One of the best ways to enjoy a beautiful summer afternoon or evening is to sit poolside or relax on the patio with a favorite glass of wine.
Summer is filled with so many activities with family and friends that the days of summer fly by. Gervasi Vineyard Resort & Spa (GV) suggests the perfect way to help you slow down and ease the summer activities a bit is to enjoy great wines while relaxing next to your pool or on the patio.
In addition to all the summertime trips, take some time this summer to have fun gathering around the pool or on the patio and soak up the sun and warmth of the season while having great conversations with friends and family.
And, GV has amazing wines to enhance any summer gathering.
Meet the GVs Wines of Summer
Eric Rabin is the operations manager at The Cave. He loves to share his wine expertise and experience by giving his expert recommendations for three of GV’s great summer wines below.
Rabin said, “Three GV wines I love to sip around the pool are Fioretto, Romanza, and Amore (re-releasing on June 16).”
Fioretto, meaning little flower, is GV’s Sauvignon Blanc. It has wonderful floral notes, intertwined with lemongrass, elderflower, and red apple. It is a dry white wine that can cool anyone on a hot summer day.
Romanza, is an off-dry rosé, is lovely by the pool. This wine’s name translates to “Romance.” Romanza has alluring notes of strawberry, red raspberry, and rose. It has a touch of sweetness which lets the aromas and flavors come through and isn’t as dry as the Fioretto.
Amore is a very dry Provençal-style rosé and is fantastic for a day by the pool. It was released last year, and is returning to shelves on Monday, June 16. This wine has hints of rose petal, melon rind, light tangerine, and wet stone. This wine is completely dry and perfect for those who don’t care for sweet wine.
Ways to Serve Wines in the Summer Sun
Staying hydrated during any summer activity is the first thing to consider for any outdoor activity, including drinking wine. Summer sun and heat make our bodies lose more fluids and the alcohol in wine can accelerate that process.
Rabin said, “Heat will cause you to sweat and that causes dehydration. Adding alcohol to the mix, which also dehydrates, is a recipe for disaster. Try to drink water while enjoying wine/alcohol so you don’t dehydrate and to help keep you going in the warm summer environment. A good rule of thumb is to drink one or two glasses of water for every glass of wine you consume. It will keep you alert and fend off the possible next-day hangover.”
Another factor to consider is that the summer heat will make the temperature of the wine rise. Keeping the wines cold during the afternoon or evening outing is important to ensure the taste is preserved.
“I would highly recommend serving GV wines chilled. In the warmth of summer, these wines will rise in temperature quickly. The cooler, the better. I would keep a wine chiller handy and try to keep it out of the sun. Try to keep them under refrigeration or just pour enough wine to consume within a 20-minute time frame,” Rabin said.
Another way to keep the wines chilling is to have an ice bucket or an outdoor cooler large enough to hold a lot of ice and bottles of wine. Replenish the ice and the wine throughout the day or evening before the ice begins to melt away.
It is helpful to eat some great foods or snacks from a cheese and vegetable tray before and during your summer evening wine excursion.
Foods that Pair Well with GV’s Wines
Serving and drinking Gervasi wines adds to the summer fun with their great flavors and taste, and they also offer a wide range of food pairing opportunities.
Rabin said, “Fioretto works well with dry cheeses and light vegetables, while Romanza, being an off-dry rosé, can pair well with BBQ and fresh red fruits. Amore, being so dry and almost a translucent salmon in color, can stand up on its own or be paired with melons and pears.
“Hard cheeses like asiago and parmesan taste great and stand up to the warm summer environment. Add a little pickled vegetable, like cornichon or Castelvetrano olives, for an added touch and flavor. Some crispy crackers and grapes, and dried fruits always work well.”
If you are having guests over for an evening of poolside wine, you might want to have the food prepared and ready to eat when the guests arrive, at least have any cheese trays or snack foods ready. That way, guests can start eating right from the start of the evening.
GV Lake Side
Another great way to enjoy GV’s summer wines is to stop by The Piazza at Gervasi and relax lake side. Gervasi’s Piazza is GV’’s outdoor restaurant where visitors can order wine, spirits, soda, and other drink options along with their meals.
Guests are also welcome to order their favorite glass of wine or Gervasi’s summer specialty, Sangria, and walk down to the shoreline of the Gervasi lake. Grab one of the Adirondack chairs and watch the sun start to go down while sipping a refreshing summer wine.