Summer is officially here. Even if you cannot make it to the Henley Regatta this year, you will want to make the most of every precious second of sunshine. Whether it is a picnic, barbecue, trips to the seaside or just relaxing in the garden, there are lots of ways to enjoy eating in the open air. But what happens when you want to take along a bottle of wine?
Unlike the humble can of beer, wine needs more delicate handling to be at peak condition. That much-awaited hot weather makes it hard to keep wine at the perfect temperature outdoors.
If anyone is used to sunshine, it is the Israelis. Debby Sion, head of wine education at the Golan Heights Winery, says that "overheating is lethal for wine". But it is also easy to avoid.
Bad storage is the most common wine fault, she says. Most wine will do well if stored at "room temperature". But what does this mean? When the experts specify room temperature, they mean 18-20°C.
Sion says that wine needs to be treated with care long before you set out on your picnic. "Even as you bring wine home from the shop, you should be careful not to overheat it." The temperature outside may be moderate but inside a car things quickly heat up. Wine should be treated like meat or chocolate and kept in a cool bag if it will be sitting in the boot for any length of time.
When you reach the location for your outdoor meal, you want your wine to be ready to drink. White wine is best chilled before drinking, while red should be served at the elusive room temperature. But it does not have to start out that way.
"Don't be afraid to chill your red wine," says Sion. "If it's hot outside, it won't take long in the sunshine to warm up again and then you guarantee that your wine will still be at full quality."
White wine should be chilled for up to three hours to reach optimum drinking condition. Sion says that any cooling system would be suitable for white wine, whether you want to pack it in ice or use purpose-made cool bags with ice packs. To double the benefit, freeze water bottles to pack around your wine. The ice will keep the wine cool and, as it slowly melts, you will have refreshing cold water to accompany your meal.
For al fresco spreads, stick with classic wines that go with many types of food. Having a different wine for each course is all very well at home but when you are out you want versatility.
Sion suggests a Gamla Cabernet or Sangiovese - both mid-range reds that would be perfect at a barbecue. For those who prefer a white wine, Mount Hermon's will please everyone. For a slightly fuller body, Gamla Chardonnay has enough body to go with a burger. For a celebration, sparkling Gamla Brut is excellent but Sion cautions that, to make the most of a sparkling wine, it is important to have it very cold.
Whatever you do this summer - even if it is huddle inside wishing the sun would come out - you can enjoy quality wine at the ideal temperature.
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