Hot days, cool wines

July and August are the two months where summer shines in all its glory. When temperatures rise to around 30 °C and above, barbecuing with friends, al fresco dining and refreshing cuisine are clear favourites. Food should be fresh and light – and the same holds true for accompanying wines. Fortunately, Austrian winemakers have some really cool wines in their portfolios.

Light, fresh and fruity – this is where summer’s at

Grüner Veltliner, (Welsch-)Riesling, Gemischter Satz, Muskateller and Sauvignon, as well as Zweigelt, Blaufränkisch and St. Laurent are also vinified as light, summery wines – tense and juicy, bursting with the distinct fruitiness and irrepressible freshness so typical of Austrian wines. With an alcohol content of between 11% and 12.5% abv, these wines are playfully light-footed and as vibrant as the ubiquitous chirping of crickets that fills the air.

And there is good reason for this! The wine-growing regions of Austria are situated exactly at the point where warmer and colder climates meet. This results in perfect conditions to produce wines with an outstanding balance between ripeness and freshness. And the same holds true for wines with a lower alcohol content. Light, refreshing and invariably fragrant, these wines have a wonderful zing.

Pure, unadulterated enjoyment

Wines with such lightness clearly hit the spot on hot days, delivering juicy, quaffable and unadulterated enjoyment. They pair perfectly with light summer cuisine, especially salads and pasta, while the reds also go well with barbecue classics such as sausages and pulled pork.

Summer is also a home run for Austria’s rosé wines. Brimming with juicy red cherries and berries, with a splash of citrus and a hint of herbal spice, they are wonderful all-rounders when temperatures rise – enjoyed as an aperitif or paired with grilled fish, roast poultry or Mediterranean-style vegetables.

Chill baby, chill

One important point to remember with summer wines – they need to be properly chilled. White wines and Sekt should be served between 6 and 8 °C, rosés between 8 and 10 °C, and light reds between 14 and 16 °C – or even a little cooler. They’ll soon warm up again anyway.

Break out of the bubble – break open the bubbly!

Wait a minute, did someone mention Sekt? Produced in all of Austria’s wine-growing regions, Sekt combines the best of all wines – fruitiness, freshness and sassy bubbles. Served on the terrace, on the waterside or at a barbecue, Austria’s sparkling wines (and pét-nats!) are the perfect summer refreshment. And for those who insist on 100% Austrian, Sekt Austria delivers the goods – just go for the red and white banderole on the cap!

The G’spritzter, Austria’s timeless superstar

If there’s one drink that will never go out of fashion in Austria, it’s the white wine spritzer. Summer or winter, the G’spritzter is a firm favourite all year round. Some wine-producing countries may consider it a sacrilege, but they don’t know what they’re missing out on! Crisp Austrian Qualitätswein topped up with the same amount of soda water or mineral water (preferably the former), white wine spritzers are the top choice on hot summer days. A G’spritzter is perfect enjoyed on its own, or as a thirst-quenching prelude to a summer evening of fine wines.

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• Barbecue & Austrian wine
• Mediterranean cuisine & Austrian wine
• Vegetable dishes & Austrian wine