Light & Elegant Wine Choices Perfect For Spring Entertaining

Spring has blessed us with very pleasant warm and sunny weather already this year, so let’s hope it’s the promise of better things yet to come! The change of season and longer days can prompt us to freshen up our palates, as we crave lighter food and drink. Here’s a look at some elegant wine choices that will shine this spring. 

Refreshing spring Rosés

Rosé wine has surged in popularity in recent years, and winemakers have responded by upping their game and introducing some premium bottles. It’s worth exploring quality rosé wine merchants to source some of the excellent new blush wines on the market, particularly those from France, Spain, Morocco and Italy. 

Rosé is a very versatile wine that can be combined with a wide range of foods, or enjoyed on its own. It pairs equally well with grilled barbecue meats, spicy sauces, and lighter seafood and salads. It was once considered an afterthought and made with second-class grapes, but this is now not the case for the most superior pink wines. 

 Zouina Volubilia Gris is a fresh, crisp rosé from Morocco with a delicate pink hue that pairs well with Mediterranean foods. Celler Alimara Llumí Rosat Rosé is a Grenache grape wine with a beautiful vibrant colour and is perfect as an aperitif. Alternatively, serve with grilled chicken, sushi, crab salad, grilled tuna, or vegetable dishes. 

Cool crisp whites

White wine will always be a classic choice for spring and summer gatherings. Serve chilled to drink on its own at garden get-togethers, or pair with foods such as poultry, fish, salad and grilled vegetables. 

For warmer days or lighter dishes such as salad and seafood, look for more acidic and crisp whites from cooler regions such as northern Europe, New Zealand and North America. Sauvignon Blanc is a firm favourite, as it is dry, zesty and light, yet with a touch of fruity sweetness. 

Warmer wine-producing regions such as Spain, Australia, Argentina and Brazil tend to produce sweeter wines with bolder flavours, because the grapes ripen more quickly in the longer sunshine hours, and have a higher sugar content. Australian Chardonnays are excellent for pairing with grilled meat and strong spicy sauces. 

Light and vibrant reds

Red wine in spring time calls for light to medium bodied varieties that will feel fresh and not too rich or overpowering. Great choices include easy drinking Beaujolais and Pinot Noirs, particularly if you are serving with poultry, pork, or earthy vegetable dishes such as nut and mushroom roasts or rissottos. 

Spanish Grenache and Tempranillo are also perfect light to medium bodied reds, with pleasant fruity flavours and a lower tannin content than more full bodied reds. This means that it is less astringent, and does not need to be balanced out with creamy sauces or fatty meats that are more commonly associated with winter dishes.