Picnic Wine Picks

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Picnic wines

A bottle of wine can turn a run-of-the-mill picnic into an al fresco feast. Here are some of the best wines to take picnicking and provides some pointers on drinking outdoors.

Among these bright, young things, it's easy to pick your pleasure 

Whether you're at the park, on the beach or in the backyard, take a wine that can add life to the party - not too shy or tempera-mental, maybe a little fruity and certainly refreshing. 

Call them picnic wines, deck wines, boat wines or patio wines. By any name, these are the wines we want to swill in the hot sweet spot of midsummer. Wines that add life (not work!) to casual, picnic-style outdoor meals. 
Let's be brutally honest. The no-brainer beverage choice is beer, and I'm not going to try to talk you out of it. But what we're hunting for today are wines that act like beer. Above all, they can't be prima donnas, because they are going to be bounced around in the trunks of cars, plopped into coolers and baked by the sun. They will be served in paper or plastic cups, and they will have to compete with all the scents of summer — flowers and suntan lotion, salt water and charcoal lighter. So they can't be fragile or flighty. Yet they must somehow be charming and accessible. And they'd better be good with hot dogs! 

Believe it or not, more wines than ever fit the bill. And the bill is amazingly low — easily under $10. Chalk it up to improved winemaking and an explosion of delicious imports, in particular reds from southern France, Spain, Italy and Australia. Generally these inexpensive reds (and whites, in lesser numbers) are from the most recent vintages (1999, 2000 and 2001) and have not pined away in new oak barrels. Which makes them perfect for picnics, because they put the flavors of fruit and acid — not oak and tannin — up front. 

Picnic wine rule No. 1: Keep them chillin'! Whether dry or sweet, white, pink, red or sparkling, any wine drunk outdoors will taste better cold. Not ice cold, mind you, but refrigerator cold. Chilling perks up simple fruit flavors, adds zip to sweet or flabby wines, protects wines left sitting in the hot sun, and answers the call of a summer-size thirst. 

Rule No. 2: Experiment. When hunting for perfect picnic wines, you will want to wander off the beaten path. Skip right past pricey, over-oaked chardonnays. Instead, try a fruit-forward chardonnay fermented in stainless steel; a dry riesling, chenin blanc or gewürztraminer; a steely muscadet or vinho verde; a semi-chard from Australia or a verdejo from Spain. Likewise, avoid over-extracted, alcoholic cabernets and temperamental pinot noirs that command big scores and high prices. Hang onto your older red wines for fall entertaining; their thick sediments require careful decanting and their delicate bouquets are completely lost outdoors. You want young, fruity red wines designed to be popped into the refrigerator and the picnic cooler. You'll soon discover the pleasures of grapes such as gamay and zinfandel; syrah, cinsaut and mourvédre; tempranillo and grenache. Let your imagination recall the chilled, slightly fizzy stuff that you ordered by the carafe in a little café overlooking the sea all those years ago. Put some romance into your thinking, and all of a sudden wine will start to seem almost as inviting as that other stuff — what's it called? 


To get you going - A pick of picnic pleasures from around the world 


Keep it cool 
Picnic drinks should above all be refreshing

With picnics it's not just a question of what you drink, but also how you drink it. You can have the best picnic wine in the world but it'll taste as dull as ditchwater if you serve it lukewarm. Even reds benefit from being lightly chilled - picnic drinks should above all be refreshing. 

You may like the romantic idea of keeping your drinks cool by dangling the bottles in a nearby stream, but for a modern alternative try an insulated jackets like the Vacu Vin Rapid Ice. You keep the jacket in the freezer and simply pop it over the bottle once you take it out of the fridge. You can find them in larger supermarkets and most high-street wine shops. Or chill the bottles well and put them in their own insulated bag.

Don't forget the corkscrew 
Other essentials of course are a corkscrew - unless you buy one of the increasing number of wines that's now available with a screw-top - and glasses. I know this seems obvious, but it's easy to forget. 


Real glass beats plastic hands down, especially if you're drinking fizz

When it comes to glasses there's no need to get fancy, but I always think real glass beats plastic hands down, especially if you're drinking fizz. If you are caught short, though, many off-licences sell plastic glasses and will open bottles for you. 

Recommended wines 
Now the most important question - what kind of wine to take? The top candidates for me would be: 

Rosé The perfect picnic wine. Available in a wide range of styles from off-dry (Rosé d'Anjou) to rustic (try southern French and Spanish rosés) to whopping great juicy rosés from the New World that don't taste that different to a fruity red. Just look at the color. The darker the pink, the bigger the flavor. 

   Canaletto Rose  $8.99

Canaletto Rose (Italian)
Good textured weight and delicate sweet fruit, palate and moderate length. 

Grapes: 100% Negroamaro.

Vineyard areas: Selected vineyards in the south of Apulia, in the Salento peninsular, in the province of Brindisi and Lecce.

Harvest: Vines are trained with “spalliera” and “alberello” method. Grapes are picked by hand by mid September.

Vinification: Grapes are de-stemmed. The crushed grapes are refrigerated at a temperature of 15°C and placed in a stainless steel tank. After 6-8 hours the “salasso” process is carried out: about the 50% of the total volume is taken out from the bottom of the tank, refrigerated at 10°C and decanted for 48 hours.

Fermentation: After racking selected yeast are added to initiate the alcoholic fermentation at a controlled temperature of 16-18°C for about 10-15 days.
After fermentation the juice is left on the fine lees for 2 months to improve the body and the suppleness of the wine. Malolactic fermentation is not carried out to keep freshness and acidity. 
Alcohol: 12,5% 
Winemakers notes: This wine has an intense bouquet of strawberry and raspberry, with light fragrances of citrus fruits. The palate is well-rounded, with a long finish. It is perfect as an aperitif or paired with fish dishes. 

  La Mura Rose $8.99

Grapes: 100% Nero d’Avola.
Vineyard area: The Nero d’Avola grapes are selected from prime vineyards in the province of Trapani, in south-western Sicily. 
Harvest: The grapes are carefully picked by hand in mid September, to ensure the optimum level of acidity is retained, which is vital for this fresh, fruity style of wine. 
The grapes are de-stemmed and soft-crushed. We use the salasso method of removing the juice from the bottom of the fermenter - this minimizes skin content, thereby keeping tannins as low as possible, while giving the wine its lovely pink color. Selected yeasts initiate the fermentation at about 18°C for around 10 days. We do not carry out the Malolactic fermentation in order to achieve maximum freshness in the finished wine.
Alcohol: 13% 
Winemaker's notes:A rosé with real southern character, this wine is bursting with ripe fruit. The bouquet is of wild strawberries, and the palate is full of juicy red berry fruit flavor, making this an aperitif, which is hard to beat

Food Pairing:

Perfectly paired with seafood, salads and white meats. 

Pink Knot $11.99    

With a cool summer and a perfect dry, warm autumn, 2005 will possibly be recognized as one of South Australia's greatest vintages. All varieties fully ripened with intense fruit flavors and balanced natural acidity. The reds are vibrant in color, with mature, textured tannins. The whites and rosés are fragrant and intensely varietal.


Bright cranberry-watermelon pink. Lifted raspberry and cherry aromas, highlighted with fragrant rose petals. Luscious flavours of ripe summer berries fill the mid-palate. This delicately proportioned Rosé, with a crisp refreshing finish, should be served chilled and enjoyed in its youth.

Crisp dry whites Unoaked whites are more refreshing out in the open than big oaky Chardonnays. Simple vin de pays and fresh-tasting Italian whites like Frascati and Pinot Grigio work well, as does Riesling. If you wouldn't touch it with a 10 foot pole, think again. Real German Riesling is nothing like Liebfraumilch. The Australians make terrific Riesling too. 

Firestone Sauvignon Blanc $9.99

Firestone Sauvignon Blanc excels at our estate in the Santa Ynez Valley, where growing conditions are optimal for showcasing the varietal’s bright, expressive character. This vintage begins with striking aromas of guava, passion fruit and lemongrass. Crisp flavors of grapefruit zest and guava unfold with appealing mineral accents. A clean, focused texture joins firm acidity for a long, quenching finish. This wine appeals to a wide variety of cuisine, including shellfish, sushi, pasta primavera and roast chicken with lemon and herbs

    Alto Vuelo Sauvignon Blanc $8.99 

The Casablanca Valley of Chile is emerging as one of the World's premier regions for Sauvignon Blanc. The climate, combined with a terroir results in a Wine with intense aromas of Tropical fruit. On the palate this Wine has good weight and the excellent acid balance protects the naturally fruity characteristics of this delicious White. Great wine made by the highly awarded winemaker Claudio Barria. From the south of the Maule Valley, his wines offer amazing quality at great prices. Lush tropical fruit aroma with grassy hints leaps from the glass. A Soft rounded wine with ripe flavors lingers long on the palate..

   Toasted Head Chardonnay $11.99

Try our Wine of the Month Toasted Head Chardonnay - The Toasted Head Chardonnay has spiced, ripe pear and nectarine aromas, with a touch of mango, tropical fruit and vanilla. On the palate, fresh nectarine, citrus and tropical fruit flavors are complemented by toasty butterscotch oak. The wine has a rich and creamy texture, with ample acidity and a long, soft finish. 

Soutomaior Albarino $14.99

Try a great Spanish White, very pale lemon, pleasant and distinctive nose of fresh pears and apples with a delicate background of fragrant floral and petal notes, enticing flavors of ripe peaches, limes and melons, with splendid elegance, round and rich with a buttery texture, good balance and acidity with an alluring and lingering finish

       Les Rials $7.99

One of the best values in Summer Whites -  This off-dry wine has floral & citrus-fruit aroma with tropical fruits on the Palate. Very light & refreshing

Light fruity reds Whatever happened to Beaujolais? Wines made from the Gamay grape are perfectly suited to picnics - much better if truth be told than the best bottle of Bordeaux. Inexpensive east European Merlot is great too. 

Sparkling wines Bubbles make a picnic feel particularly decadent. It doesn't have to be champagne (though that may be what you'll want to serve for our gourmet picnic). Italian Prosecco is perfect for this time of year and cava is a snip. 

 Mionetto the "il Party to-go" (ITALY) $21.99

BRAND NEW from Mionetto the "il Party to-go". It's 2 (750 ml) bottles of il Prosecco in a bright orange ice tub with a handy dandy carry handle. It has 6 awesome champagne glasses that come free inside. Just add ice and it's the perfect package for the beach, picnic, pool, boat, or for the upcoming Memorial day Holiday or any day !!

      CANALS CANALS ROSE (SPAIN) $9.99  

 Hints of Strawberry and Cherries, great semi-dry finish. Perfect for your any day celebration. Not sweet, just an easy drinking sparkler perfect by itself or with your favorite dark chocolate.

   CODORN Brut Rose Cava 85(SPAIN) $12.99

A Champagne look-alike, with toast, honey and baking bread notes, albeit done in a more straightforward, lighter style. Nicely done. From Spain. Drink now. 100,000 cases made. -- B.S.

MORE SUGGESTIONS:

Whites 
· Gatao Vinho Verde. This Portuguese pick is a perfect-sunny-day white wine; fresh, lightly spritzy and bursting with lime/citrus zest. 

· Emollo Sauvignon Blanc. Melons, pears and peaches set the tone here. Soft and delicious, it sings out for salads and mild cheeses. 

· Penfolds Semillon-Chardonnay. Crisply made, with nice spicy flavors that lithely mix fruit, nuts and vanilla. 

· Gazella Verdejo . Intense flavors of stone fruits are layered with lively highlights of mineral and herb. Textured and slightly salty, this delicately floral Spanish wine shows surprising length and elegance. 

· Coonawarra Estate Chardonnay. For those who love rich, tropical, buttery chardonnay, try this amazing value. Oozing fruit, nuts and toast. 

Reds 

· Castillo De Monseran. From Spain comes this young, crianza-style red wine. Sweet cherries and tobacco-leaf scents make for a light and food-friendly blend. 

· Delas Côtes du Rhône . The wine is true to type, light but muscular, with spicy berry fruit showing herb, leaf and leather nuances. 

· Delas Cote du Vieux . Southern Rhône grapes and whole-cluster fermentation create a fruit-bomb fantasy. 

· Firestation Red Shiraz. Fruit-driven, meaning it favors the forward flavors of plums and red berries. Soft and enjoyable at a budget price. 

· Alaia. A Spanish blend; Tempranillo, Pero Picuto and merlot. Big flavors, not dry and tannic enough for the spiciest ribs. Nice hints of leather and leaf add interest. 

· Vega Sindoa. A home run for this Spanish winery, it's brimming with flavors of cherries and pomegranates, laced with light roasted coffee and white pepper. Mostly tempranillo, with a bit of merlot as well. 

· Bajoz. Dry and elegant, this is a perfect fried-chicken wine, featuring red berry flavors and a sleek, mountain fruit profile. 

· Layer Cake Shiraz. The star of this Australian winery's show, with sappy raspberry/loganberry fruit in a frame of vibrant acids. 

· Giacossa  Barbera. You can spend a lot more on a spicy Barbera, but this is the one you want. Soft, grapey, bursting with fresh berries and cherries, it's ready to go. 

· The Slammer Syrah. This is one of the best inexpensive syrah in California, as this dark, grapey jewel attests. Forward, blackberry fruit mixes with spicy light pepper and a whiff of oak. Fresh, jammy flavors.