujolais wines are typically of higher quality, and many can be aged for several years if you have the patience to wait for them. Most people don’t, though, and that’s okay! You can expect fresh flavors like strawberry, raspberry, cherry, with perhaps some pomegranate and blackberry overtures.
You can also find fantastic Gamay wines from other regions. I have discovered some enjoyable Gamay wines from the Loire Valley in France, like Domaine Sérol’s Eclat de granite from Côte Roannaise. Many regions in the United States are producing excellent Gamays too, with my favorites coming from the Willamette Valley in Oregon and Sonoma County in California (especially from Pax Wines). While US versions can be hard to find, many Beaujolais wines, especially the Louis Jadot (a great value) can easily be found on your supermarket shelf. Gamay wines are certainly worth seeking out when you need a crowd-pleasing red wine to serve on a hot summer day.
LAMBRUSCO
Let me set the record straight up front with Lambrusco. I am not talking about the cheap Riunite style ultra-sweet Lambrusco you may remember from your youth! There are some excellent dry or semi-dry Lambrusco wines I greatly enjoy in the summer.
What makes them so good for the summer? First, the sparkling nature of Lambrusco tickles and refreshes the palate on a summer day. Secondly, these are best served chilled, and that cold sparkling red with its dark fruit flavors is perfect to pair with burgers and barbecue. The way the bubbles dance on the palate refreshes me in a way a still wine can’t quite muster. To find a good Lambrusco I recommend asking a knowledgeable wine merchant for a recommendation. Give it a try!
TROUSSEAU
The Trousseau grape mainly originates from the Jura region in France. I would not be shocked if you have never tasted Jura wines since large quantities are not imported into the US. Some adventurous producers in California have been producing some tasty Trousseau wines, and a few years ago there was a bit of a fad amongst sommeliers with Trousseau wines. I discovered a fun producer in Sonoma County, Rootdown Wines, whose Trousseau has become my absolute favorite. I sat down with winery owner Mike Lucia in April and tasted his newest Trousseau, the 2021 Cole Ranch. Cole Ranch sits in a high altitude, cool climate location and Mike uses the carbonic maceration method to create an irresistible summer red.
ZWEIGELT (TSVYE-GELT)
The Zweigelt grape originated in Austria in 1921, the brainchild of Dr. Friedrich Zweigelt. He created a hybrid grape combining the Austrian Sankt Laurent and Blaufränkisch grapes. While the resulting wine can be an inky purple color, the flavor typically has an elevated dark red fruit profile that belies the concentrated color. The Zweigelt wines are also distinctive for their exotic spice and floral character, highlighted by aromas of cinnamon and violets. I became fond of this grape when I tasted the version from Schneider Winery located in the Austrian Thermenregion. Zweigelt is another solid choice for a summer barbecue, especially if you enjoy expanding your wine knowledge by trying new wines.
CINSAULT (SAN-SOH)
Thought to originate in Provence, the Cinsault grape is mostly used as a blending grape for reds in the Languedoc and Rhône Valley, while you can also see it included in Provençal rosés. Still, there are producers in France and California who produce a varietal version of Cinsault you can enjoy in the heat of summer. Like the others I mention here, Cinsault wines are bright, fruit-driven wines loaded with red fruits. Throw a little chill on them and they become immanently suitable for summer sipping. One fun fact about Cinsault is that the oldest surviving vines are thought to be in the Bechtold vineyard, planted in 1886, in Lodi, California of all places. Well known California producers Turley and Sandlands both make a small production of Cinsault from that vineyard.
FINAL THOUGHTS
As I said at the beginning, white wines and rosé are often the go-to wines for summer sipping. Hopefully, I have given you some ideas on fun reds out there to try when heavier reds like Cabernet Sauvignon are just…out of place. Don’t be afraid to experiment with chilling these red wines I have mentioned here. They don’t have to be ice-cold, but a bit of a chill can go a long way to enhancing your enjoyment. You might even surprise your family or guests by showing them something new to consider. As always, I only recommend something when I have convinced myself it works. And these work!
Follow Jim on Instagram, @tx_wine_pilot, for more wine tips and reviews.
Jim Peterson is a retired U.S. Air Force officer who mainly flew the A-10 fighter jet. He has ties to the wine business going back over 20 years and is an avid wine collector. His extensive wine knowledge includes travel to many wine regions, tasting many of the world’s top wines, and ongoing personal wine exploration. He has cultivated a large following on his Instagram account, @tx_wine_pilot. He works in marketing now, but you can also find him helping customers on Saturdays at JS Fine Wines in San Antonio, Texas.
