Summer Wines 2014: What We’ve Been Drinking

Summer wines picks from the perspectives of the people who drink on the cutting edge of wine trends.

What the heck are the Somms are drinking?

We asked 4 sommeliers about what they’re currently drinking. They returned with wines from small producers made with esoteric grapes. No Sauvignon Blanc. No Pinot Grigio. Perhaps this summer is for drinking outside of the box.

Summer Wines 2014

Thirst-Quenching Whites

All of these wines have characteristic high acidity and will douse you with an explosion of flavors.

$18 Guy Bossard Muscadet, Loire, France

This is a bright and minerally white that kills it for the price! Give me a giant tower of oysters with this and I’m a happy man. -Dustin Wilson

$20 2013 Peter Lauer ‘Barrel X’ Riesling, Mosel, Germany

It’s like drinking electricity. Insane acid, backed by a hint of RS. There’s tons of citrus peel, white and yellow flowers, tropical tones and intense minerality. I usually end up drinking wines like this, after a long shift, with my wife on our patio. It’s even better in a thunderstorm. -Jake Lewis

$27 Bernard Ott Gruner Veltliner ‘Fass 4’, Wagram, Austria

I like this wine because it’s a friendly and very refreshing Gruner that quenches your thirst and can be gulped down easily, but it also has all of the qualities of a very classic Gruner (pepper, grapefruit, flowers). -Dustin Wilson

$28 Laura Aschero Pigato, Liguria, Italy

It’s a salty, tangy, easy-drinking white from Liguria, Italy. Love to drink this with fresh shellfish outside on a patio on a sunny day. -Dustin Wilson

$59 2012 Egon Müller Scharzhofberger Riesling Kabinett, Mosel, Germany

A producer that takes German Riesling to a whole other level. I had the privilege of visiting him a month ago and fell in love with Riesling all over again. Youthful peach and quince mingle with notes of caramelized citrus, flowers and hints of spice. Strong mineral seam runs through the wine’s core. A potent, bright and hypnotizing palate. Best drunk on a hot summer’s day for an aperitif, with family and friends, before sitting down for a long lunch. -Kathrine Larsen

Rosé: From Bubbles to Vin Gris

In case you were wondering, Vin Gris (‘vin-gree’) or ‘gray wine’ is a style of rosé developed originally in France that is only faintly dusted with color.

$12 Domaine Sorin ‘Terra Amata’ Rosé, Côtes de Provence, France.

Domaine Sorin’s Terra Amata has been my go-to winner for summer wine in Seattle. Its blue wax cap visually sets it apart from most bottles. Provence rosé can often cost as much as a really good bottle of red wine but this one proves to me that you can have both quality and value. In a glass, you’ll starting thinking about peaches and summer fruit at the peak of season. To taste, it’s dry. I’ve drunk it solo, with local cheeses, salads and grilled goat chops. I like that this wine seems to be prepared for any occasion. -Luke Wohlers

$17 2013 Birichino Vin Gris, California

Grenache, Cinsault, Mourvèdre, and Rolle. I love Vin Gris. It’s like chipped flint with a bit of tart strawberry. This is the kind of stuff we drink out on the lawn for hours and then wonder why we got sunburned. -Jake Lewis

$26 NV Mas Daumas Gassac ‘Rosé Frizant’, Languedoc, France (Sparkling Wine)

Forest strawberries and raspberries in abundance. Refreshing notes of mint. Delicate and finely textured palate. The ultimate thirst quencher. We bring it to the park for picnics all summer long. -Kathrine Larsen

$29 Vallin Rosé, Santa Ynez Valley, California

A bit of a self-plug here as I’m a partner in this project but it’s a very refreshing rosé wine made completely from Syrah. This is what I take into Central Park on the weekends with a picnic. -Dustin Wilson

Summer-Friendly Red Wines

They say that fish and red wine don’t blend, but one of these 2 red wines goes surprisingly well with Paella.

$24 2013 Bruno Giacosa Dolcetto d’Alba, Piemonte, Italy

One of my all-time favorite producers in Piemonte, his Dolcetto is so moreish and easy-drinking. Vibrant black cherries and blackberries, accompanied by dried herbs and memories of liquorice and cacao. Softly structured palate. The perfect wine for a relaxed evening at home, potentially in front of the TV with a pizza!! -Kathrine Larsen

$25 2013 Ameztoi ‘Stimatum’, Getariako Txakolina (‘chalk-o-lina’), Spain

This Basque winery makes all three wine colors (white, rosé and red). The Stimatum is from 100% Hondarribi Beltza, a local red grape. Usually when I think of Txakoli (‘chalk-oli’), I think white wine. While it seems a little off the beaten path, it was just what I needed to pair with a first attempt at paella de pollo con gambas (paella with chicken and shrimp). It’s all about blackberry and boysenberry fruit with plenty of crispness and just a little bit of grip. Chill briefly. My guests finished it long before the paella had come off the fire. -Luke Wohlers

Who ‘We’ Are: The 4 Sommeliers