For me, ideal white wines for summer are light-to-medium in body, high in acid (crisp), fruit-forward (but dry), and perfect for pairing with summer activities and dishes. If this is making your mouth water, keep reading.
I hope these recommendations get you out of your white wine comfort zone and allow you to discover your new favorite warm weather beverage.
By the way, if you want to learn how to taste wine so you can discover your preferences and try something new, book a virtual or in-person wine tasting with me. All wine tastings are customizable, so we can stick to the summer theme, if you like!
If you’re like me and your wine preferences change with the seasons, summertime brings an intense craving for crisp, cold, and refreshing white wines. These are the best options for BBQs, beach days, pool parties, and afternoon sips on the porch.
If you love light-bodied, refreshing white wines like Sauvignon Blanc or Pinot Grigio, these wines are perfect alternatives for when you’re looking to try something new.
Here are the best white wines for summer, plus where they grow, what they taste like, and some tasty food pairings.
Verdejo is a Spanish white wine that grows mainly in the region of Rueda. It has notes of green fruits, peaches, citrus, almonds, and herbs, namely fennel.
Like most wines, Verdejo comes in a few different styles. You’ll find those that are light-bodied and minerally, and others that are a bit rounder. Whatever you choose, both styles are refreshing, with medium-to-high acid, and great for summer.
Some of my favorite summer pairings for Verdejo are pork tacos, seafood, grilled veggies, pad thai with a squeeze of lime juice, and salads with citrus dressing to pair with the lemon-lime flavors in the wine.
The best white wines for summerPettegola Vermentino Banfi. Vermentino is one of the crisp light whites that is most popular with Italians in the summer, thanks to its bold sapidity, with its hints of the scent of the sea. … Serena. … Fontanelle Banfi. … Centine Bianco. … San Angelo. … Principessa Gavia.
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Pettegola Vermentino Banfi. Vermentino is one of the crisp light whites that is most popular with Italians in the summer, thanks to its bold sapidity, with its hints of the scent of the sea. …
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Serena. …
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Fontanelle Banfi. …
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Centine Bianco. …
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San Angelo. …
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Principessa Gavia.
Grechetto Wines to Try
Chenin Blanc is quite the chameleon…it comes in a wide range of styles, so you can get a completely different wine from one region to the next.
Out of Anjou (an area in the Loire Valley in France), the Chenin Blanc is typically dry and peachy, with mouthwatering acidity. You might also experience more complex Anjou Blanc with smoky minerality and a unique, velvety texture.
Verdejo Wines to Try
In my eyes, Italy is the land of refreshing, crispy white wines that are perfect for both food pairing and summer sipping…which is why you’ll find a few Italian varieties on this list.
Ribolla Gialla is an indigenous white grape variety from the northeastern Italian region of Emilia-Romagna (also where lasagna, balsamic vinegar, Parmigiano Reggiano, and tortellini are from, for reference).
Ribolla Gialla is typically vibrant, fruity, and floral, with high acidity and notes of melon, peaches, yellow apples, white flowers, herbs, and honey. The body is light-to-medium, the acid is medium-to-high, and the finish develops with intense fruity and flavorful notes.
Find Your Type of White Wine | Wine Folly
FAQ
What type of white wine is most refreshing?
What wine tastes refreshing?
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What is a good white wine?
Browse these great white wine recommendations. Crisp white wines are always a favorite. They are light, refreshing, and approachable. They also have a great potential for depth of flavor, from mineral notes in Pinot Grigio to the popular grassy flavors in Sauvignon Blanc.
Red vs White wine: Which is healthier?
The difference between red and white wine is the colour of the grapes which are used. To make white wine, grapes are pressed and skin, seeds and stems are removed before fermentation. However, to make red wine, the crushed red grapes are fermented with seeds, skin and stems. As a result, red wine is rich in plant compounds that are present in those skins such as tannins and resveratrol. Overall, red wine has slight edge over white because it has higher amounts of vitamins and minerals. Red wine helps in reducing heart disease risk, increase good HDL cholesterol and helps with diabetes. Red wine helps with cancer and eases joint pain.
Which white wine should you drink right now?
There’s a lot happening here: fresh grass, lemon, lime, peas and asparagus on the nose with green apple, watermelon rind, grapefruit and vegetal notes in the mouth, plus crisp acid to finish. From Assyrtiko to Sauvignon Blanc, these 11 dry, crisp and food-friendly white wines are the ones to be drinking right now.
What is a good white wine for summer?
Crisp, fresh and light-medium bodied. Very attractive spicy finish. Made from blend of 60% Roditis and 40% Moscofilero. • 2008 Notios White Wine, Regional wine of the Peloponnese, Greece, $13 — Another Greek white blend. This one is a blend of Moschofilero and Rodititis. Light-bodied and perfect for summer.