June Wine Focus: Cool summer reds

[Robin Garr]

Lightweight, low alcohol, even chillable. Gamay's obvious, but we're sure you'll find plenty more "cool" reds particularly well suited for summer enjoyment during the kind of warm weather that makes us want to put the heavier, more robust reds away.

We'll add more detail to this announcement in coming days, but this brief invitation should get us started.

Next month we're considering a Wine Focus on "offbeat whites around the world." If this topic interests you, please participate in discussions aimed at refining the topic.

[Michael Grossman]

I go for the Brachetto grape as in Brachetto d'Acqui. A treat almost any time but specially fitting for hot summer days/evenings. Comes in a couople of styles from bone dry to off dry to somewhat sweet. I usually serve it before dinner and more often than not get requests for more during and even after dinner. That's why I always have more than one bottle chilled and standing by. It is relatively inexpensive and rather good quality examples can be had at modest prices ($15.-$19). Banfi Rosa Regale is widely available and one of my favorites. I also like Convento Capuccini.

[Bob Parsons Alberta]

Very apt as I was just searching local liquor board website for a Brachetto. 2 listed but allocated in Calgary somewhere so out of luck here! I might try chilling a Montepulciano, apart from the usual suspects...Gamay, PN, maybe Grenache?

[Mark Lipton]

I'm all set for the offbeat whites focus: I just returned from Barcelona with some Godello and Xarel-lo in tow. Hopefully, they aren't considered too mainstream

Mark Lipton

[Warren Edwardes]

Brachetto - or a good quality Lambrusco would be ideal.

For a low temperature red you need low tannin as sugar is suppressed at low temperatures but tannin is not and seems to be enhanced.

And residual sugar seems to offset tannins.

Also try a Portuguese Bastardo.

Or a Rosé - made from red grapes only of course.

Or just sweeten any red with a dosage of sweet muscat and then chill.

[Ian Sutton]

I'm all set for the offbeat whites focus: I just returned from Barcelona with some Godello and Xarel-lo in tow. Hopefully, they aren't considered too mainstream

Mark Lipton

Mark
Ho-hum. another Xarel-lo
Did you have a good trip and adapt well to Barcelona time? (seemingly about 3 hours behind than the rest of us!)

A good reminder for us to flesh that wine focus topic out!

regards

Ian

[Mark Lipton]

I'm all set for the offbeat whites focus: I just returned from Barcelona with some Godello and Xarel-lo in tow. Hopefully, they aren't considered too mainstream

Mark Lipton

Mark
Ho-hum. another Xarel-lo
Did you have a good trip and adapt well to Barcelona time? (seemingly about 3 hours behind than the rest of us!)

A good reminder for us to flesh that wine focus topic out!

We had a great time in Barna, and I'm trying to put the finishing touches on my notes. Time change was easy to adjust to, as they are almost on EDT in Barna with their late hours. We were usually the early birds, dining as early as 9:30 pm some evenings.

Mark Lipton