“I can’t drink red wine in the summer when the sun is still up.” A quote from a friend when we were trying to decide on a bottle at dinner. Since it was 7:30 and the sun was still up, we ordered a bottle of white. In addition, Southwest Florida is in the middle of an oppressive heat wave so something light and refreshing is in high demand. Here are five white wines to beat the heat for Wine Wednesday.
I can’t think of a better summer wine than rose. However, August is National Rose Month. I’ll dive into that wine next week. In addition, sparkling wine is always in fashion when it is hot out. Just keep an ice bucket on hand to keep it nice and cool. There is nothing more unappetizing than warm, flat Champagne or Prosecco.
When it comes to white wine, chardonnay is one of the most planted and most popular white grapes worldwide. However, not all are refreshing. Some are big and even viscous. During summer, look for an unoaked chardonnay for something a little more lively.
![Glass of white wine by the pool](https://96krock.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/61/2023/07/white-wine-1-276x300.jpg)
White wines are the best wines on a hot summer day
Sauvignon Blanc is a tropical favorite known for being acidic and citrusy. However, those made in California often have a little more rounded fruit flavors than those from New Zealand and Australia.
In addition, check out the Italian section of your wine shop. There are some amazing, crisp and refreshing white wines from here besides pinot grigio. Look for Gavi di Gavi, Soave, Arneis, and Vermentino to name a few. From Argentina, a country known for big reds, comes Torrontes. It has a nice floral and stone fruit component to it. Don’t be afraid to take a chance on a white grape that you have not tried before. If it’s not your favorite, you can always repurpose it into a spritzer, sangria or cooking.
Finally, here are some thirst quenching examples of five white wines to beat the heat for Wine Wednesday.