#WineWednesday: What Summer Means To Me

By / Wine + Drinks / August 21st, 2013 / 1

I like summer.  I know what you’re thinking, “Way to go out on a limb!”  Alright, so the majority of us like summer – but I like summer for a different reason than most people, and of course it has to do with wine.

On the wine front people will tell you they like summer for all the refreshing rosés and whites they get to consume – wines that go great around the pool, on the back deck or just lounging on a dock by the water.

On the other hand my summer wine of choice is something completely different … I like summer because I love BBQ and nothing gets the BBQ sauce flowing like summer; the other thing that flows around my house come BBQ season is Zinfandel, and I’m not talking about that wimpy white stuff (pink actually) – I’m talking about big, rich, heady, red Zinfandel – if you haven’t tried ribs or pulled pork with this elixir sent from Bacchus then you my friend just have not lived.

Indulge the wild side of the summer BBQ pairing with these beauties:

David & David 2010 7 Deadly Zins ($24.95)

Not your usual Zin, this one has Syrah elements like smoky bacon and meaty notes, but there’s also plenty of delicious plum, vanilla and cherry

Ravenswood 2011 Vintners Blend Old Vine Zinfandel ($17.95)

The 2011 is in the juicier style full of plum, raspberry, and vanilla.  This is a fabulous Zin producer’s beginner wine.

Cline 2011 Ancient Vines Zinfandel ($19.95)

This is a great ‘old stand-by’, it has the vanilla, cola, cherry and raspberry you usually find in Zin – in this case usual is a good thing.

For more wine suggestions, see our other #WineWednesday posts.

 

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Michael is an award-winning journalist: Promoting the Promoters Award Cuvée 2010 and Ontario Wine Awards Journalist of the Year 2012.  He is also a national and international wine judge - Ontario Wine Awards, All Canadian Wine Championships; Best of Riesling — Germany; Essencia do Vinho — "Top Wines of Portugal".  He is currently the President of the Wine Writers Circle of Canada and the wine columnist for Ottawa Life and Grand magazine as well as regular contributor to Tidings, and Grapevine ... his reviews have also appeared in the LCBO Vintages magazine. Michael has also added a YouTube channel to his activities where he reviews bottles of great Ontario wine on a weekly basis. In whatever he does, it is Michael’s desire to educate, inspire and encourage others to grow their own love and enthusiasm for wine – and to realize that it is their palate that ultimately makes the decision.

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