Warm Weather Pairings: A Wine for Every Moment

By Laura Conde, wine writer

With the arrival of summery days, everyone’s schedule begins filling up: get-togethers with friends for an aperitif, long conversations after a meal by the sea, improvised after-work drinks, and other gatherings. Days are getting longer, our social lives busier, and bars and restaurants are populating their menus with plenty of options to go with every dish, occasion, and place. For anyone who feels overwhelmed when perusing an extensive and occasionally cryptic wine list, here’s a brief guide to picking the best wine for any given moment.  

A group of friends enjoying Malpastor on a terrace. 

An Outdoor Paella

Lovers of Spanish rice dishes have surely inaugurated the season with an outdoor paella by now, most likely in a place with views of the sea. Given how these kinds of rice dishes are usually shared with several people, everyone has to agree on a wine, so the best bet is to go for a simple crowd pleaser. A seafood paella pairs beautifully with a young fresh white wine with good acidity, such as a Sauvignon Blanc, Albariño or Riesling, with intense fruit flavours and no oak. If the paella combines meat and seafood, then we can go a step further and opt for a white with a bit of oak for added body and complexity (a Chardonnay would be a great choice, as would an expressive, robust Garnacha). Rosé wines with good acidity are also excellent with a paella, because they’re usually somewhat luscious, which offers a lovely contrast to the briny nuances of the rice. What if the group has decided on an arroz negro (black rice)? A Gewürztraminer with moderate acidity and intense fruit flavours will provide a good contrast to the flavour explosion of the rice (especially if served with alioli).  

Celeste Rosé is the perfect match for this paella moment, with a hint of sweetness to contrast the briny nuances of the rice. 

The Late Afternoon Aperitif

It’s late afternoon, you’re with friends at a café terrace…this moment calls for a glass of wine.  A luscious rosé is an excellent choice, because that touch of gumdrop sweetness is the perfect brain stimulant at the end of the day. This is also a great moment to order sparkling wine, from a light-hearted Prosecco to a Brut cava with fine bubbles and a dried fruit nuance (which goes so well with that bowl of nuts, almonds, and peanuts that is usually served with a drink). 

Celeste Rosé, the rosé wine from Pago del Cielo, is the perfect choice for a bit of leisurely terrace time at the end of a warm sunny day.

Although we don’t usually associate reds with warm summer evenings, there are always options. The best bet is to look for young wines that have not been oak aged, or only for short periods of time; fruit-laden wines with well-balanced acidity and low in alcohol. A Pinot Noir or Merlot – light, moderately tannic wines with plenty of fruit – are always an excellent choice. In addition, since these are young reds, we can ask to have them served at a slightly lower-than-usual temperature (generally these kinds of wines are served at 13ºC to 18ºC, so we can easily opt for the lower end of that range).  

The Sobremesa: Long Conversations After a Meal

The classic post-dinner digestif can easily be swapped for a dessert wine, served nicely chilled (between 6ºC and 8ºC). From port to muscat or a Pedro Ximenez sherry, these are great choices with dessert, but they will happily extend into the sobremesa, that classic moment when we linger at the table, deep in conversation. But take care, because these are high in alcohol (between 15ºC and 18ºC) and very sweet, so moderation is key. 

The Summer Barbecue

Grilling season is upon us, and it’s always worth opening at least a couple of bottles to please every palate. Since the main attraction here is most often meat – some of it fatty – a slight tannic red wine with some oak is an unbeatable choice. Syrah, Tempranillo, and Garnacha are all good options. Grilled veggie enthusiasts might enjoy a smooth white – a Pinot Gris or a fresh, young Verdejo, for instance. If the focus is on fish, an exuberant, well-structured white Garnacha will be delightful, not only with the fish, but all of the dishes, from entrée to dessert. 

Malpastor is a Tempranillo, the perfect wine to accompany barbecues with friends and family. 

Light Summer Dinners

Summer is when we gather at a friend’s terrace in the late afternoon and end up improvising a dinner of cheeses, charcuterie, and salads. A young Mencía pairs beautifully with a Cecina de León – a smoked cured beef – whereas the spicy, liquorice notes of a Syrah are superb with a cheese assortment. A Caprese salad goes well with a moderately fruity dry rosé, and if we’re lucky enough, someone at this improvised dinner will bring out raw seafood and fish. In that case, opt for a good Brut Nature cava to add a delightfully luxurious touch to the evening. Smoked foods – salmon, for example – enjoy the company of a Chardonnay.