On a hot summer day, Italians are famous for concocting refreshing cocktails such as an Aperol Spritz or a Negroni Sbagliato. However, just because thirst-quenching, chilled cocktails are all the rage doesn’t mean that wine is off the table— In fact, it never is.
Enjoying wine in the midst of summer means adapting your palate to fit the season. This may mean subbing out your favorite heavy-bodied red for a crisp white, a pick that will complement the fresh vegetables and seafood spreads that define quintessential summer cuisine.
Fortunately for those of us here in the United States, one need not travel to Italy to drink like an Italian this summer. High-quality Italian summer wines are likely available right in your local liquor store. America Domani has highlighted five types of Italian wines to add to your grocery list this summer.
Rose
Nothing says summer quite like a chilled glass of fine rose. Fruity, floral, and bubbly, Rose is the perfect addition to any summer picnic or happy hour.
Prosecco
You don’t need a special occasion to break out the prosecco. All you need is a savory charcuterie spread. Prosecco is the ultimate Italian wine for summertime, as it also pairs extremely well with fresh, in-season fruits.
Pinot Grigio
While bubbly beverages like rose and prosecco can steal the spotlight in the summer, a classic white wine is always necessary, too. No dinner party could be complete without it, especially with summer salads on the menu. Whether you’re grilling chicken, whipping up crab cakes, or crafting a salad, Pinot Grigio is the perfect pair.
Italy is known for being one of the three top producers of Pinot Grigio, along with France and the United States. You don’t have to guess which we prefer here! One of the best Italian Pinot Grigios you can buy is the Pighin Pinot Grigio, made from the Friuli-Venezia Giulia region, which is known for its superior white wines.
Soave
Perhaps one of the most underrated Italian summer wines is Soave, known for its distinct melon and orange flavors. Like a Pinot Gris, it's dry and light-bodied. However, its flavor is more distinct and gets better with age. In Italy, it’s often paired with clams, scallops, and risotto.
Gavi
When you sip Gavi wine, you’ll be tasting Cortese grapes exclusively. That’s because Gavi can only be produced in a specific area of the Province of Alessandria. A dry, refreshing wine, it is a quintessential Italian summer wine.
The Fontanafredda Gavi di Gavi makes for an excellent aperitif, whereas the Patrizi Gavi di Gavi possesses flavors of savory herbs, and pairs well with your favorite summertime seafood linguine dish.
Salut!
Natalli Marie Amato
Natalli Amato is a music and lifestyle journalist from Sackets Harbor, New York. Her bylines include Rolling Stone, Vice, and The Boot. She is also the author of several collections of poetry.