Craft & Cork >> Wine

It’s May and our gardens are growing, it’s time to put away our heavy sweaters, open our windows, replace our casseroles with dinners on the grill and refresh our palette with delicious Spring wines. But for us wine lovers, switching up to something a little lighter and zestier can be a bit of a puzzle. Here’s what you need to know about uncorking summer wines and what to—and what not to—serve with them.

Chile Merlot Style Wine. Medium-bodied with medium to high acidity and fresh, red fruit flavours, this red has a soft character and is very easy to drink.

Do pair with: Seafood, Merlot has an earthy character that pairs well with seafood, mushrooms, bacon, and red meats like lamb and tender cuts of beef.

Serving tip: Allow the wine to open up the flavours (“breathe”), by uncorking and letting it sit for 20 minutes to an hour. When you’re ready to pour, choose a glass with a large, rounded shape to accentuate the flavours and scents of the wine as you drink.

Italy Verdicchio Style Wine. Verdicchio wines are often well structured with citrus notes of lemon and grapefruit on the palate. Pale and straw-coloured, this white offers a good acidic balance and subtle crisp, clean white fruit flavours and aromas with a slight bitter note on the finish.

Do pair with: Grilled fish, Italian favourites like, pasta carbonera, three cheese pizza topped with spicy sausage or even tiramisu.

Serving tip: Served chilled in stemmed white wine glass.

Chile Pinot Noir Rosé. Rosé is more than just a delicious beverage, it’s an entire lifestyle for many people and it’s easy to see why — this unpretentious pink always pairs well with simple foods and sunny days. It’s refreshingly juicy, light and zingy yet brings a hint of tannin and richness.

Do pair with: Mediterranean style foods that feature olives and capers— a classic Niçoise salad is always a good choice as well as grilled chicken, grilled shrimp, soft cheeses, corn on the cob and everything you serve for brunch.

Serving tip: If you plan on drinking a fair share of this wine throughout the summer, it might be worth it to invest in a set of diamond-shaped stemmed rosé glasses. If not, a stemmed white wine glass will do. Served after chilling in an ice bucket.

CRUS Italy Style Sangiovese. This easy-to-drink red is made to be consumed with minimal aging and it’s so versatile that it is known as the perfect food wine.

Do pair with: All Italian dishes. Sangiovese complements tomatoes so serve with summer gazpacho, pizza, lasagna and all pastas. Also, try it with a club sandwich and a piece of bitter dark chocolate.

Serving tip: Serve at room temperature (approximately 16ºC) in a standard stemmed red wine glass.

Cheers to Spring!