Wine has no season and is consumed every day of the year. The variety of grapes and the biodiversity we have allow us to have a very wide choice of flavors, hues and fragrances. For this reason, there are wines that are particularly suitable to be appreciated during the summer, when there is usually a tendency to drink fresh and light summer wines. A general rule applies with regards to serving temperatures: white wines should be served at around 6-8°C, sparkling ones at around 4-6°C, and very structured ripe white wines between 10 and 12°C.
Here are five light summer wines selected by Cantine Leonardo da Vinci.
1) Portocanale di Cesenatico Sangiovese Rosato Rubicone IGT
This rosé from the 1502 Da Vinci in Romagna collection is inspired by Leonardo’s long journey between the main cities of Romagna, including Cesenatico, where Leonardo designed the porto canale. Sangiovese Rosato is a wine with a full-bodied consistency and a distinctly fruity nose with hints of cherry, white peach and apricot. The flavor is fresh and fruity, with a delicate acidity that invites the next sip. It is ideal for combinations throughout the meal, with both vegetable and fish dishes, but also pasta and white meats.
2) Pinot Grigio delle Venezie IGT
Its unmistakable straw yellow color with greenish reflections and its typical floral scent, with pronounced notes of pear and melon, invite you to uncork a bottle of Pinot Grigio delle Venezie during a summer dinner, perhaps outdoors.
It is one of the most loved and well-known Italian wines in the world, and bringing it to the table is always an occasion for celebration. This is the perfect wine for an aperitif or to accompany fish or vegetable based appetizers. It also presents itself as an excellent sparring partner for oriental cuisine, with spices, spicy or sweet and sour flavors.
3) Gli Angeli Rosso di Montalcino DOC
Among the light, young and breezy red wines, there is certainly the Rosso di Montalcino. Due to its fresh and pleasant characteristics, it’s ideal as a summer glass under the stars whether just for tasting or in combination with the kitchen. Rosso di Montalcino is perfect for grilled meat and the hearty or rustic dishes typical of many areas of the Italian hinterland; a great travel companion to explore the cuisine of our country. Rosso di Montalcino from the I Capolavori collection shows the angels of Leonardo da Vinci on the label: beauty on the bottle that completes the Italian style on the table.
4) Mappa di Imola Pignoletto Spumante Brut
Summer bubbles accompany moments of celebration, the most beautiful and warm evenings of vacations, the toasts with friends barefoot on the sand. The brut Pignoletto sparkling wine from the 1502 Da Vinci in Romagna collection is a Charmat method spumante with a silky softness and a lively and subtle perlage, its aromas are fruity and floral, with typical notes of acacia flowers and yellow fruits. It is a perfect and complete aperitif, to be paired with delicious light bites, but also cheeses and cold cuts.
5) Vermentino Toscana IGT
Produced with 100% Vermentino grapes, this wine has a color that represents summer most of all: straw yellow with golden reflections that recall the sun. Its scent is floral and the taste is dry, harmonious, and savory, which evolves towards minerality. It lends itself to many combinations, but above all to Mediterranean cuisine. For this reason, it is suitable to accompany the convivial moments of summer, when dinners are based on fish, white meats, vegetables. It is exquisite when paired with fresh or medium-aged cheeses to enhance their flavors.
