What to drink in the Summer heat!

Okay, it is HOT in Atlanta right now (especially with a broken A/C unit--it was 84 degrees upstairs when we went to bed last night!). I doubt you're sitting at your desk contemplating what wine to drink in this heat (or maybe you are?), but as long as it's cold and white, you have a ton of choices! Chardonnay? Well, that's not my first choice. For heat, I want a wine that needs to be really cold and chardonnay is better out of the ice bucket and warming up a bit (if it's super cold, you miss most of the flavors--try letting it warm slightly to experience its' true nuances). For 90+ degree heat you may want to go for more 'crisp' wines like Sauvignon Blanc (look for examples from New Zealand, Marlborough to be exact) or a Pinot Grigio (think Ecco Domani for less than $10 or other Italians). Other choices? For slightly sweet bubbly, remain in Italy and seek out a Prosecco for under $15. Still seeking 'sweet'? How about a nice Riesling from Germany or Washington State? Finally, if you want to try something really daring look for a Vinho Verde from Portugal (the name means Green Wine and is light and crisp) or "think pink" and seek out a nice Rosé (look to France or Spain for common examples).

If you're like me and love your reds (and love summer grilling) look to Zinfandel, Syrah or Côtes du Rhône (which typically include Grenache, Syrah and Mourvèdre). Similar "grill worthy" wines are Tempranillo (commonly from Rioja) from Spain and Shiraz (same as Syrah) from Australia. All that I mentioned can likewise be found in the $10 range or even up to the $30+ range for single-vineyard Zins or specialty producers. The other main reason for the recommended reds above is the fact that most can be enjoyed while cooking (i.e. solo, not only 'with' the food, unlike some wines that tend to be better with food vs. sipping). That reminds me of the silly slogan "I love cooking with wine--I sometimes even put it in the food!" Have a great weekend!