Summer is one of the nicest periods of the year to spend with friends, strolling along the seafront or enjoying a lovely dinner on the terrace. And in moments like these, what could be better than a crisp, light white to accompany your dinner, especially if fish is on the menu.
Summer is the perfect time to enjoy white wine at its best, because the low serving temperature and the sparkling wines that come in some of the best bottles help to refresh the palate and pair well with seafood appetisers, first courses and main courses.White wines are thirst quenching, which makes them more suitable for drinking on a warm summer’s day.
Before finding out which are the best crisp, light white wines for summer, it is important to make a few points. As well as being thirst-quenching wines in the majority of cases, they are also often young, light-bodied wines, vinified in steel vats at controlled temperatures.
The ideal serving temperature is around 10-12°C, and therefore, not too chilled, as in the case of sparkling wines. We also recommend using an ice bucket to keep the bottle at the right temperature throughout the meal.
The type of glass recommended for crisp, young white wines is the characteristic tulip shape, which has a wider opening compared to the body. The shape of this glass, which is slightly flared, allows the wine to go straight to the tip of the tongue, which is the location of the receptors for acidity and sweetness, characteristics that are particularly strong in these wines.
According to the predominant organoleptic characteristics, we can split light white wines into:
All three types are perfect for serving in summer; the choice depends only on personal taste and preferences.
Which crisp light white wines are best to serve during the summer to add that special something to your grilled fish or a touch of vivacity to your seafood salad? Here is a selection of your best summer whites.
Vermentino is one of the crisp light whites that is most popular with Italians in the summer, thanks to its bold sapidity, with its hints of the scent of the sea. And there is no better vermentino than La Pettegola Banfi. Uncorking a bottle is like taking a dip on a sunny Mediterranean beach, immersed in the floral and spicy fragrance of Mediterranean scrub, with strong notes of apricot and grapefruit. It is soft and persistent on the palate, as well as fresh and full bodied, perfect to serve with fish dishes.
Serena is a white made with Sauvignon Blanc grapes from Banfi’s vineyards. Its intense citrus notes make it a perfect summer drink that pairs excellently with chilled dishes and vegetables, as well as with recipes with a more intense flavour. The recommended serving temperature is 10-12°C.
Fontanelle Toscana IGT di Banfi is a chardonnay with profound links to the Montalcino area and, like all Chardonnays, is crisp and light, as well as perfect to serve with a fish dinner. It is rich with fruity, floral aromas, with stand-out notes of pear, apricot, and elder. The light-bodied structure is well balanced with a persistent finish that leaves a fresh, characteristic note of vanilla in the mouth.
Centine Toscana IGT Banfi is a crisp, light and extremely versatile wine that is the perfect accompaniment for fish-based pasta dishes such as spaghetti allo scoglio or rice with squid ink. It has a well-balanced body and bouquet, with a sweet symmetry of white fruits, citrus, and floral notes.
San Angelo Banfi is a pinot grigio that perfectly accompanies those summer occasions and dinners where fish is served, since it is are freshing, savoury white wine. The bouquet, which brings to mind the citrus groves of Sicily, is intense and enveloping, with notes of apple and peach, and a balanced flavour with a persistent finish.
If you are looking for a good summer white, then with Principessa Gavia Gavi DOCG di Banfi you can’t go wrong. This wine, from the great winemaking tradition of Piedmont, is crisp and intense in terms of both flavour and bouquet. On the nose it is possible to recognise hints of lime and Golden Delicious apples, while in the mouth, it has an unusual smoothness, balanced by a slightly tart finish.
