Crisp and refreshing wines, icy slushies, and warm-weather sangria quench your thirst and cool you down on even the hottest summer days. Here are some wines and wine drinks to try, including some new releases from Chesapeake Bay Wine Trail wineries, and proof that red wine can be enjoyed even when temperatures soar.
REFRESHING FAVORITES & NEW RELEASES
Champagne is always in season; and, here on the Trail, so are oysters–especially at The Dog and Oyster, owned by Dudley Patteson, originator of the Virginia Oyster Trail. So it’s only natural that the winery would offer the Champagne with Oyster cocktail, a flute of champagne with an oyster shell perched gently on the rim.
The glistening, coral-hued Flying Leathernecks Sparkling Rosé from General’s Ridge Vineyard features scents of summer, with enchanting aromas of strawberries and raspberries. Medium bodied, with crisp acidity and fruit finish, this sparkling rosé captivates with its elegant and lively appearance of the varietal character of the Touriga grape. Pairs with seafood, cheese or charcuterie. Named in honor of the U.S. Marine Corps pilots of World War II and beyond.
Good Luck Cellars has three new releases. Oak-aged for 18 months, the winery’s Chardonnay 2022 is medium-bodied, crisp, dry, with aromas of spiced apricot and pear. Hints of local mineral hit the tongue followed by ripe persimmons that progress into a smooth finale. Steel-aged and dry, Traminette has subtle floral aromatics like honeysuckle and lemongrass. A tinge of apricot delights the taste buds before soft, citrusy flavors linger on the finish. Cabernet Franc 2021 is oak aged, medium bodied. This wine is supple with a pleasant mouthfeel, ripened dark fruit, a pinch of cocoa and cinnamon, ending with a smooth, dry finish.
Two new releases from Ingleside Vineyards are available exclusively in the winery’s Tasting Room and online store. Bourbon Barrel Chardonnay 2022 is a limited-production, dry white, 100% Chardonnay fermented and aged in bourbon barrels from the A. Smith Bowman Distillery for nine months. Albariño 2023 is a fruit-forward, aromatic wine that pairs well with local oysters and other seafoods. Roughly 57% of this wine was fermented in stainless steel and 43% was fermented in oak barrels. The resulting blend brings a unique twist to the winery’s traditional stainless steel Albariño. It was produced from just over four acres of vines, from three vineyard sites. Ingleside’s most established Albariño vines are over ten years old, and newer vines have been planted in recent years.
For non-wine drinkers, Monroe Bay Winery is now serving beer. Visit Ditchley Cider Works during Sunday Brunch and try Blush cider, made for wine lovers by utilizing wine yeast to start fermentation.
A guest favorite at Rivah Vineyards at the Grove, Cool Breeze is summer in a glass, with flavors of apricot and peach, matched with a citrus tannin. The sweet smell of this 100% Cayuga White is deceiving, as it is not as sweet as may first appear. Great paired with aperitifs and appetizers or just by its lonesome.
ICY COLD WINE SLUSHIES
Slushies are not just for kids! Grown-ups will love the icy cold refreshment of an adult wine slushie. Ingleside Vineyards offers two varieties. Frosé is made with Sweet Rose Mallow, a sweet rosé named after the Rose Mallow flower (indigenous to the Chesapeake Bay region), with pineapple and apricot aromas, and a velvety finish. Blanc-a-Rita is similar to a margarita, made with Ingleside’s Blue Crab Blanc. With a slightly sweet finish, this wine makes a great aperitif and pairs well with white meats and seafood.
EAT MORE FRUIT (AND BY THAT WE MEAN SIP SANGRIA!)
Sangria is our favorite fruit! Every summer, Jacey Vineyards offer white sangria, made from the winery’s Sauvignon Blanc, and red sangria, with Jacey’s Zinfandel as its base. Sangria Sunday is held weekly, year-round at Good Luck Cellars.
SUMMER SAVINGS
It’s a summer of winery savings, with three ways to save on the Trail!A limited-edition Chesapeake Bay Wine Trail Tasting Pass can be used in conjunction with the Trail’s Passport to save 50% or more! Each Tasting Pass entitles guests to one annual wine tasting at the nine wineries on the Trail, typically representing a savings of at least 50% over normal tasting fees. Only a limited number of Passes are available and can be purchased in the tasting rooms of participating wineries for $30 each, or $25 for four or more. (VA sales tax additional.)
Use the Tasting Pass in conjunction with our Passport Program to earn even MORE wine discounts. Start with an official passport brochure & map, available in most Trail tasting rooms, as well as select local attractions. As you visit each winery of the Trail, friendly winery staff will validate your visit with a “stamp”. Seven different stamps earn a 10% discount on wine; nine different stamps get a 15% discount on wine. Once the discount level is reached, the passport discount remains valid for the next 12 months!
Good Luck Cellars (GLC) and Ingleside Vineyards are also participating in Virginia Wine’s Sip Into Summer Tasting Pass-Eastern Virginia, a mobile pass granting access to exclusive flights across Virginia’s wine country. Purchase the pass to unlock opportunities to explore a variety of wineries through Labor Day (September 2nd). GLC’s “summer sips” include Vignoles, new release Traminette, Rip Rap Rosé, Red Reach, and Raspberry Bliss, as well as a special summer tasting menu. Ingleside’s summer sips are Coastal White-Lot 20, Chardonnay Reserve, Petit Verdot Rosé, and new releases Albariño and Bourbon Barrel Chardonnay.
SUMMER WINE MYTHS DEBUNKED
Myth: “Reds are for cooler weather; whites are for warmer weather.”
Some oenophiles (wine lovers) will tell you that there are some wines that should be avoided during warmer weather, citing various reasons and ways the integrity of the wine could be compromised due to the heat. Traditional wine drinking rules notwithstanding, we think wine lovers should be able to drink what they like, whatever the day, month or occasion! But… just don’t let your wine bake in that summer sun. Whether keeping it cool with a few ice packs or just finding a nice shady spot, your wine will thank you.
Or stick with tradition and enjoy a refreshing chilled white wine like Caret Cellars 2017 Chardonnay, aged in stainless steel with slight, late exposure to oak. Creamy rich, with nutty aromas of apple blossom and pear, this Chardonnay maintains hints of butter, citrus and grapefruit, and is tinged with a slight minerality. Balanced tannins and dryness make this wine excellent for pairing with Chesapeake Bay seafood such as raw or roasted oysters and rockfish. A lingering finish allows the delicate flavors of shrimp scampi or citrus cooked chicken to be savored.
Myth: “Reds are served room temperature; whites are served chilled.”
Serve white wines slightly warmer than fridge temperature (eg somewhere between 45-55 degrees), and red wines slightly cooler than room temperature (eg 60-68 degrees F). Yes, that means some red wines can be chilled slightly. You could keep wine in a wine fridge, cellar, ice bucket or place a bottle of red into the refrigerator for 15-25 minutes before serving. To be clear, not all varieties of red are suitable for chilling. Serving some reds cool can intensify the tannins and feeling of body and diminish fruit flavors. Ideal wines for chilling are those low in tannin, light bodied and full of fruit, such as Pinot Noir and Cabernet Franc.
An example of a red wine that is perfect for chilling would be Red Drum from Ingleside Vineyards. This versatile red is made to be served either chilled or room temperature.
Myth: “Red wine for meat; white wine for fish and vegetables.”
Light, fresh red wines do exist; and their moderate alcohol content pairs well with seafood and cold vegetable dishes. Slightly fuller-bodied, intense and fragrant red wines complement more savory fish. The best choices include those that can be chilled, as listed above.
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