New Orleans sits pretty far from wine country, and it may feel even farther away as the muggy summer swelter settles in. But with the food obsession of this town, the vibrant restaurant scene and maybe even the historic French connection in southeast Louisiana, wine has an important place on the local table, and in that glass in hand.
In the summer, it’s time for wines that can cut through it all, wines that are refreshing and quenching. Right now, wine is more on topic than ever.
The New Orleans Wine & Food Experience is in full swing this week, a wine festival drawing wine makers and wine lovers to its events, from giant, self-guided wine tastings to more intimate wine dinners. Get info at nowfe.com.
More broadly, a city known to be a little extra thirsty has lately been giving more attention to wine. There are more small wine shops around town, and more wine bars too. Wines on tap now sprout next to the draft beer, even at some neighborhoods spots.
It’s a good time to think about the summer wines that will live in your ice bucket and your fridge door the next few months. When you’re trying to track one down, it helps to be able to describe it. I’ve been collecting some tips from pros and conducting my own research in the field.
Here’s a good starting point – ask for wines with good acidity. That only sounds harsh. An acidic wine should taste lean, bright and crisp. Think of biting into a ripe summer tomato. Good acidity in wine has the same effect.
Then there’s rosé. Its color can be soothing on sight, but its beauty is more than skin deep. These wines are inherently refreshing and light and they pair well with our summer food, from picnics to patios.
Of course red wines aren’t off the table. But on a hot day, just like you, they’ll probably be better off after a cold dunk. Chill them down and many become ready for summer duty.
And when the heat really gets you down, turn to the wines that rise above — the bubbly. After all, when you’re looking down the barrel of another long New Orleans summer, sometimes it helps to have a tall glass to look up to.
