Winegrowing is a seasonal pursuit: the first new growth on the vines appears in February, followed by leafing out, flowering, fruit set, veraison, harvest, dormancy, then pruning before it starts again. The vines’ rhythm is determined by temperature, sun, wind, and rain, just as our moods and tastes may be so swayed.
A substantial part of what shapes our seasonal wine drinking is the seasonal food we consume. While winter is the time for hearty stews, braised beef cheeks, and root vegetables, summer brings us fresh fruit, juicy tomatoes, grilled meat and vegetables, chilled soups, and picnic fare.
The other factor in determining what we want to drink is often the weather itself. There are those people who will always want to drink a bold, beautiful Atlas Peak Cabernet Sauvignon, but most of us will opt for something with a lighter body and livelier acidity when the mercury climbs above 90 degrees.
In this guide to summer sippers we will look at both sides of the equation for warm weather wines. However, we will certainly not deny you your rich, bold cab, if that is what you want!
On a hot day, some of us look to eat cold food, and often that will be some sort of cold fish: ceviche, sashimi, bacahlao or poke bowls. What better accompaniment to those dishes than the Hill Family Estate Albariño? In the words of our winemaker, Alison Doran, “the first sip offers bright acidity, juicy citrus, and sweet Meyer lemon rind. Complex flavors of ruby red grapefruit and quince float on a layer of minerality. The juicy core evolves into a medley of lush, satiny yellow plum notes with a dash of refreshing citrus.”
A lower alcohol, crisp white that we grow in the Carneros district, Albariño pairs perfectly with cold seafood dishes (in our part of the world, raw oysters are at their peak in the colder weather, so we are not inclined to include them in a list of summery treats, but the combination of Albariño and raw oysters is terrific). This zesty wine also pairs well with avocados, offering interesting contrast to the rich, buttery flavor and texture of this unique fruit.
In addition to pairing with lighter summertime fare, the Albariño features the light profile that is refreshing on a hot day. The lower alcohol and crisp acidity make albariño particularly refreshing on a hot day. For those of us with Rheinland roots, chilled albariño with sliced strawberries might just be the perfect way to enjoy a warm afternoon.
Summer brings an abundance of outstanding fruit, which often end up in a salad. Some combinations such as pear and goat cheese almost define the summer salad. The ideal wine to pair with this classic combination is our Tiara Sauvignon Blanc. With its notes of nectarine, lychee and marzipan and its silky texture, the Tiara Sauvignon Blanc harmonizes beautifully with each fresh bite. This wine will will also compliment filet of sole or grilled rainbow trout or any other flaky white fish.
The Hill Family Estate Rosé of Pinot Noir is the Swiss Army Knife of food pairings. We have yet to find any savory dish that it does not work with. We take 100% Carneros pinot noir, press it slowly to give it about three hours of skin contact, then we ferment it like a white wine to yield a dry, bright, fruit-forward, beautiful rosé. This wine with a rotisserie chicken and a simple salad makes a great summer dinner, but if we are looking for a delicious summer sipper even without food, the Rosé of Pinot Noir is our classic porch pounder. Well, not just the porch: try it poolside, on a boat, on a beach, on a patio. This wine has summer written all over it.
Another wine that sings “summer” with its gorgeous floral notes and light body is the Hill Family Estate Cuvée Charlotte, a blend of viognier, semillon, sauvignon blanc, muscat canelli, and albariño. This is a wine that captures the essence of the flora coming to life. While we just enjoyed this wine with grilled chicken, marinated in Mediterranean herbs, its purpose in the universe might just be to wash down grilled peaches with goat cheese (cut ripe fresh peaches in half, brush with extra virgin olive oil, give them a quick grill, a couple of minutes, then rotate 90 degrees and finish for another 2-3 minutes, the fill the cavity with a soft goat cheese). Like the Tiara, Cuvée Charlotte will go beautifully with delicate white fish. For a warm weather snack, smoked gouda and a glass of Cuvée Charlotte might just be perfection!
Previously we mentioned those hot summer evenings when we have little to no desire to turn on a stove or oven, or even to want to stand over a hot grill. Fortunately, if we have access to great fresh fruit, good French or Italian bread, outstanding cheese, vine-ripened tomatoes, and a delicious pâté, our summer meal basically creates itself:
- A table, preferably outdoors (unless mosquitos are an issue)
- A bowl of fresh stone fruit
- A baguette, or a freshly baked slab of focaccia
- A round of soft cheese (for those in California, might we suggest Cowgirl Creamery’s Red Hawk?
- A piece of a good semi-hard cheese, such as Drunken Goat, Gruyère, or São Jorge
- A chunk of a hard cheese, such as Reggiano Parmigiana or Velo Dried Sonoma Jack
- An enselata caprese: vine-ripened tomatoes (if you are in California, might we suggest dry-farmed Early Girls?), sliced and shingled with slices of Buffalo Milk Mozzarella, topped with basil, sprinkled with salt, and drizzled with Extra Virgin Olive Oil. Please do not add balsamic vinegar or pepper, though!
- A piece of pâté, such as a course pork county pâté, a truffle mousse, or anything similar.
Now, what to serve with this spread? Might we suggest a Hill Family Estate Stewart Ranch Pinot Noir? The complex, coffee-inflected nose with the intense red cherry, cola and baking spice palate adds the perfect capstone to this table of summer goodness. For an extra special dinner substitute slices of smoked duck breast for the pâté and replace the Stewart Ranch pinot noir with the Hill Family Estate Saltonstall Vineyard Pinot Noir. The earthier notes, sporting hints of rhubarb, forest floor and bay laurel will positively sing with the smoked duck breast.
While we might want to skip any sort of heat source during the very hottest of summer days, for many of us, summer means grilling, and nothing goes better with grilled meat than the Hill Family Estate Clarke Vineyard Syrah. Co-fermented with 3% Viognier, this Syrah’s smoky and spicy notes make a Greek-herb marinated grilled leg of lamb come alive. Besides having a tremendous affinity to the aromas of thyme, rosemary, and garlic, the syrah boasts the low tannins that make a red wine successful in warm weather. Low tannins also make this wine a good companion to spicy food. Gumbo, Thai Massaman Curry, Paella, and a spicy Moroccan Tagine all pair well with this wine.
As mentioned earlier, some of us just love a deep, rich Cabernet Sauvignon. While hot weather can make heavy tannins a little bit much, we still want to experience that classic “steel fist in a velvet glove.” Hill Family Estate’s Like a Hawk might just be what the doctor ordered! This elegant and imminently drinkable blend of Cabernet Sauvignon and Syrah is not quite as big bodied as a full cabernet, yet it still delivers quite an impact. While some of our favorite pairings with this wine feature hearty cold weather fare such as lasagne and spaghetti bolognese, this wine will work well with a grilled steak or a brined and smoked double-cut pork chop. The syrah in this blend still carries that affinity for grilled meat that the straight syrah has, and the cabernet gives that little bit of richness to point this wine in the direction of beef, wild boar, or even sautéed mushrooms.
Wine comes from warm weather regions. It is impossible to think of the Mediterranean climate without thinking about wine. Whether we are lingering over tapas in the Plaza Mayor of Madrid, or nibbling on souvlaki in a Greek Taberna, wine is the perfect accompaniment. Since wine grapes require some heat to reach their full potential, it is fitting that wine would have a central place at the summertime table. From a bright, crisp albariño to a rich, deep Like a Hawk, Hill Family Estate has your summer sippers covered.
Whether you are looking for a cold picnic spread or a long-cooked marinated leg of lamb, we have something to match your dinner. And if you are just looking to unwind on the patio after a long day at the office, one of our porch pounders will fit the bill. As always, if you have any questions about our wines or what to serve them with, please feel free to get in touch with us! We are happy to help you get the most from your Hill Family Estate selections.