Summer Pairings Sampler
by Dustin Soiseth
With summer officially starting later this month, I wanted to put together a sampler loaded with wines for some of my favorite summer wine pairings. Pascal Janvier’s Jasnières, a dry Loire Chenin Blanc with silky pear and stone fruit notes, pairs perfectly with chicken salad sandwiches at the beach, even the bites with a bit of sand in them. An ice-cold glass of Côtes-de-Provence Rosé from Clos Sainte-Magdeleine is the perfect postlude to a day of gardening and yard work—exquisitely refreshing, with aromas of flowers and herbs. A good campfire wine is also a must. Full-bodied reds like Durban’s suave Gigondas and the chewy Pic Saint-Loup from Château Fontanès are good matches for dining al fresco on rough-hewn tables, and for staring into the fire when the dishes are done. So whether you’re at the beach, in the forest, or in your own backyard, you’ll find a tasty bottle or two in this sampler for your own favorite summer pairings.