10 Best Wines For Summertime Sipping, According To A Sommelier

This highly rated Riesling is from one of Australia’s oldest and most respected wineries. The Eden Valley in South Australia is becoming increasingly recognized for producing excellent Riesling. This Bin 51 is a beautiful example of what Australian Riesling can be.

It has intense aromatics of lime, lemon, and apple blossoms, with a touch of minerality. The palate is fresh with lively acidity making for a perfect wine for summer sipping!

Rieslings are a versatile wine that pairs well with a variety of summer dishes. This wine has a little sweetness. Pair with a ripe watermelon and feta salad, fiery chicken wings, or a jalapeno chicken sandwich.

This rosé is from New Zealand and is made with 100 percent Pinot Noir grapes. And it shows! This wine has all the beautiful characteristics of a great Pinot Noir but in a lighter, summer-friendly style.

It has aromas and flavors of strawberries, raspberries, and cranberries. The body is light and refreshing with crisp acidity. This is a perfect wine for picnics or enjoying on the patio.

For this wine, I’d enjoy it with a spicy carnitas (braised pork) taco, which goes well with a bright acidic fruity rosé.

Pro Tip: Rosé of Pinot Noir is created by juicing Pinot Noir grapes, then allowing the juice to soak with the skins for a short time.

This Pinot Noir is from one of California’s most popular and well-known wineries, Beringer. Because of the cool weather, the Sonoma Coast is a prime location for growing this Burgundian grape.

The wine has aromas and flavors of strawberries, raspberries, cherries, and a touch of oak. The body is light to medium with firm acidity and moderate tannins. This is a great summertime Pinot Noir to enjoy slightly chilled.

This wine would go great with grilled salmon, roasted chicken, or a summer corn salad.

Nothing says summer more than a New Zealand Sauvignon Blanc because of its refreshing qualities and citrus flavors. And this Sauvignon Blanc is a great example of what the famous Marlborough region can produce. It has intense aromatics of grapefruit, gooseberry, and passionfruit. And its crisp acidity and extremely refreshing quality make it a wonderful thirst-quenching summer sipper.

Sauvignon Blanc is a delicious wine that can be enjoyed with a variety of summer dishes. This wine would go great with grilled shrimp, a Caprese salad, or even a grilled fish taco.

This Chardonnay is from one of California’s most prestigious wineries, Stags’ Leap. Napa Valley is world-renowned for producing great Chardonnay and this wine definitely shows why.

The wine has beautiful aromas of lemon, tropical fruits, green apple, pear, and a touch of oak and butter. The palate is rich and creamy with well-balanced acidity. This is a delicious summertime Chardonnay to drink chilled.

This wine would be a perfect complement to a summer clambake with lobster, crab, and roasted potatoes as the creaminess of the Chardonnay will enhance the dish’s buttery notes.

Shiraz is the unofficial red wine grape of Australia. And the McLaren Vale region in South Australia is known for producing great Shiraz. This wine is a signature of the region.

The wine has dark fruit aromas of blackberry, blueberry, and plum with a touch of pepper and spice. The palate is medium-bodied with firm velvety tannins and good acidity. This is a fantastic summertime red wine to have slightly chilled.

This wine would go great with a grilled steak, barbecue ribs, Korean barbecue, or even a burger topped with blue cheese.

Pro Tip: Technically, Syrah and Shiraz are the same grape (called Syrah in France and Shiraz in Australia). It is a versatile red wine varietal that’s known for its light and fruity flavors and dense spiciness.

Although Pinot Gris does not have the same popularity as Sauvignon Blanc, it has comparable wine characteristics that are ideal for the summer season.

This is a perfect summertime wine because of the light body and crisp acidity. It has tropical aromas of guava, kiwi, and lychee, along with other flavors of honeysuckle, pear, and a touch of citrus.

On a sweltering summer day, this wine would be lovely all on its own. And if you want to pair it with food, try grilled chicken, roasted veggies, or a summer fruit salad.

This Chardonnay is from one of California’s most well-known wineries, BV. The Carneros region is a prime location for a cooler-climate Chardonnay.

The wine has delicious smells of citrus, stone fruits, honey, oak, and vanilla. The medium-bodied palate is rich and creamy with well-balanced acidity. The addition of Viognier was intended to provide a touch of floral and textural balance to the wine.

This wine would complement many summer dishes, including burgers, hot dogs, and pizza. The acidity will cut through the greasiness of these popular dishes and the creaminess of the wine will bring out the flavors of the cheese.

Pro Tip: The Carneros region is Napa’s southernmost district. It has the coolest temperatures and produces some of Napa Valley’s finest Pinot Noir and Chardonnay.

This Chardonnay is fantastic, and it’s a wonderful example of how the North Coast region in California is becoming known for producing excellent Chardonnay.

This wine’s aromas include notes of nutmeg and vanilla. The flavor is robust yet delicate. And this wine makes for a great summertime sip thanks to its acidity. Plus the texture is smooth and creamy.

With this wine, you can make the ideal pairing with everyone’s favorite summer treat: ice cream! This wine is particularly delicious with vanilla ice cream.

The head winemaker at Cavaliere d’Oro (Gold Knight) has over two decades of expertise producing wonderful Chianti wine in Tuscany. As a result, he is able to make this exquisite Prosecco from the Veneto region in Italy.

The aromas of this wine are a beautiful and vibrant display of fresh citrus and green pear, complete with white floral accents. The wine’s characteristics are derived from the limestone soils of the Veneto region in Italy, which include mineral notes to help balance the flavor.

This Prosecco can be paired with many different summer dishes, but it is particularly delicious with fried chicken and fries. The acidity in the wine will help cut through the richness of the fried food.