As the mercury climbs a cold glass of Sauvignon Blanc or Riesling usually becomes a Sunday afternoon staple, but a rise in the temperature doesn’t have to mean that the red varietals have to be banished to the back of the cellar. In fact, there are plenty of reds that are well suited to the Queensland summer, particularly if you are prepared to chill them slightly for half an hour before you open. And if you’re prepared to think outside the square, you don’t need to “think pink” to find a summer red. Think Cinsault, Primitivo, Grenache or Nebbiolo. Or even one of my go-to lighter reds, Pinot Noir and Gamay.
But if you’re looking to impress your friends with your sophistication and discerning style, I’d suggest bringing out a Gamay when next entertaining on a hot summer afternoon. The Gamay grape is perhaps better known as the fruit used to make the famous Beaujolais style in France’s Loire Valley. It’s a thin-skinned fruit that can grow prolifically and is renowned for being high in acid but low in tannin. A striking characteristic of Gamay is its colour – so bright and purple in the glass that you’d swear it’s luminescent!
So be brave with your reds this summer. Try something new, chill it a little but please Mum, no matter how hot it feels on the back deck, there’s no excuse for putting ice cubes in your glass of red!
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