These Are the Wines That You Should Be Drinking This Summer, According to an Austin Sommelier

All Austinites know that summer heat is no joke, and one of the most reliable ways to fight through the high temps involves having a cool and crisp glass of wine in-hand as often as possible. Because we at Tribeza never want to settle for anything less than the best, we decided to consult a certified expert to find out exactly which bottles of wine we should add to our shopping carts this summer. Luckily, Daniela DaSuta, an Austin-based sommelier, educator, and a board member of the Wine & Food Foundation, provided us with a list of eight wine recommendations, each perfectly suited to a specific summer vibe.

Best Wine for Pool Days

Big Salt by Ovum Wines
When it comes to a wine that’s ideal for lazy afternoons lounging by the pool, DaSuta tells us that she looks for a bottle with “floral notes, hint of minerality, and a crisp nature.” That’s why her pool wine of choice is Big Salt, a lively white blend made of Riesling, Gewurtztraminer, Muscat, and Sauvignon Blanc, among other grapes hailing from organic vineyards in Oregon. Relaxing, unpretentious, but still thoroughly engaging, Big Salt made enough of an impression of DaSuta that it became “the white wine my husband and I chose for our wedding, so I smile every time I drink it.”

Best Picnic Wine

Domaine Leduc-Frouin “La Seigneurie” Anjou Blanc
Wines that pair well with picnic bites like cold salads, sandwiches, and summer fruit tend to be light and refreshing, but still with their own distinct flavor profiles and personalities. DaSuta gravitates toward “Chenin Blanc from the Loire Valley” for picnics, and Domaine Leduc-Frouin “La Seigneurie” is a particular favorite. “This one is just perfect for a relaxing picnic. I’m always looking for a bottle that offers the right amount of deliciousness for the price, and this wine delivers!” she tells us.

Best Summer Wine In A Box or Can

Jenny & François Collections “From the Tank” Rosé
Wines that pair well with picnic bites like cold salads, sandwiches, and summer fruit tend to be light and refreshing, but still with their own distinct flavor profiles and personalities. DaSuta gravitates toward “Chenin Blanc from the Loire Valley” for picnics, and Domaine Leduc-Frouin “La Seigneurie” is a particular favorite. “This one is just perfect for a relaxing picnic. I’m always looking for a bottle that offers the right amount of deliciousness for the price, and this wine delivers!” she tells us.

Best Wine for Sangria

Lini 910 Labrusca Lambrusco Rosso
A cold glass of red sangria bursting with fresh fruit makes an ideal summer cooler whether you’re in Barcelona or Austin, and using a red wine that’s already designed to be chilled makes for an ideal sangria experience. DaSuta chose Lini 910 Lambrusca Lambrusco Rosso–an Italian red with a hint of fizz– as her favorite sangria wine, explaining that “Lambrusco has been having its own special moment within the past few years, and I’m loving it. It’s so cool to see a grape that was one known to be pretty mediocre made into a more premium expression. Lini makes a delicious one that is more and more available, so you can add a little spritz to your sangria with this wine, or you can enjoy it by itself!”

Best Wine for Frosé:

La Vielle Ferme Rosé
“The great thing about frosé is that you don’t need an expensive rosé to do the trick,” DaSuta says about this beloved frozen wine treat. “I usually use something affordable and accessible like La Vieille Ferme Rosé. Many people add a sweeter rose, such as a White Zinfandel, to their frosé, but I prefer something a little more dry, since I like my sweetness to come from the juice or strawberries that I’m blending in.”

Best Red Wine for Summer

Las Jaras “Sweet Berry” Wine 2019
Red wines are typically served just below room temperature for optimal taste and texture, but on an especially scorching summer evening, it makes sense to long for a bold and fruit-forward red that’s on the colder side. DaSuta likes to keep a bottle of Las Jaras “Sweet Berry” Wine 2019 from Mendocino County, California in her fridge: “Contrary to its name, this wine is dry, but it certainly is bursting with ripe berry flavors. When you put a slight chill on it, this wine becomes the ideal summer red.”

Best Natural Wine for Summer

Populis Sauvignon Blanc 2022
Wine made with organic grapes that’s fermented without additives is known as “natural wine”, and it’s a major trend among oenophiles these days. While some natural wines are funky and assertive in their flavor profiles, just as many have a subtler and more elegant touch, and Populis Sauvignon Blanc 2022–a bright natural white which DaSuta calls her favorite natural wine for summer–falls into the latter category. “I tasted this wine just as I was learning more about the concept of natural wine, and I remember loving it for its electric Meyer lemon notes,” she says.

Best Texas Wine for Summer

Wine for the People “Dandy Rosé”
Texas’ reputation in the wine world seems to be solidly on the rise, and for good reason. The High Plains region in the northwestern part of the state grows excellent versions of European grapes that thrive in hot and dry climates, and Wine for the People’s “Dandy Rosé” is a prime example of a flavorful and versatile High Plains summer wine. “The winemaker, Rae Wilson, is a genius at making ‘crushable’ summertime wines, and this one is no exception. The delicate raspberry and apricot notes are a delight!” DaSuta insists.

The Wine & Food Foundation offers a wealth of information as well programming that engages a community of wine-lovers and foodies. Stay abreast of their upcoming happenings at winefoodfoundation.org.