For summer time drinking, I go lighter. Barely sweet blushes--White Zinfandel is always a good choice for almost everyone. For those of us who like it a bit drier there are the newer dry blushes--Toad Hollow Eye of Toad, Beringer White Merlot.
But the queen of summer wines has got to be the Sauvignon Blanc/Chenin Blanc/Fume Blanc/Pinot Grigio/Pinot Gris group. They have all gotten better and better, whether from California, Washington/Oregon, South Africa, New Zealand, Italy. What makes it so good? As a grape it is relatively undemanding and notoriously immune to the differences of the dreaded terroir.Sauvignon Blanc, et al, have well-delineated flavors of figs and citrus and really pleasant herbs and the nose of newly mown grass, accompanied by a nice crisp acidity that is wonderful on a warm summer evening. In addition, as a group, none of these wines have very much in the way of oak--very east down the gullet. And to make it even more approachable, many are now being bottled with the new twist-off caps.
What's not to like? Pick up a bottle of "summer time" and enjoy.
