It’s HOT Out There! Stay Cool With These Crisp Wines, Cool Cocktails, and Light Bites!
LIGHT AND DELICIOUS WINES THAT GO GREAT IN THE SUMMER HEAT
While all wines are delicious in our book, there are some wines that are much better in the heat of the summer months. Reds and other heavy wines can be too intense for drinking when its hot, so sit back and relax with one of these fresh and light wines!
1- The Grape: Albariño
*When the mercury rises and you’re seeking a white wine to cool down and enjoy with summer-friendly fare, this Spanish variety can do the trick.
Marimar Torres, a native of Spain who crafts an Albariño at her Marimar Estate winery in California’s Russian River Valley, says the grape is ideal with foods like raw or grilled seafood, sushi and tapas.
“It’s very refreshing and delicious, minerally, with classic notes of key lime, white peach and a floral accent of hyacinth,” Torres says. “It’s long in the end, with a zippy and crisp finish.”
The Place: Russian River Valley, California
While Albariño hails from Galicia in northwest Spain, the grape is now creating profound expressions in the Russian River Valley.
Compared to the Russian River Valley, Galicia is very rainy, with temperatures warmer than that of Torres’s Sonoma vineyards.
2- The Grape: Arneis
*Due to its light-bodied frame and crisp acidity, this elegant Italian white is excellent for evenings on the patio.
“The mineral character of the wine adds to its lean structure and great fruit, making it ideal for summer sipping and pairing with the bounty and heat of the summer,” says Shelley Lindgren, wine director and owner of California’s A16 and SPQR restaurants.
Lindgren recommends having Arneis as an apéritif, and also alongside foods ranging from watermelon salads, stone fruit and goat cheese, and linguine with clams.
The Place: Piedmont, Italy
Arneis creates some of its finest expressions in Roero, an area within Italy’s northwest region of Piedmont.
Although Arneis can be a difficult grape to cultivate—its name translates to “little rascal”—the chalky, sandy soils of the region give the grape its acidity and fine aromatics.
3- The Grape: Chenin Blanc
*This grape often produces wines with bracing acidity, with builds that range from middleweight to heavyweight. Lindgren notes that aromas and flavors of quince marmalade, honey and lemon zest are typical.
“Chenin Blanc is one of the greatest whites in the world,” says Lindgren. “It’s one of the white wines that usually red-wine-only lovers can really get behind.”
“It can be a really fun wine to bring to guests or add to a collection of go-to wines for a weekend of fun in the summer,” says Lindgren. “This is a wine that will go great with the potluck scenario.”
She pinpoints oysters and mussels as well as sheep’s milk cheeses and cured meats as winning pairings for Chenin Blanc.
The Place: Vouvray, France
If you were to visit Vouvray in the Loire Valley, you’d find many cellars carved into the limestone subsoil. That limestone is integral to the region’s expression of the grape, says Lindgren.
“The flavors that are able to be absorbed by these vines are complex—mineral, flinty, wet stone—and add an important character to the personality and a sense of place,” she says.
Vouvray’s cool climate also makes Chenin Blanc ideal to combat the summer heat. The mild temperatures allow the grapes to maintain high levels of acidity, rendering a crisp wine.
4-The Grape: Pinot Noir
* Rosé is the summer wine—especially when it’s made with Pinot Noir. When the wine has bubbles, it’s even better—it commonly features succulent red-fruit and flower flavors. With its moderate alcohol, indiscernible tannins and effervescence, it’s the perfect punch against the sun. Plus, this style of Pinot Noir matches beautifully with summer cuisine.
“Sparkling rosé is an excellent pairing with lighter dishes like fresh fish and seasonal salads,” says Dominique Demarville, Veuve Clicquot’s chef de caves. “Yet, it also has the structure to stand up to heavier dishes like grilled meats.”
The Place: Champagne, France
If you’re looking for a Pinot Noir with plenty of verve, Champagne provides the perfect conditions to create wines with electric acidity and bright fruit flavors. Champagne’s combination of chalk-based soils and cool climate helps to shape light, fresh wines.
“Thanks to this freshness, our Champagnes are perfect for summertime,” says Demarville. “Champagne is the drink of celebration, and during the summer, we have often good opportunity to celebrate.”
5- The Grape: Sangiovese
*While whites and rosés are go-to summer quaffs, reds shouldn’t be shelved. Give your red-wine-loving guests a glass of this Italian favorite at your next cookout.
“Sangiovese, when expressing its red fruit and delicate vibrant nature, is a versatile, smooth and ideal summer wine,” says Lindgren. “Sometimes, there is a smoked meat, leather character to the wine that is a classic for the famous bistecca fiorentina, so bring on the barbecue.”
Beyond grilled meats, Lindgren suggests pairing this powerhouse with vegetable-based pastas, especially where cherry tomatoes, zucchini and eggplant are involved.
The Place: Tuscany, Italy
Sangiovese, the most-planted red grape in Italy, is grown in regions like Le Marche, Umbria and, of course, Tuscany. For summer consumption, stock up on selections from Chianti Classico, a zone that falls between the Tuscan cities of Siena and Florence.
In Chianti Classico, the dry, hot summers and soils derived from marl and sandstone contribute to Sangiovese’s summer-worthy expression. Lindgren describes versions from this area as often being elegant, complex and smooth.
“The balanced dance of fruit and acidity makes for a red that lighter-bodied and fuller-bodied wine lovers both enjoy,” she says.
SUMMER COCKTAILS
Beat the heat with these amazingly fresh, cold, and crisp mixed drinks that everyone will love!
1- Sweet Tea Sangria
This Southern-inspired sangria is perfect for porch sipping.
https://www....ngria-recipe/
2- Mimosa Floats
The most colorful (and cold) way to drink Champagne! Have your dessert and drink it too!
https://www....loats-recipe/
3- Limoncello Collins
The traditional 'Tom Collins' gets a fresh and summery makeover with a special Italian friend, 'Limoncello' in this remix!
https://www....ocktails-2007
LIGHT AND FRESH MEALS FOR THE HOT WEATHER
No one wants to slave over an oven-cooked meal... especially not one that will sit heavily in your stomach during this hot weather. Enjoy these recipes that are light, healthy, and perfect for the summertime.
1- Open-Faced Garden Tuna Sandwiches
Open-faced garden tuna sandwiches are a delicious, light summer lunch or dinner packed with fresh flavors that will make it easy to get more seafood into your weekly meal plan!
https://www....una-sandwich/
2- Chicken and Beet Hummus Wrap
Filled with tender chicken, a mixture of beets and greens, and creamy hummus, this Chicken and Beet Hummus Wrap makes a deliciously fresh meal that’s ready in no time. It’s the perfect, protein-packed dish for when you want something light and healthy!
https://www....-hummus-wrap/
3- Chickepea Panzanella
Fresh and fast, this meatless main redefines the art of convenience cooking. We toast the bread in the oven, but if you already have the grill cranked up, this salad easily transitions to an outdoor dish. If your bakery carries whole-grain ciabatta, use it for a nutrition boost.
https://www....ea-panzanella
We still have many weeks of hot weather ahead of us, so why not take a break from the sweltering heat and come in to our air-conditioned studio and make some art!
Be sure to check out our calendar and see all of the excellent classes we’ve got coming up! Before or after you make yourself one of those light meals and a drink to go with it, come in to paint the day (or night) away and try a light and refreshing wine, while you’re at it! We offer classes to people of all ages and painting expertise. While anyone at any painting level can enjoy our classes, we’re meant for the first-time painters; the ones who come to us saying “I can’t paint”. It’s always amazing to see the customers who come in, sure that they won’t be able to create “good” art, leave with a stunning masterpiece that they created in just a 2-3 hour class! Bring your friends and family in to paint and sip wine with you because everything is better with loved ones around!
We hope to see you soon for a class at our studio if you’re looking for something fun to do in or around the Naperville area! We’re a great spot to visit for everything from a fun and unique date night, an awesome girls’ night out experience, and we even offer private events! When you view our classes on our website, you’ll be viewing our schedule for our public classes, but you can also book a painting party with the guest list of your choice! Come in to celebrate a birthday, bridal shower, reunion, retirement, and more with friends and family, sharing their artistic sides, together. Make memories that will last a lifetime with a souvenir to treasure forever with one our classes.
*Learn more about our private parties, here:
https://www....ivate-parties
We also play host to tons of corporate events, too! Why not book your next work party or team building event with us? We offer several styles of paintings that incorporate team building strategies, encouraging the whole office to work together, creating a stunning world of art!
*Read more about corporate events, here:
https://www....porate-events
Finally, in addition to out studio parties, we offer mobile events, off-site! You choose the location and we’ll come to you with all of the supplies!
*Learn more about out mobile events, here:
https://www....porate-events