Dog Days of Wine
By Landon Proctor |
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Welcome to the dog days of summer; those unbearably hot and sticky weeks that begin in early July, coincide with the rising of Sirius the Dog Star at dawn, and can't end soon enough in my book. How do we get through this fiendish and otherworldly season in hell? The same way we get through every other season - by drinking good wine! Whether you enjoy traditional summertime fare or like to wander off into the wilds of new and uncharted territory, here is a plan to guide your chilled drinking through the next six weeks of scorching heat.
Week 1: The Beginning
We have to pace ourselves, so nothing too dramatic to start. I'm planning to begin beating the heat with some of the classics: Pinot Grigio and Sauvignon Blanc. These are standard ultra-light and largely fruity wines that were made for precisely this time of year. If you tend to pass on these as too traditional, reach for something exotic in name but similar in spirit like an Argentinian Torrontes or a Spanish Verdejo.
Week 2: Experiment
While you can look forward to your brain frying over the coming days, use what little cognitive function you have available this week to mix things up and try a few new things. Do you enjoy reds? Throw one into the fridge and see how it does. Oregon Pinot Noir, Spanish Garnacha and Loire Valley Cabernet Franc all perform well after 15 to 45 minutes in the fridge. If you've never tried a Vinho Verde, it's the perfect time. In general, if there is a summer wine you've wanted to try, now is the time to get it. After long enough in the heat, pretty soon you won't have the strength to experiment with drinking choices.
Week 3: Endurance
The bloom is off the rose at this point and there's nothing fun about sunburn, mosquitoes, and 90 degree days anymore. Survival is the watchword, so just grab the vinous equivalent of an MRE - an off-dry Riesling, Gewurztraminer or Moscato. Spring for the quality versions of these if you would like something special, but really you're under siege in the weather war and you just need sustenance.
Week 4: The worst week of the year
Temperatures and tempers are historically at their highest this week in Columbus. This hottest stretch calls for a wine with something more - an extra lift to help you through this time of trouble. Obviously you need sparkling wine, and lots of it. Bubbles have long ago ceased to be the exclusive purview of New Year's Eve and have rightfully blossomed into an everyday accompaniment to life. Pick up a Champagne if you can afford it, a Prosecco or Cava if you're like the rest of us.
Week 5: Not out of the woods yet
It's time to take a cue from our friends in the south of France and start with the dry Rose. The best kind in the world is from Provence, and if there's one thing the Provencal know how to do well, it's drink in the blistering sun. More interesting than most white wine, better cold than most red, Rosd is the inspired choice for a long, hot afternoon or a lazy dinner out on the patio. To be completely blown away, look for bottles from Bandol - surprisingly inexpensive for being the best.
Week 6: Finish strong
At this point you're probably at your wit's end after all the unbearable heat. The solution to this, and most other problems, is simply more wine. Over the preceding five weeks, you have accumulated hot-weather wine preferences you should stick with through the rest of the season. Note the wines you have found that ease your sun-soaked pains and try others like them. Take care not to drink yourself into a rut of the same wine day after day, but by this point you should have a healthy understanding of what works for you.
Originally Published: July 1, 2010
