Last weekend I was in discussion with a friend visiting from Florida on what wines she was drinking this summer. Of note is her recent foray into white wines; Pinot Grigio in particular, because her preferred wines, notably reds, were just not working for her in the heat. I teased for a moment about her wine varietal choices before contemplating and admitting that Pinot Grigio is certainly one of the most popular white wines in Jamaica and in many other warm regions.

What makes the perfect summer wine?

It all depends on personal taste, but in general the ideal summer wine is usually light-bodied, refreshing, thirst-quenching, very approachable and drinkable. Acidity is key to selecting wines for hot weather as it gives wine liveliness, snappiness, freshness and, to a certain extent, makes it thirst-quenching. Pinot Grigios, match most of these characteristics and perhaps as a result are one of the most popular white wines from Italy. They originate from the same grape grown in France called Pinot Gris. While most Pinot Grigios fit this general summer wine description, there are two slightly different styles, so you might wish to try a few to figure out your preference.

The main styles of Pinot Grigio/Gris

Pinot Gris made in either Alsace, France or in Oregon, USA is typically a medium-bodied, crisp, clean style of wine with complex fruit on the nose and palate. Some might describe this wine as being sweeter since a few producers actually leave a bit of residual sugar in the juice. The climate and wine-making traditions of the region and producer will affect the taste and style of that specific product, so you will have to keep trying them to find exactly what you like.

Pinot Grigio from north-eastern Italy are light-bodied, refreshing wines while the more fruit-forward styles will come from warmer climate producers in regions like California, USA.

Brands in Jamaica

Jamaica has a reasonable selection of Pinot Grigios on the market. These include Bolla, Bollini, Beringer, Campanile, Caposaldo, Castello di Gabbiano, Cavit, Delicato, Duck Pond Cellars, Fiordaliso, Folonari, King Estate, Ruffino, Sentito, Santa Margherita and Sutter Home.

Pinot Grigio is indeed an excellent summer wine option. Next week we consider Rosé for summer wine choice.

Christopher Reckord — Information Technology Entrepreneur & Wine Enthusiast. Send your questions and comments to creckord@gmail.com. You can also follow me on Facebook, Instagram @chrisreckord and on Twitter: @Reckord