90% of Spaniards opt for beer as their drink of choice during the summer months. We didn’t pluck this figure out of the blue, we came across it in a study somewhere (here, in fact).
Now, with all due respect to the drink most frequently quaffed by Spaniards (apart from water, we suppose), it goes without saying that wine is a summer drink, too.
We should think in terms of the types of wine that are “suitable” for drinking during summer, those that can be enjoyed at a lower temperature and have subtle flavours that go well with the lighter dishes typical of this time of year. We are looking for more fruity, vibrant wines, with slightly higher levels of acidity or tartness. They will be mainly young, fresh wines that literally make our mouth water.
It may just be us, but we find it hard to imagine a dinner by the sea with, say, baked sea bream as the main course, being washed down with a pint of beer or a can of fizz. In our mind’s eye there stands before us a white Macabeo, light, fresh, but with a certain buttery heft to measure up to the sea bream. Without looking any further afield, a perfect match here might be Enterizo Macabeo.
Although it’s summer, maybe you’re not much of a one for lounging by the sea. You’re bored stiff by the lugging back and forth of umbrellas, flip-flops bouncing against your heels and the sand irritatingly stuck to your feet, so you’ve decided to head off to the mountains. It’s mid-afternoon and you’re getting the charcoal glowing for a barbecue while right next to you there’s an ice bucket with … Cava! Yes, please, bubbles, very cold bubbles to wash down that char-grilled chicken and wash away those long working days. A Cava brut nature is just the thing, something like our Cava Aula Brut Nature. And if your barbecueis rocking & rolling roll with lots of sizzling, juicy red meat, as well as chicken, that’s sorted too, with our new Aula Bobal Tempranillo, whose sheer drinkability and ripe fruit will go perfectly with the food.
If you’re reading this stuck on your sofa at home, rather than down on the beach or up a mountain, don’t worry (we know the feeling). We have a suggestion for you. Head out to the balcony or patio with a selection of cheeses that you put together beforehand in your kitchen, while listening to Leonard Cohen croon “Everybody knows that you love me baby, everybody knows that you really do, everybody knows that you’ve been faithful …”, not forgetting to grab a bottle of Al Vent Rosado from the fridge, and have yourself a private party, and forget that you’re stuck in the city.
Cheers, have a great summer, with great wine.
