Wines for Summer

The Summer, it feels so close, yet so far away! There is nothing better than enjoying the long stretch in the evenings with a glass of wine and a book, or even better, if we get to sit in the back garden and enjoy a tipple. Michelle Lawlor founder of The Nude Wine Co, has selected 10 wine ideas with something for everyone.

If you have only recently started to get into wine and are looking for some inspiration or guidance, I have included two options for each style so that you can chose between something you are familiar with or opt for something slight off the beaten track. These are wines that are best enjoyed relaxing and unwinding.

Fizzy Fridays

Bubbles make everything better! Prosecco, from Northern Italy, is a fizz that most people are familiar with and its certainly a bottle that can found in your local supermarket. Prosecco can be anything from dry in style to sweet, and from semi sparkling, called Frizzante right up to fully sparkling called Spumante. New to the market this year is pink prosecco and our one is organic, dry and only 10% alcohol. If you want to try something quirky, opt for a wine made in an old traditional method called Petillant Naturel.

The Safe Bet: Lajara Organic Pink Prosecco, Italy €16.00

A light, refreshing and irresistible Pink Prosecco which tastes like strawberries, raspberries, and orange zest.

Try Something Different: Uivo Pet Nat Sparkling Rose, Douro, Portugal €21.95

Made from 100% Pinot Noir, this is dry, with gorgeous flavours of apples and lemons. A natural wine with low sulphur and minimal intervention .

Party Pinks

Rose season is here! The most popular styles of Rose wines are the very light coloured ones from the South of France. Rose wines often taste like the colour they are, with the light ones tasting like citrus fruits and peaches and the darker ones having more cherry and strawberry flavours.

The Safe Bet: Rosabelle, Languedoc, France €15

In an art deco style bottle, this Rose over delivers with a creamy mouthfeel and rich flavours of raspberry ripple. It really does transport you to sunnier climes.

Try Something Different: Cantina Frentana, Cerasuola d’Abruzzo Rose €16.50

This really fun wine from Southern Italy is the rose version of Montepulciano. The colour is deceiving as this wine is bone dry but with really mouth-watering and juicy flavours of cherries and watermelon.

Brunch Whites

Key ingredients for enjoying a white during the summer is that they are all about the fresh fruity flavours. Sauvignon Blanc is a good staple, and if you wanted to try a good alternative the Portuguese flagship white is a fine place to start.

The Safe Bet: Les Anges Sauvignon Blanc, Loire, France €13.45

The home of Sauvignon Blanc is Northern France, the most famous one being a Sancerre. These wines taste intensely fruity and are always reliable. Les Anges is vibrant with flavours of Apples and Pears.

Try Something Different: Pequenos Rebentos, Vinho Verde, Portugal €16.45

Years ago if you picked up a wine in a tall skinny bottle you would be afraid that it would be a sweet wine from Germany. Don’t let that put you off from this Vinho Verde. This is a favourite of ours and is a thirst quenching juicy wine brimming with flavours of limes, Granny Smith apples and peaches.

Back Garden Reds

There are two main styles of red wine for the summer, those that you go well with BBQ burgers and sausages, and those that don’t need any food at all. Smoky, charred meats and vegetables work well with oaky red wines such as Rioja Crianzas. Wines which work best with nothing other than good company and hot weather are those which have no oak whatsoever. Coincidently, these also can go in the fridge for half an hour before opening them. The slightly lower temperature on warm days makes these taste a fresher and fruitier.

The Safe Bet: Lopez de Haro, Rioja Crianza, Spain €15.25

Lopez de Haro Crianza has won a plethora of awards including Best Red Wine in Ireland 2020. It is medium – full bodied with flavours of dark red fruit, spice and wood. An amazing crowd pleaser wine that will go down well at any BBQ.

Try Something Different: Rafael Cambra Soplo, Spain €14.90

Soplo is a quirky wine made on the Mediterranean coast of Spain in Valencia. It is made from the Spanish grape Garnacha, famously it’s the main grape in Chateauneuf du Pape in France, and is a glass brimming with bright red fruit flavours. Also medium to full bodied, but with a softer mouthfeel and fresh acidity.

Celebration Wines

If you are celebrating your special occasions at home this summer, a fancy wine can really elevate the occasion. If you have a decanter, these wines will really benefit from going into it, and if will help you feel like you are out in a restaurant.

The Safe Bet: Pietro Junior Valpolicella Superiore Ripasso €26.50

Valpolicella Ripasso is adored for all the richness associated with Amarone, but without the price tag. This is rich, dark and full bodied with flavours of dark red fruits layered with coffee, spice and caramel. We need more special occasions so we can crack this bottle open more frequently!

Try Something Different: Giacomo Fenocchio, Langhe Nebbiolo €25.50

The opposite to the big wines like Valpolicella Ripasso, Langhe Nebbiolo is the Italian version of Pinot Noir with its light to medium body, herbs, spices and sweet and sour cherry fruit. Like with the Valpolicella, Langhe Nebbiolo can be referred to as a Baby Barolo. All the flavour and class without spending a fortune.

The Back Garden Box 6 wines for €98

The Back Garden Box is the perfect selection of summer wines including crisp fruity whites, a sparkling wine and reds that are perfect with the BBQ or simply by themselves.

For orders and further wine inspiration, visit thenudewineco.ie