Enjoy a glass of refreshing, cool wine in the summer? You’re not alone. A good portion of older adults indulge in alcoholic drinks (64 percent of 50- to 64- year-olds say they drink, and 54 percent of those 65 and older, according to a 2022 Gallup poll).
But what do you pair with your pinot grigio? And is rosé truly the winethat goes with everything? Scott Carney, 70, the dean of wine studies at the Institute of Culinary Education, says even if you already have your wine/food pairing favorites, he encourages wine lovers to stay out of a wine/food “rut.”
Opt for wines that can be chilled, and varieties with higher acidity and lower alcohol content for a lighter summer wine experience, says Jay Youmans, the educational director and owner of the Capital Wine School in Washington, D.C.
Here are more tips from Carney and Youmans on how to make the most of your summer wine experience.
Rosé is your go-to all-purpose wine
Youmans says that even though more people are drinking rosé year round, it has long been regarded as the summertime wine. And conveniently, rosé pairs with just about anything, he says. “The beauty is they’re not that expensive, you can serve them ice cold and they taste great,” says Youmans.
He recommends any Côtes de Provence rosé, chilled for a “quaffable, gluggable kind of wine.”
What to pair with rosé: Carney says a seafood paella or a bouillabaisse – a classic dish from the south of France.
Sparkling wine for a celebratory mood and a night out by the grill
A summertime party calls for a flute of bubbly, and a variety of sparkling wines are a good fit for hot-weathered functions, the experts say. Carney says these slightly lighter-bodied wines are always fun, as they connote celebration, and they’re best served cold.
For more information about how best to pair your food with summer wines, from AARP, CLICK HERE.