Best of End of Summer Wine

Although the season technically lingers on through the first three weeks of September, Labor Day “officially” marks the end of summer for many of us. Don’t tell that to the folks who run your local farmers’ market—harvest is in full swing, and late summer is the perfect time to take advantage of the bounty that area farms have to offer. Tomatoes, corn, and eggplant are still going strong, and early fall squash and root vegetables are adding a touch of color and texture to the crates we rummage through looking for the perfect specimen.

Late summer is also a wonderful time of year for wine lovers. The chilled whites and rosés we enjoy through the heat of the season begin to yield to light reds that we can enjoy on a shaded deck or savor after sundown.

Tomatoes

Many people find tomatoes challenging when it comes time to pour the wine, but we are enamored of mouth-pleasing, zippy whites that match their acidity and brightness. We find that Albariño, with its citrus flavors, notes of almond, and clean minerality does the trick. Two that we are enjoying with our almost constant supply of tomatoes are Albariño D Fefiñanes 2012 (left) and Señor da Folla Verde 2011, either of which would be an ideal match for Tomatoes Stuffed with Guacamole or Chorizo Quinoa Stuffed Roasted Tomatoes.

Corn

There is also a lot of corn making its way into our kitchen and onto our grill this summer. Whether eaten with just salt and butter or an added squeeze of lime, our wine of choice with fresh summer corn is Chardonnay. For a casual evening with friends, Josh Cellars Chardonnay 2012 from Joseph Carr Cellars in Sonoma, California is a good choice, but when we’re serving corn in a more elegant style, we may break out an excellent Chardonnay from Burgundy, such as Domaine Taupenot-Merme Auxey Duresses 2010.

Next up, pairing squash, eggplant, and veggie medleys!

Squash

If you’re cooking with squash and making calabacitas, the jalapeno, cilantro, and lime in this version call for a well-balanced white that can hold up to spice and acidity. If you are truly on the “eat local” train this season, think about drinking local as well. Those of us on the East Coast can enjoy Macari Riesling 2011, made on Long Island from grapes grown in New York’s Finger Lakes region. We are big fans of Riesling and other 

aromatic whites such as Pinot Gris and Gewürztraminer with spicy cuisine, especially if the dish has a little bit of sweetness in it as well.

Eggplant

Our local market has a wide array of eggplant this season, and with this Sweet & Sour Eggplant we are fond of Mud House South Island Pinot Gris 2012 from New Zealand and Tramin Nussbaumer Gewürztraminer 2012 from Italy’s Alto Adige region. 

Late Summer Veggies

This summer vegetable tart is a complex blend of flavors that includes tomatoes, peppers, mushrooms and cheese, so we’re very comfortable moving into red wine territory. Pinot Noir really gets us going this time of year: The best have rich flavors of black cherry, chocolate, and vanilla with a touch of orange zest on the bright finish. Some of the finest we have had this summer are from the Russian River Valley in Sonoma, California, and two that we like very much are Freeman Russian River Valley Pinot Noir 2011 and J Vineyards Estate Grown Russian River Valley Pinot Noir 2011 (right). Pinot Noir is also a good pairing partner for squash, especially when flavored with Mediterranean herbs, as in this Peruvian squash soup.

Now stop lamenting the end of summer and head out to the farmers’ market and your favorite wine shop!