Summer Wine Pairings
A detailed guide to what’s in season this summer and how to pair it with seasonal summer wines! Includes recipe and wine pairing suggestions for all sorts of bright summer dishes.
Ever wondered why we eat ham for Easter and turkey for Thanksgiving? Because “back in the day” meat and veggies were entirely based on seasons. Naturally grown produce has very clear seasons. It’s why we eat acorn squash in the fall and green peas in the spring and bright red tomatoes in the summer.
And of course, what the animals were eating also depended on seasons. So pigs ate apples and grains in fall, then their meat was smoked through the winter to be ready for spring.
These days you can get nearly any meat or produce at any time of year. But the fact remains that some foods are just tastier (and more abundant, especially in farmer’s markets) during the seasons they were meant to be eaten.
The same goes for wine!
General Tips for Pairing Summer Wines
Summer foods tend to be a bit heartier, so that means you don’t have to be quite as careful and delicate as you do pairing wines in springtime. You can reach for a more solid red and bust out the heavier Chardonnays too!
However, keep the summer heat in mind! Most of the time you won’t want to drag a full-bodied white or tannic oaked red to a picnic. You’ll be looking for lighter, refreshing wines that can be served chilled. Not only will this cool you down. Chilled wines will also pair better with lighter seasonal summer produce and meat options.
Try these dry, acidic wines for summer time.
- Albariño
- Chenin Blanc
- Gamay
- Grenache
- Sauvignon Blanc
- Sparkling Rosé
Did you know Sauvignon Blanc can come in many styles? Check out my New vs. Old World Sauvignon Blanc comparison to figure out which is which and why you might have a favorite!
Seasonal Summer Vegetables
Summer temperatures mean a slew of new vegetables become available starting in mid-May through September. These tend to be juicier veggies like corn and tomatoes and summer squash. While you don’t have to buy in season, it does make things a little cheaper.
- Corn
- Cucumber
- Green Beans
- Okra
- Spinach
- Shallots
- Tomatoes
- Zucchini
Wines that pair with summer vegetables
And, of course, buying your produce in season means you know exactly what wines to buy to pair with dinner. You’ll want to start early summer with springtime wines to match the greens, like chard, and crisp veggies, like cucumbers. Try Sauvignon Blanc with its mix of green and tropical flavor. This wine can stretch from March through September, so keep a bottle handy.
As the temperatures peak, opt for brighter wines to match the richer flavors of tomatoes and corn. Go for a Chenin Blanc or other white wine blend.
- Vegetable Pairings: Sauvignon Blanc (lighter) or Chenin Blanch (heavier)
Seasonal Summer Fruits
Summer is the season of rich juicy fruits with exotic flavors. All your cantaloupes, manoges, honeydews, watermelons, and grapes start appearing in summertime!
- Apples
- Berries
- Grapes
- Mangos
- Melons
- Nectarines/Peaches
Wines that pair with summer fruits
When it comes to pairing with wine, of course summer fruits are great to put in sangrias and cocktails like this Sweet Peach Sangria or this Cardamom Mixed Berry Mojito. But don’t forget you can pair them with wine on their own or in a dessert! You’ll want very crisp bubbly whites, rich and heavy whites, or light, crisp, fruit-forward reds. Try Prosecco, Sparkling Rosé, Chardonnay, or Grenache wines.
- Fruit Pairings: Cocktails, Prosecco, Sparkling Rosé, Chardonnay, Grenache
Seasonal Summer Meats
There’s nothing better than slapping a couple of burgers or a nice pork chop on the grill, right?
Actually, most grazing animals are in season and tastier in the fall and winter. But since farmed beef and pork is much more common now, we’ll add these into the summer section as well. (Most of these animals are grain-fed rather than grass-fed now anyway.) After all, can we get through summer without burgers and grilled steaks?!
- Beef
- Chicken
- Farmed Pork
- Lamb
Wines that pair with summer meats
You have a whole range of potential in your meats. Lamb, pork and chicken can all handle a heavy white like a Chardonnay or Viognier. But they also cross the border into red territory. Try a fruity Pinot Noir or Chianti. With beef dishes you’ll want to stick to red wines. Try lightly chilled Grenache or Gamay wines.
- White Pairings: Chardonnay, Viognier
- Red Pairings: Pinon Noir, Chianti, Grenache, Gamay
Seasonal Summer Fish
The fish season explodes during the summer. Good thing too, that means we can get all the ceviche we could want!
Buying season fish is not only cheaper and tastier. It actually supports sustainable and responsible fishing practices that follow seasons and don’t overfish.
- Bass
- Haddock
- Mackerel/Sardines
- Prawns
- Salmon
- Scallops
- Snapper
- Trout
- Tuna
Wines that pair with summer fish
Most seafood dishes call for a white wine pairing. One of the best for fresh seafood is the zesty Albariño from Spain. Full of bright salty seabreeze and lemony acidity, it’s just like adding a fresh squeeze of lemon to your fish. Other dry and acidic options include Sauvignon Blanc, Vinho Verde, and Chenin Blanc.
But don’t forget about tuna and salmon. These heavier fish are similar to chicken. They can handle a rich Vouvray or Chardonnay. But they can also handle one of the chilled reds like Grenache or Gamay or even Pinot Noir.
- Heavy Fish: Vouvray, Chardonnay, Grenache, Gamay, Pinot Noir
- Delicate Fish: Albariño, Sauvignon Blanc, Vinho Verde, Chenin Blanc
Classic Summer Recipes and Wine Pairings
Now you know what’s in season and the general pairing suggestions, let’s get down to the specifics. These recipes are classic summer options, so you’re sure to find something you’ll want to serve…and the wine to match!
Summer Appetizers
Watercress and Orange Salad + Grüner Veltliner
Spicy watercress and sweet mandarin oranges create a perfect summer dish. There’s a hint of pepper and a load of refreshingly sweet citrus, all mixed with a bit of red onion and slivered almonds.
The spicy green of watercress pairs perfectly with a crisp green Grüner Veltliner. Dry with notes of green bell pepper and lime, Grüner is uniquely able to handle extra green and slightly herbaceous spicy dishes!
Corn Salad + Off-Dry Riesling
Chelsea’s Messy Apron has created a refreshing corn salad with fresh veggies and light dressing that pairs with grilled summery foods of all types!
Corn has a naturally sweet flavor and a slightly Off-Dry Riesling highlights the natural sweetness and earthy flavor of corn. It also adds a bit of acidity to an already creamy vegetable!
Creamy Crab Stuffed Mushrooms + Vouvray
Button mushrooms stuffed with cheese, bread crumbs, and crabmeat, these little summer seafood appetizer bites are baked until they are golden, melty, and sizzling.
With two different kinds of cheese and crab meat, you need either a crisp bubbly white or a slightly heavier, creamy wine to pair. I usually go for a dry Vouvray so the heavier cream notes in the wine and the crab pair together. A mineral Vouvray with just a bit of fruit character is perfect!
Summer Main Courses
Classic American Cheese Burger + Pinot Noir
Is there a more classic American summer dish than a big juicy cheese burger? This recipe from Simply Recipes is everything you imagine a summer burger to be, and it’s cooked on the stovetop!
If you’re not pairing with a milkshake or an IPA, try a light fruity Pinot Noir! Pinot Noir tends to be a lighter red wine, so it won’t overwhelm you with tannins or heavy structure. (Especially when you want to cool off from the sun’s heat and a heavy burger.) But the fruity character pair exceptionally well with juicy beef and the acidity, savory character pairs well with most toppings like cheese, onion or pickles.
Pan-Fried Red Snapper in Cilantro Dressing + Vinho Verde
Fresh and lightly spiced, a pan-fried red snapper with a bit of creamy cilantro dressing makes for a deliciously easy and quick summer meal.
Pair it with a crisp and slightly effervescent Vinho Verde. Vinho Verde is a green wine that is naturally just slightly bubbly. You’ll find it pairs excellently with fresh fish, and the bubbles cut through the fat of the creamed cilantro lime dressing!
Whole Roasted Rainbow Trout + Sauvignon Blanc
Talk about elegant, these summer-caught whole fresh rainbow trout make beautiful individual servings. A simple seasoning of fresh lemon rounds, pepper, and parsley creates a perfect summer dinner party recipe!
Pair them with a crisp Sauvignon Blanc. Either green and herby old world or tropical and fruity new world Sauvignon Blanc will do! The natural acidity of the grape will add a nice spritz of citrus to your fresh fish.
Grilled Steak Fajitas + Grenache
Cooking Classy‘s grilled steak fajitas recipe is a classic. You’ve got a mix of bright summer veggies with soft and luxurious steak fajitas, all wrapped in a tortilla. What’s more summery than that?!
Pair steak fajitas with a light red wine. Grenache wines are my personal favorite. I usually go for something that can be slightly chilled, especially since Mexican-styled dishes can be heavy and you want to refresh your palate. Fruity-forward Grenache will be full of cherries and raspberries with occasional savory note like tobacco or mushrooms to pair with richer foods!
Sesame-Crusted Seared Ahi Tuna + Gamay
Sushi and Asian-fusion style meals are always in season in summer, and this seared ahi tuna is the perfect make-at-home recipe! Lightly seared on the outside but still raw inside, tuna steaks are light and refreshing for summer.
Gamay wine is is very similar to Pinot Noir, which means it can pair with all the same dishes. It’s light, fruity, and can be served slightly chilled as well. It’s most famous for producing fruity Beaujolais, but you can find many more versions in your local wine shop.
Whole Roasted Dry Brined Chicken + Chenin Blanc
Chicken season extends from spring through fall. So a lightly seasoned roast chicken is a perfect summer meal. (Especially if you want to use the left overs in a picnic chicken salad.) Don’t forget to use a dry brine to create an extra juicy and seasonally flavorful chicken!
Chicken can pair with both red and white. But in summer, a chilled white wine is extra refreshing. Chenin Blanc is a versatile dry summery white. You can choose an oaked variety if you seasoned your chicken heavily. Otherwise, opt for a crisp dry Chenin Blanc to refresh you palate. Or even a sparkling Chenin Blanc Champagne (Blanc de Blanc) for extra festive occasions!
Homemade Chicken Tacos + Albariño
A homemade Taco-Tuesday buffet has never been so easy. These homemade soft chicken tacos with refried beans, cheddar cheese, and fresh veggies are so easy to pull together.
But they aren’t complete without a bright and zesty Albariño wine! Highly acidic but full of bright stone fruit and sea breezes, this Spanish wine was made for summer. It brightens up any dish it’s served with and refreshes the palate with bright zippy citrus notes. It also pairs well with fish, everything from fresh oysters, to ceviche, to grilled swordfish!
Honey & Wasabi Glazed Salmon + Gewürztraminer
A simple baked salmon with a sticky sweet and spicy glaze, this honey & wasabi glazed salmon recipe screams easy summer dinner.
Any dish with soy sauce or wasabi has to be paired carefully. Gewürztraminer is one of the few wines that can stand up to heavy Asian-style flavors and a bit of spice. Known as the “spiced wine” Gewürztraminer has its own spice to pair with the spicier side of this salmon. But its sweeter lychee notes make it bright and summery too!
Summer Desserts
Raspberry Eton Mess + Sweet Sparkling Rosé
Booze-soaked raspberries, soft whipped cream, and crispy crushed meringues all layered together in a glass. Is there a more summer-y dessert you can imagine?!
If you’re serving booze-soaked macerate raspberries, there’s only one wine that can pair…Sparkling Rosé. Make sure it’s sweet. They key to pairing wines with summer desserts is to make the wine sweeter than the dessert itself, otherwise it gets lost! A sweet, sparkling Pinot Noir Rosé would make the perfect match
Vanilla Bean Panna Cotta + Sparkling Muscadet
“Cooked cream” makes for a surprisingly easy and delicate summer dessert. This vanilla panna cotta takes only 10 minutes of active cooking time, and the flavor is full of light, refreshing vanilla flavor. Perfect end to a summer meal!
Vanilla Bean Panna Cotta can pair with nearly any sparkling wine. The key is what you’ll be adding to your dish. If it’s something like peaches, lemon, or apricots, definitely try a Sparkling Muscadet for a sweet and elegant wine. The effervescence will cut through rich cream, but the sweet flavor will pair perfectly with vanilla.
Going for fresh berries or chocolate instead? Try a Sparkling Rosé instead to touch on those richer berry notes!
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