WINE OF THE WEEK
SUMMER REDS
By: Ed “The Wine Guy”
I hear it
often said: I don't drink red wine in the summer, because I don't like the
taste. The reason for this, as far as I can see, is the harsh taste of alcohol
which becomes more pronounced in the warm summer months. If red wine is drunk
at a temperature around 65 degrees, which is recommended for all red wines, the
taste of alcohol will be balanced, and will not stand out. I recommend
refrigeration for about 30 - 45 minutes. Any longer than that, and the flavors
will be muted. On my last trip to Tuscany, I and three friends stopped at a
restaurant on a hot afternoon. The waiter presented us with a chilled (not
cold) bottle of red wine: Santa Cristina. It was refreshing and delicious. No
flavor had been lost because of the chilling. In addition to Santa Christina,
Harney's offers many other light red wines, such as Centine, Beaujolais,
Tempranillo, and Grenache. There is no need to sacrifice the pleasures of red
wine in the summer.