If you ever wondered what wine would be perfect for a hot summer day, our Beach and Pool Wine Guide will answer all your questions!
When we think of summer, the first tropical beaches and fun by the pool come to mind. From the first glance, it’s hard to top vacation in the tropics. Still, to us, chilling by the pool has some unbeatable advantages. Why?
Of course, one can take a bottle to the beach, and we’ve done that plenty of times and watched spectacular sunsets with a glass in our hand. But no matter how hard we tried, somehow sand always gets into the glass, wine gets spilled and becomes too warm. What can you do? Tropics!
On the other hand, enjoying wine by the pool is an effortless experience. We have a variety of wines that the fridge keeps cold for as long as needed. We don’t have to fight seagulls for our drink and pair the wine with sand.
So what kind of wine for the beach and pool would we pick?
Beach and Pool Wine Guide
When it’s sunny and hot, and we’re having fun on the beach or by the pool, we naturally gravitate towards light and refreshing wines. And it doesn’t have to be just white wine.
Sparkling
Our first choice for the beach is sparkling wines. Traditional Method bubbles are produced everywhere now, and you can pick excellent wines from not-so-French places like Italy, South Africa, California, and even local like Oregon or Washington for us.
We watched some unforgettable sunsets with a glass of Veuve Clicquot Brut Rosé Champagne on the black sand beach of Maui and Albino Armani Prosecco on the coast of Oregon.
Whites
Wines from aromatic grape varietals are better suited for the beach because they can withstand the constant wind and still excite our senses.
We have many favorites and just to name a few: Trimbach Gewurztraminer from Alsace region of France Sancerre (Loire, France) or New Zealand Sauvignon Blanc, Rieslings from Riesling, Germany, or Austria
Rosé
Rosé has been going on worldwide in the past decade, and the times of Pink Zin of crazy aunt Millie from California are long gone. The Rosé wines are made from hundreds of grape varietals in every wine region, and new Washington Rosés we discovered wineswinging through the state shows that many winemakers are joining the trend.
Still, some of the most exciting discoveries came when we did the Rosé Wines Tasting Challenge. We hope you’ll find Rosé you’d like to try when you read the post.
Reds for the Beach and Pool
When it comes to reds, the lighter, fragrant wines can fit the bill. Often we look for Austrian wines. The Austrian native St. Laurent and Zweigelt-based wines are among our favorites on the beach, picnic, or by the pool.
Beaujolais and Beaujolais Noveau, made from Gamay grapes, is another easy-drinking red wine that is enjoyable on its own or can pair well with most snacks and food you might take to the beach or picnic.
Lastly, for those who prefer the classic wines – fruit-forward American or French Pinot Noir makes an excellent option.
So how do we pick a wine to take with us to the beach or drink by the pool? Mostly it depends on the food we are going to have with it.
Pairing Wine and Food on the Beach
If it is a sandy beach, you might want to stick to food that can be wrapped or covered to protect it from the sand. Rocky shorelines are more convenient for foodies with a picnic backpack.
Dry white and sparkling wines are the best partners for vegetarian or cold cuts sandwiches.
Off-dry Rieslings from Alsace of France and Germany and Prosecco from Italy complement spicy foods best.
For burgers, grab Beaujolais, Pinot Noir, or Zweigelt from Austria.
And don’t forget the cheese!
Pairing Wine and Food by the Pool
Ordering food from a cafe or enjoying a gourmet lunch by the private pool, the rules are generally to same as described above. Except you can try dishes’ flavors tailored to your taste. For example, we like homemade grilled chicken salad because it usually pairs well with most wines mentioned here. Also, vegetarian options can be interesting than trivial French fries. Have you tried fried tofu and champagne?
Now you have an idea of what we drink in the summer. It’s hardly an all-inclusive wine list, but it’s enough to get you through one summer.
Have you had a perfect wine experience by the pool or on the beach? Which wine made it special?
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