Must Try Summer Wines
Summers at our Arizona private golf club and guard gated community get a little toasty. Let’s just say when you’re looking at a 100+ degree temperatures, your favorite bold cabernet or oaked chardonnay may not be the most refreshing choice. Fear not wine lovers, we bring you our picks for light summer wines.
Sauvignon Blanc
A dry, crisp white wine with relatively high acidity, Sauvignon blanc will often display strong citrus and grassy notes.
Grenache/Garnacha
A good choice for fans of deep reds, Grenache is a fruit forward, medium-bodied red commonly showcasing cinnamon or peppery undertones. There’s also a white variety of Grenache – the Grenache Blanc is a full-bodied wine with high acidity and apple notes keeping things fresh.
Rosé all Day
No list of summer wines would be complete without recognizing the ever-popular Rosé. This versatile pink wine can be found in super sweet, semi-sweet and dry varieties. Something for every palate.
Pinot Noir
The quintessential easy drinking red wine, Pinot Noir is fairly dry, light to medium bodied and acidic with mellow tannins.
Prosecco
Prosecco is a light, sparkling white wine that can range from dry to sweet depending on the type you select. Remember, Brute varieties will have the least amount of sugar with Demi-Sec and Doux on the sweet side.
Looking for more options, check out our team’s best Wine List for Summer and our guide to pair drinks with food in Arizona summers.
Bonus tips – wine terms 101
If you’re new to wine, it can be intimidating to hear people talk about tannins, oaky notes, dry wines, etc. Below are a few common wine terms to get you started. Try new things and learn your own personal preferences. At the end of the day, drink what you like.
Tannis – Chemically speaking, tannins are naturally occurring phenolic compounds which are present in the skins, stems and seeds of grapes. They can also be found in other plants, dark chocolate and oak barrels. Tannins give a wine texture and structure and heavy tannins are responsible for what some think of as the pucker effect or dry mouth as they can lend a bitter taste. Many full-bodied wines have high levels of tannins.
Body – when people talk about full or medium-bodied wines they are describing the mouth feel of the wine. Does it feel light or heavy in your mouth. As you start experimenting with wine this will begin to make sense. We promise.
Dry – dry wines are not sweet and can often leave a dry mouth feel. Typically dry wines have high levels of tannins.
Acidity – different styles of wine have various levels of acidity. Highly acidic wines will have a more tart or sharp flavor where lower acidity lends to a smoother wine.
Corked – this is not a good thing. When wine is “corked” it’s been tainted with TCA, a chemical that occurs when natural cork is infected with fungi. Wine that has been corked is essentially spoiled and will have an off smell and taste.
Members, if you are wine enthusiasts consider joining the Superstition Wine Society. For a modest annual fee, Wine Society members can enjoy wine at a discounted rate - whether ordering it for home or to enjoy while at the Club. The Wine Society is given first priority for our monthly wine tastings, quarterly wine dinners and the spring and winter Wine Showcases. Contact the club today to join.
