For The Love Of Port

Here is Seattle we just finished up 4 days straight of mid 90F weather...Yuck! And that got me thinking, what is your favorite summer time wine?

When its hot out, and I'm sitting on my deck in the evening, I only want want one thing. An ice cold, crisp Vinho Verde. I love its low alcohol content, which lets me "drink" vs sip it, a must for a cold drink on a hot day.

On a side note, has anyone tried a red Vinho Verde? About 40% of the Vinho Verde that Portugal produces is red, but only 1% of its Vinho Verde exports are red, which makes it hard to get here in the US.

I've never had a red VV as of yet. I drink more Riesling and Moscato d'Asti in the summer than anything else. Tawny when it comes to Port.

I quite like green wine when It's hot quite zesty and refreshing

I feel your pain, its been in the low 100's here for a few weeks now. Tonight on the way home was the first sign of relief. The temp was only 84 at 7pm, yesterday at the same time it was still 101!!! When it's this hot I go back to my cave man days and grab a cold beer. Like Roy, I throw a bottle of tawny in the fridge and enjoy it chilled. However, right now i'm enjoying a nice cold Long Island Ice Tea, with lots of ice

As for wines, I tend to drink more Chard's in summer (but almost never any other time of the year)

I don't mind drinking red wine in the summer even if its 100 F, you just have to keep the wine around 70 F. I think I've drink 4 Redoma 2002 already, I really love it! Also a few Crasto Touriga Nacional 2003 and some Carm Rose 2004. I don't know why but I really drink many portuguese wines this summer. Sorry if I did not put many notes, I'm busy at the moment.

jconwell wrote: question: What is your favorite summer wine?

When I read this Question of this thread, the words Vinho Verde immediately poped up in my head
and was also pleased to find out Vinho Verde is also a preferred choice for jconwell. So, it's good to know I'm not alone here

jconwell wrote: [...] On a side note, has anyone tried a red Vinho Verde? About 40% of the Vinho Verde that Portugal produces is red, but only 1% of its Vinho Verde exports are red, which makes it hard to get here in the US.

Even in Portugal in general it's very difficult to find Red Vinho Verde outside the Vinho Verde Region, which is located in the very northeast area of Portugal.

I tried Red Vinho Verde several times already and confess I didn't like it. I consider it a tough wine !!!
I guess Red Vinho Verde is very popular among the locals who are used to enjoy it but I do believe it is a really tough sell outside its producing region. However, as I always say, everyone should try it to get their own experience.

Now, for Summer Time, white vinho verde, YES, it's my preferred choice. Alvarinho, please. 8)
/MF/

I tried red vinho verde with grilled sardines in a restaurant in Lisbon about four years ago. I'm not sure how to describe it; it's a funny wine, I couldn't quite take it "seriously" as a wine. You should try it, though, if you get a chance.