These five wines offer plenty of fresh options for summertime gatherings.
Summertime is here, bringing with it plenty of hot days and humid nights. But summer is also the season we get together with friends for barbecues, pool parties, and casual gatherings on porches and decks. For many of us, it’s habit to reach for a bottle of chardonnay to bring or consume, which is a sensible choice. It’s white. It’s served chilled. And it’s a safe choice, right? Well, maybe. But there are many other great options to consider.
I asked Peter Bouharoun, owner of Bouharoun’s Fine Wines & Spirits in downtown Greenville, what his recommendations would be for five reasonably priced wines suitable for summertime drinking. His picks may surprise you, but after tasting these wines, I wouldn’t hesitate to pour them for my friends this summer. Cheers!
Summer Wine List
Emmolo Sauvingnon Blanc, $20
This sauvignon blanc is a blend of grapes from vineyards in California’s Napa Valley and surrounding areas. If you’ve shied away from sauvignon blancs because of their overly grassy or citrusy flavors, give this Emmolo a try. It’s light, dry, and bright, with hints of white peach, gooseberry, and honey. Its low alcohol and clean finish are perfect for a hot summer day. “What’s nice about this wine is it has the right amount of acidity,” Bouharoun says. “On a hot day, it’s a great bottle of wine to open up. You could enjoy several glasses of it. The citrus is perfectly balanced. It’s something you could really enjoy out by the pool.” This wine would pair well with cheese and other light appetizers, and grilled fish. It would also be perfect on its own.
Tornatore 2019 Pietrarizzo Etna Bianco, $26
This white is made predominantly with carricante grapes, which are grown on the northern slopes of Mount Etna in Sicily, Italy. If you haven’t heard of carricante, don’t feel bad: Neither had I. This wine—which was awarded 95 points by Wine Enthusiast magazine—is an outstanding value. It has a relatively deep yellow-greenish color and presents flavors of grapefruit, white peach, and orange, complemented by a nice minerality. There’s just a hint of oak on the nose. “This wine was actually introduced to me by the manager of Jianna,” Bouharoun says. “I fell in love with it. It’s a perfect shellfish and fresh pasta pairing. Out of the five, it’s probably my favorite because I love wines that pair well with food.” This is truly an exceptional white wine at a surprisingly affordable price.
Summer in a Bottle Côtes de Provence Rosé, $23
There’s a lot of backstory to this wine. Back in 1992, Long Island, New York-based Wolffer Estate used locally sourced grapes to produce a Long Island rosé, which they still produce to this day. But that’s not what this wine is, even though the bottles look very similar. A few years ago, Wolffer started making rosé in France, which is what we have here. Don’t let the name or screwcap fool you into thinking this is a cheap, simplistic rosé. It’s not. This is a very well-made rosé, with a nice balance of fresh fruits, minerality, acidity, and tannins. And that’s the key: This isn’t overbearing or overly sweet. It’s ideal for drinking by itself or pairing with light appetizers or fish or pork dishes. “The quality is in the bottle,” Bouharoun says. “It’s the perfect wine for by the pool.”
Angela Pinot Noir, $36
Pinot noir is always a good bet for summer, but it’s important to pick one that’s not overly sweet. This wine, which hails from Oregon, fits the bill, with its somewhat oaky, savory aroma. It’s a fine example of pinot: a balanced, fruit-forward wine with flavors of bright red cherries and blueberries, and a clean, light finish. The wine is aged in French oak barrels for 12 months. “It’s a good, traditional Willamette Valley pinot noir that gives you that jammy-up-front feel,” Bouharoun says. “What I struggle with the most is finding good pinot at a reasonable price. This is very good. It’s very balanced.” This wine, like most pinots, pairs well with a wide range of foods, including appetizers, salmon, grilled pork, and poultry. And, because it isn’t too sweet, I think it would be perfect for sipping out on the deck.
Vineyard 29 Cru Cabernet Sauvignon, $40
Cabernet sauvignon might not be most people’s first choice for summer, but let’s face it: We all know someone who loves cab, no matter the time of year. This wine is for them. Actually, it’s for anyone who loves cab. Grilling steak this summer? You need this wine. Cru is a phenomenal Napa, California, wine that is 90 percent cabernet with hints of merlot and other grapes added to balance the flavor profile. Flavors of black raspberry, coffee, and cocoa meld with perfect acidity and strong tannins that lead to a long finish. “Over the past 18 months, the price of good California cab has gone through the roof,” Bouharoun says. “This wine drinks like a $70 cab. It delivers. It’s not too heavy a cab. It drinks nicely.” I’d pair this with a quality rib-eye or strip steak, or grilled burgers.
Get it:
301 Falls St., Greenville
864.233.2738
bouharouns.com
