It is high summer in the Northern Hemisphere. What wine fits into the zeitgeist of pools splashing with bikini-clad frolickers slathered in sun screens, outdoor cooking, indoor binge watching movies on a wide screen while the AC heroically soldiers on?
A surprising star shines bright: sparkling wine.
First, sparkling is the wine best served around 40 degrees, lighter versions as low as 37. That is the coldest temperature recommended for wine. If you like a cold one on a hot day, sparkling is the answer.
Second, sparkling is the most versatile food wine. Examples:
• Hot dogs. If you want a drink for your dogs, look no further than well-chilled sparkling. The high acidity of sparklers is a perfect palate cleanser for the fatty richness of a hot dog. The bubbles also provide a scrubbing mechanism, re-setting your palate for your next dog bite. Champagne, Spanish cava, New World sparklings, Italian prosecco—they all have a dog in the hunt for pairing with your wiener wonder.
• Watermelon. Sparkling not only is secularly popular, there are solid scientific reasons it works. Watermelon and sparklings have complementary flavors. Watermelons deliver honey-like sweetness, bright fruit, citrus undertones. These are the same descriptors often found in sparkling reviews, especially sparkling rosés. Sparkling’s high acidity is counterpoint to watermelon’s natural sweetness, enhancing the fresh, crisp qualities found in both. Sparkling’s bubbles amplify the cooling sensation of the fruit, especially efficacious in high summer. Prosecco particularly shines here.
• Buttery popcorn. You have had your saturation of pool floating and UV attacks on your epidermis and have retreated to the cool embrace of your air conditioned room with the wide screen to watch the latest, mindless summer movie. Sparkling wine definitely can help here. Buttery chardonnay is the apex pairing with buttery popcorn, but sparkling is a photo-finish second. Sparkling’s effervescence and crisp acidity are a felicitous contrast to buttery popcorn’s buttery richness. Prosecco and Spanish cava will provide wallet-friendly alternatives to Champagne or other pricier picks.
In all cases, colder the better. You can serve sparkling right out of your refrigerator. If you need a quick chill, put the bottle in a bucket with half ice and half water, plus some salt for the fastest chill—this method is much more efficient than putting bottles in the freezer.
Enjoy the joys of high summer. The attraction of life is change. Soon enough you will miss the pool water being so warm, the days being so long and hot, and the friends and family gathered around the outdoor grill listening to the doggies sizzle. It is high summer in the Northern Hemisphere. It is the depth of winter in the Southern. Enjoy the moment.
Tasting notes:
• Gruet Brut Rosé NV: Delicious, accessible, correct pinot noir brute sparkling made with 100% pinot noir. Red fruits on the nose and palate are framed by excellent acidity, a lengthy column of tiny bubbles, and invigorating mouthfeel. $17 Link to my review
• VARA Winery VARAxLG Brut Blanc de Blancs American Sparkling Wine NV: Superb sparkling wine made in Albuquerque, NM in collaboration with Laurent Gruet of Gruet Wine fame. Further proof American sparkling made in New Mexico is an incredible value and easily matches sparklings made elsewhere. $40 Link to my review
Last round: Why did the lions move at the end of summer? Because the pride goeth before the fall.
Wine time.