Summer Wine Pairings By Virginia Philip

When thinking of South Florida summertime evening weddings at The Breakers Palm Beach – breezy beachside ceremonies, delicious dinners and sips of cool, refreshing wine are a few things that come to mind! What are the best summertime wines to pair with your dinner? Our Master Sommelier, Virginia Philip, has put together a list of the best pairings for your wedding:

Zarate Albariño, Rias Baixas, Spain
The Albariño grape is often thought to be a distant relative to the Riesling grape. Its high quality and extreme scarcity, and one of Spain’s more expensive grapes, remained virtually unknown until the 1980’s. Medium bodied with peach, pear and citrus notes, the wine is enhanced by the white floral nose and palate.
Pair with: Ceviche, oysters, seafood or as an aperitif

Gramona “Imperial” Gran Reserva, Cava, Penedes, Spain
Produced from a blend of 40% Xarello, 40% Macabeo, and 20% Chardonnay. This ultra-refined Cava is aged at least three years prior to release. Notes of toasted brioche and almonds on the finish complement the clean, Granny Smith Apple, lemon rind and fresh floral aroma.
Pair with: Aperitif, Peekytoe crab, tartare seafood.

Jean-Luc Colombo, Cape Bleue Rosé, Coteaux D’Aix-En-Provence, France, 2008
The Cape Bleue is made from vineyards near the city of Aix-en-Provence in Marselle, France. This wine is made up of 40% Syrah, 40% Mourvedre and 20% Counoise. The delicate pink color is achieved by leaving the red grape skins in contact with the juice for a limited amount of time. This rose displays aromas of cranberry, raspberry, cherry with notes of minerality on the finish. This wine is dry and an excellent way to cool off in the summer.
Pair with: tuna or salmon, light meats

Guigal Côtes du Rhônes, Southern Rhône, France
The winery was founded in 1946 by Etienne Guigal who turned over the reins in 1962 to his son Marcel. Production for this appellation is nearly 2 million hl and over 200 million bottles per year. With 100,000 acres under vine Côtes-du-Rhône encompasses massive plantings on both sides of the River Rhône and created mostly from Grenache and Syrah. Medium bodied with notes of red cherry, black plum, and black pepper, this wine is fairly easy to drink with or without food.
Pair with: light meats, tuna tartare, burgers