How to Choose Your Summer Wine

A meal taken alfresco or a gathering of friends on a sun-dappled terrrace is sweet, but the moment is immeasurably enhanced by a perfect pairing. Summer is the ur-season to discover new sparkling wines, bright whites, and reds best drunk chilled. Oscar Wilde put it perfectly: "Pleasure without champagne is purely artificial."

ROSE

Mourat Rose 2015 -- Loire, France. Pinot noir, cab franc, and negrette.

Cherry, watermelon, fresh herbs on the nose. Well-balanced and soft acidity. $17

Maris 2015 -- Minervois, France. Grenache.

Medium-bodied, crisp, refreshing. Strawberries and orange zest. One hundred percent organic and sustainable. Our favorite Languedoc. $15

WHITE

Vetriccie 2014 -- Corsica, Italy. Vermentino.

Floral on the nose; hints of jasmine. Bright acidity, citrus, and silky mouthfeel. A staff favorite. $16

Brunn 2013 -- Kamptal, Austria. Gruner. Sustainable.

Velvety, elegant, green apples, stone fruit bright acidity and hints of oak. Delicious! $25

RED

Coturri Young Carignan 2015 -- Mendocino, Calif.

A wonderful new addition to the store. Light, fresh young fruits. No sulfites. One hundred percent natural wine. Must be cheerfully consumed after opening -- will not last a day once open -- it's that natural! $25

Schmitt Spatburgunder 2014 -- Rheinhessen, Germany. Pinot noir.

Dry, fresh berry fruit, strawberry, very bright acidity. Can be a wonderful chilled red in the summer. $19

THE GEAR

Arteriors Pierre Ice Bucket (pictured, above)

Designed by Jay Jeffers and made of antiqued brass, the bucket has a glass liner that holds two bottles. $1,295, Barneys.com

Skybar Wine Chill Drops

They gorgeously chill wine faster than a refrigerator: 90 seconds for red wine; eight minutes for white wine. Set of two. $19.99, Amazon.com

Glasses, from left: Vinum XL Pinot Noir, Vinum Extreme Rose, Veritas Riesling, all by Riedel ($69, set of two)

RELATED: Is 'Natural' Wine Better?

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