The Tips for Choosing the Perfect Summer Italian Wine

We’re right in the middle of summer and you’re starting to feel the heat. As much as you love to feel the sun beating down on your face, you have to admit that it can start to feel a little stifling. As you go about your day, your mind starts to wander to what you’re going to do when you get home.

You’ll make your way through the house, grabbing a bottle of wine along the way…

You open the door to the garden and find the perfect spot of shade…

With a book by your side, you crack open your bottle of wine and pour. You’re going to spend the next few hours lost in a book while you sip on a beautiful Italian wine.

It sounds like bliss.

But there’s a question that you need to answer before you can make that vision a reality…

What Italian wine should you choose for your perfect summer moment?

In a previous post, we highlighted a few of the wines that we offer right now that are perfect for the summer.

But maybe you don’t want to follow that advice. Perhaps you’re more adventurous and want to choose your own Italian wine for the season.

If that’s the case, we have a few tips that will help you to make the right choice.

Tip #1 – Look for Nice Acidity

There are few things that we enjoy more than curling up with a nice glass of red wine by the fire. But that’s not what you’re looking for during the summer. You don’t want a wine that’s going to warm you up.

You want something that will refresh you and leave you feel more awake than you were before!

That’s why it’s so important to look at the wine’s acidity before you buy. Higher acidity generally means a sharper flavour, which is just what you need to shake those summer cobwebs after a long day at work.

Generally speaking, you’ll find that Italian white wines offer the level of acidity that you’re looking for. That doesn’t mean you should ignore rosés and red wines though. It just means you need to be a touch more selective with your choices as not all will have the acidity level that makes them ideal for summer.

Tip #2 – The Fizz is Always a Good Choice

There’s just something about summer that makes people feel happier. There’s this constant feeling of celebration in the air, which is buoyed by it being the best time of year to invite people around to your house for a party or a barbecue.

That celebratory mood is why it’s never a bad idea to rely on a bit of fizz during the summer.

Sparkling white wines are perfect to serve when chilled and they have that refreshing touch of acidity that you’re looking for. They’ll also go over a treat when you have company around.

But what if you’re on your own?

Well, are you really going to tell us that you won’t enjoy a nice glass of Prosecco in the garden in the warm summer sun? The simple fact is that sparkling wine and the sun go together like peanut butter and jelly!

Tip #3 – Keep it Light

We all appreciate a complex Barolo, don’t get us wrong.

But there’s a time and a place for these types of amazing wines that challenge us to think about them. And that time isn’t when you’re outside and enjoying the summer sun. You don’t want to have a complex wine in your hand when you’re more focused on enjoying the summer!

That’s why it’s a good idea to keep your selection light when choosing a summer wine.

Put it like this…

Imagine that it’s not only hot but also humid outside.

Do you want a deep and bold wine that feels like it’s heavier than the humidity that you’re already battling? Or, do you want something light and breezy that cuts through the summer haze and leaves you feeling refreshed.

Tip #4 – Choose a Good Pairing

Okay, so we’re veering a little away from picking the summer wine here, but bear with us.

As well as the refreshing wine, it’s only natural to want a snack or two while you’re enjoying the sun. Now, what you choose to snack on will also influence the summer wine that you select.

For example, let’s say that you have a little bit of cheese. The strength of that cheese will play a role in the wine that you choose. You don’t want something that will get overwhelmed by the flavour of the cheese. And at the other end, you don’t want a wine that’s so acidic that it cuts through milder cheeses!

That’s just one example.

The point is that you’ve got to pay attention what you’re eat alongside the wine, as well as the wine itself. Factor in your snacks when making your choice.

Tip #5 – Can You Chill It?

This is a no-brainer question but it’s one that you need to ask. After all, there’s nothing better than enjoying an ice-cold beverage in the summer sun, whether it’s wine or something else.

So…can you chill the Italian wine that you’re thinking of buying?

If you can’t, that means you’re going to drink a wine at room temperature in conditions where that isn’t ideal for what you’re looking for.

As a simple rule of thumb, if you can serve it on ice than it’s a decent wine for the summer.

The Final Word

So, with these tips and the wine list that we shared at the top of the article, you’re all set to enjoy summer with a great Italian wine by your side.

All that’s left is to make your choice.

That’s where we come in. On the Xtrawine website, you’ll find thousands of wines to choose from. Not all of them are ideal for the summer. But with the help of this article, you should be able to find one that works for you.