BIKINI WINES

5 WINES TO SIP POOLSIDE IN 2021 … THAT YOU’VE PROBABLY NEVER HEARD OF

OMG. SUMMER IS HERE.

If you are like me and you enjoy laying out by the pool or beachside with a good glass (or maybe solo cup?) of wine - I gotchu boo boo.

For those of you who love your poolside Mojitos, I encourage you to give this post a chance. There are several arguments why drinking wine by the pool is a bit of a safer, smarter, more chill option if you’re looking to shake up your Summer imbibing.

I have never been one who is a huge fan of cocktails poolside. I don’t know if I’m the only one out there, but something about anything with a high alcohol percentage and loads of sugar, underneath the blazing hot sun just makes me a bit nervous about the whole hangover/dehydration thing.

Also, from personal experience, nothing will turn you off to spirits quicker than working in the liquor industry for 5 years. But hey… That could just be me.

But wine? I think I’ll always enjoy that. And there’s nothing more refreshing than a nice Solo cup of wine while I hang by the pool and get my tan on. I made sure that all the wines I picked for this post would be Solo Cup Friendly - meaning they’re perfectly chill and don’t require any fancy glassware for you to enjoy.

So without further ado, let’s get into 5 Pool/Beach Friendly wines that are perfect for Summer!

PICPOUL DE PINET

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Do you go absolutely nuts for crisp, dry white wines? The Picpoul Pinet will be your go to Summer Wine of 2021.

This wine, famous for the cute little green bottles with glass waves cresting on them hails from the Languedoc-Roussillion AOC in Southern France. The grape used in Picpoul de Pinet is well, the Picpoul grape. Picpoul literally translates to the words, “Lip stinger,” because of its racing, pulsing acidity.

You can expect aromas of lemons, white flowers like jasmine, crushed rocks, and even a little bit of salinity (or saltiness.) These wines are absolutely stellar when paired with seafood like Oysters and Shrimp. And the best part about Picpoul de Pinet? They’re really affordable, usually coming in at the $10-$15.00 range.

Picpoul de Pinet is also #solocupfriendly

VINHO VERDE

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You could argue that Vinho Verde is Picpoul de Pinet’s Portuguese Cousin or vise versa. This beautiful, fizzy, low alcohol wine that comes from Portugal is a must try for anybody who is looking for a delicious, fresh wine with the, “it factor.” And by “it factor,” I mean baby bubbles of course.

Vinho Verde is not the name of a grape - it’s actually the name of a region. Typically, after the fermentation process, carbon dioxide is added to these wines. Sometimes additional sugar is added as well to please those American palates before they are shipped over seas.

Here’s the thing, Vinho Verde comes in a rainbow of colors - from Red, to White, to Rosé, you can literally find a rainbow of the stuff everywhere. I highly suggest giving a Rosé Vinho Verde a shot if you can get your hands on one.

In terms of what they taste like… Are there any lemonade fans in the house?

Then Vinho Verde will definitely be your jam! Vinho Verdes are like pulsing, electric, neon lemonade!

As far as the Rosé Vinho Verdes I’ve been lucky enough to try, I’ve gotten aromas of bubblegum and ripe strawberries. The carbonation makes them so refreshing and perfect for that summer heat. Plus, they are low alcohol most of the time so you don’t have to worry as much about the hangover factor.

TXAKOLI

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Don’t let those x’s freak you out. It’s chill. It’s pronounced cha-ko-lee

Txakoli is the ultimate party wine. ‘Nuff said.

Think of Txakoli like wine… but with glitter. There’s just the slightest, barely there sparkle to these lovely, dry, low alcohol wines from Basque Country in Spain.

With Txakoli, there too is a little bit of carbonation - but it’s barely noticeable. (Are you noticing a pattern here?)

Most Txakoli you will find are white wines made from the Hondarribi Zuri grape. With Txakoli, you can expect a little more of a roundness to these wines - a sort of creamier feeling in your mouth. The reason? Because there’s just a little bit of extended lees contact to these wines. Txakoli will have a fruity sort of flavor profile - still with that delightful, lemony acidity. But these wines have a bit more oomph in terms of body.

If you like white wine spritzers, flavors of lime, and strawberries - any strawberry/lime Lacroix fans??? - this will be your jam.

It also comes in pink.

SCHIAVA

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Schiava is a lighter bodied red wine, and once you have it you’ll literally ask yourself:

WHERE HAVE YOU BEEN ALL MY LIFE! (Like in the Rhianna song)

If you like your reds fruity, juicy, and luscious - then Schiava is the perfect red for you. This beautiful red grape comes from a region called Alto Adige in Northern Italy. Schiava is my ultimate #summerobsessionwine

Schiava is also one of the more respectful wines out there. Sure, in terms of aromas when you stick your nose in a glass of it, you get a bouquet of bubblegum, strawberry, and cotton candy - yes, cotton candy -but once you drink it? It’s super mellow, chill, and did we mention oh so sophisticated?

Schiava is just good vibes. On the palate the wine is elegant and delicate with subtle flavors because, well, cotton candy in a wine would probably be a little weird.

PALEOKERISIO

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Though the word, Paldokerisio translates to, “old fashioned,” there ain’t nothing boring about this wine in the least. This gorgeous sparkling orange wine hails from Northern Greece, in the appellation of Zitsa if you wanna get real specific.

If you’re a fan of Aperol Spritzes, THIS IS YOUR 2021 SUMMER WINE.

There will be no, “Summertime Sadness,” for you if you hit up this effervescent, apricot-hued ambrosia. No, expect your summer to march more to the tune of, “Hot Girl Summer,” instead.

Yet despite this wine’s general awesomeness and humongous cult following, it’s still relatively obscure - with very few wine drinkers in the know.

What does it taste like, you ask? It’s slightly sweet, with aromas of baked apples, nutmeg, and Orange Marmalade.

This wine is freaking delicious, and if you’re a fan of Stiegl Radler - you’re gonna be hooked.

Another perk of this beautiful sparkling orange wine is the percentage is only 10.5 in terms of alcohol by volume - so you can party on.

And now that brings us to the…

PICK OF THE WEEK: Vidigal Vinho Verde 2019 $10.97 @Wine Chateau

I chose this Vinho Verde because no other wine is a more perfect bikini wine. With its freshness, tropical fruit aromas, and just a subtle kiss of salinity - Vinho Verde is the perfect beach wine. Plus, so many Vinho Verdes in the United States have the fabulous invention that is a Stelvin Closure - or screw cap. No corkscrew needed, just stash in your beach tote, bring a couple of solo cups, and go.

With just the slightest kiss of sparkle, the Vidigal Vinho Verde is a refreshing, crisp, and racy summer sipper. The first thing I got right off the bat was fresh mangos and ripe honeydew. When I took a sip, this laid back, easy-breezy wine had delightful citrus elements. Fresh dew-kissed limes and a pleasant saltiness danced about in the glass - conjuring memories of a beachside margarita. But what’s one thing the Vidigal Vinho Verde has that a margarita couldn’t touch?

Petrichor.

Ah yes, petrichor. The aroma that Sommeliers deliver full on poems about, that everybody in the wine world geeks out over. What’s Petrichor you ask? It’s that incredible scent of falling rain. Well, to be exact, it’s that ozone smell of rain mixed with earth. It’s a rare, etherial aroma that you barely find in wines. But when I do happen to find it in a wine, I’m sure to remember it and add that wine in my rotation.

There’s great, thirst quenching acidity in this wine right out the gate, and it’s the perfect wine to have on its own. The Vidigal Vinho Verde also comes in at a nice and easy 9.5%, so you can have more than one solo cup of it if you so choose. Just don’t forget to wear sunscreen out there.

Till next time, Thurstqueens.