Patio Wine

I know it's been a while since I've blogged, I've gotten caught up in work and the nice weather, but speaking of nice weather....

What kind of wines do you like when it's nice outside and you're sitting on your patio/deck or even having a picnic?

I prefer white wines when it's warm outside. I really enjoy the crispness and acidity of a nice sauvignon blanc. It, to me, is very refreshing. If you're grilling, maybe try a pinot grigio. They have a lighter flavor profile that is compatible with most foods. It won't over power any zesty bbq sauce, instead it will leave you with a quenched satisfaction. Zinfandel is another wine that pairs well with bbq if you are still interested in having a red.

A note to remember... If you're like me, you LOVE spicy food. If you are having a spicy bbq sauce or just anything spicy in general, STAY AWAY from wines that are already higher in alcohol. I recommend staying at 13.5 or lower. Spicy food will make a wine taste like it is about 1% higher in alcohol than it is. It may not sound like much, but if you taste two wines next to each other that have a 1% or more difference in alcohol content, you'll be able to identify the "hotness" the higher alcohol wine leaves in your throat. Therefore, drinking a California Cabernet from a warmer region that has an alcohol content of 14% may taste brilliant with a grilled steak, but clear of spicy bbq because the wine may then taste "too hot" to handle.