Best Red Wines for the Summer

Natural intuition tells most wine drinkers to sip on something chilled during the warmer months, such as our citrusy 2015 Sauvignon Blanc and like most wine lovers, we can’t resist one of our classic Summer Wines to cool us down on a hot day. But what about those nights when dinner calls to be paired with a red or your guests simply don’t like white wine? Good news: red wine can be poured – and enjoyed – when the weather gets hot. Here are our suggestions for the perfect summer red.

When it comes to an easy summer meal, grilled burgers and red wine are the perfect choice, and you can’t go wrong with a glass of our 2013 Tre Leoni Red Blend. As a blend of Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Syrah, Zinfandel and more, this wine is incredibly versatile. The Tre Leoni is full-bodied and its structure will stand up against the bold flavors of grilled meat, but its soft tannins round out each sip perfectly to avoid overpowering your palate.

If you and your guests are ready to get your hands dirty with a saucy BBQ dinner, be sure to pick a wine that can keep up with the spices and deep flavors of your meal. Our 2013 Leonardini Vineyard Merlot can stand up to even the most complex sauces. Known as “A Merlot for Cabernet Lovers”, this Merlot features big, bold fruit aromas and flavors like plum and black cherry. These fruity flavors will balance out common sauce ingredients like vinegar and pepper.

For a light and refreshing meal, drink Whitehall Lane 2014 Las Brisas Pinot Noir with a summer salad. Named after the cool breezes blowing off of the San Pablo Bay, it is obvious that this Pinot Noir will keep you cool and satisfied when the sun is shining. Create a simple salad highlighting summer’s ripe strawberries or cherries to pair perfectly with the fruit flavors of this wine.

And for a foolproof dinner, remember that a well-prepared steak never goes out of style. Serve flank steak on top a bed of greens or between two pieces of toasted bread for a quick twist on a simple dish. Prepare with simple salt and pepper and serve with a glass of our 2013 Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon. The simple preparation of the steak will allow its flavors to marry perfectly with the flavors of plum, black cherry and oak that are present in this bottle of Cabernet Sauvignon.