Good God can it get any hotter?
Like all good Englishmen I enjoy talking about the weather as much as anyone, but really, this summer has been out of control, crazy heat. Durban, South Africa is the only place that I have been that is comparable to Charleston for the shear heat and humidity.
At home, my AC unit struggles to keep the temperature around 87 degrees running all day and night. We have survived on cereal and salads for weeks now living in fear of turning on the stove. I only turn on the cold tap for the shower and that is still pretty warm. I crossed the street today and my shoe got stuck in the melting tarmac and I almost got run over by a trolley.
What to do? Well, in my profession we recommend drinking as a method to cool off. (Cold beer seems to work pretty well for me.) As a sommelier, there are a few tricks that might just help you cool down during the next couple of months when you are drinking and selecting vino.
Go Light
Wines that are lighter in style tend to be more refreshing. Also wines that are not aged in oak barrels will brighten you up. Cool climate regions like Burgundy or New Zealand tend to produce lighter styles of wine. Cooler regions can sometimes struggle to get their grapes fully ripe, which leads to an impression of higher acidity and lower alcohol in the wine. Both of which are key to overall refreshment. (I assume most of us are not drinking 16% alcohol Zinfandel right now.) There are so many fun wines like Txacoli, Verdejo and Albarino from Spain, (Alvarinho in Portugal), Arneis, Soave, good Pinot Grigio (as opposed to most of it) from Italy, Assyrtiko from Greece, Great Mosel Riesling from Germany, Sauvignon Blanc and Muscadet from the Loire Valley in France which leads me to…
Go Bubbly
Champagne!! Hard to beat when you are looking for instant refreshment. Extra Brut and Brut Champagnes work wonders because of their dry, searing acidity in the mouth. Blanc de Blancs (literally white of whites) made from 100% Chardonnay tend to be lighter on the palate than sparkling wines made from Pinot Noir. Also you can extend the chill on Champagne down to about 45 degrees without compromising the flavor. Many other wines will completely lose their taste when served that cold. Less expensive alternatives like Cava from Spain and Prosecco from Italy can also do the job of cooling you down beautifully.
Go Rosé
I know I keep bashing on about it (See my previous blog on Pink wines), but Rosés are the red wine drinkers’ perfect summer choice. They are made from red colored grape varieties but only spend a little time sitting on their skins which is where the color in red wine comes from. They are lower in tannin and alcohol than most red wines too. If you want drink red, pick a Gamay from Beaujolais, or Pinot Noir from Germany or Italy (they tend to be lighter) and put it in the fridge for 15 minutes before you drink it.
It might surprise you but I also recommend throwing an ice cube in the glass. Makes sense to me.
Good luck out there and stay cool.
Cheers,
Patrick
