The Best Wines to Sip this Summer

Discover the best wines for summer sipping—from crisp whites and dry rosés to chilled reds and refreshing sparkling wines. This guide highlights top bottles available at Bottle Barn’s online wine store, perfect for warm-weather enjoyment. Explore refreshing summer wine trends and shop expert-picked selections for every sunny occasion.

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Summer is here! And so is the season for sipping refreshing wines of all types. In fact, many modern trends in winemaking make this beverage an ideal choice for hotter times and sunny days.

Bottle Barn has an ample selection in its online wine store to turn this summer into a vinous celebration. This isn’t confined to just crisp white wines.

What Makes for a Summer Wine?

Summer wines should refresh without fatigue. The best summer wines will emphasize acidity over tannin, freshness over oak, and moderate alcohol overweight.

White Wines 

Whites such as Albariño, Assyrtiko, and Grüner Veltliner offer citrus, salinity, and herbal lift ideal for hot-weather pairings, from shellfish to fresh vegetables. When you order white wine online, consider the 2023 Lagar de Cervera Albariño with its bright, greenish tint and pronounced aroma. You’ll experience apple and ripe pear flavors backed up by pineapple and quince notes. Or sample the 2023 Perlegos Thera Block Assyrtiko, redolent with intense flavors of citrus, stone fruit and minerality wrapped around a juicy, medium palate. Where is the wine made? Not Greece, but Lodi! The winemakers declare: “As sons of Greek immigrants we are especially proud to be amongst the first to grow & produce this wine in California.”

Rosé Wines

These are summer classics. Rosés from Provence or Tavel, and modern dry examples from Rioja and California, bring red berry notes with savory edges and vibrant structure. When you next buy rosé wine, luxuriate with the 2023 Chateau Peyrassol Cotes de Provence Rose, for example, with its blend of 55% Cinsault, 25% Grenache, 10% Syrah, 5% Mourvedre, and 5% Tibouren. Another perfectly balanced rosé from Rioja is the 2023 Bodegas Muga Rioja Rosado. Wine Enthusiast praises its bouquet of pineapple and passion fruit leading to flavors of clementine, nectarine and rose-petal.

Red Wines

Light reds stand out when served slightly chilled. Chilled red wine? Yes!

The idea that red wine should never be chilled stems from outdated conventions tied to room temperatures in drafty old European estates—not modern climates or wine styles. In fact, many light-bodied reds benefit from a slight chill, which enhances freshness and highlights fruit while toning down alcohol and any bitterness. Grapes like Gamay, Pinot Noir, and Zweigelt shine at cellar or cool fridge temperatures, especially in summer. Chilling does not damage red wine; it often improves its drinkability in warm weather.

When browsing the best wine store California, look also for Frappato, País, and Poulsard. Such grapes yield wines low in tannin and high in acidity, often with crunchy red fruit, floral hints, or earthy spice. These wines resist oak and extraction, offering clarity and brightness.

A summer wine list isn’t complete without the 2020 Le Clos des Grives Jura Nada Poulsard, a complex and balanced treat. It offers a profound expression of this often featherweight variety expressing red cherry fruit and plenty of savory complexity.

Whether from the Loire, Canary Islands, or coastal Chile, they suit grilled dishes and picnic fare, proving red wine doesn’t need to be heavy to satisfy.

Sip the 2023 Domaine des Braves Regnie, which offers you a super value when shopping wine online. Vinous calls it elegant with “Gamay’s bright, red raspberry fruit” on full display alongside notes of cherry blossoms, red plums, and pomegranate. Just slip it into the fridge 25 minutes before serving! Also consider the 2022 Terre di Giurfo Belsito Frappato, made from organic grapes. This online wine’s aromas entice with cherries, boysenberries, blueberries, whole on the palate you can trace hints of pomegranates and ruddy peaches.

Summer Sparkling Wines

Sparkling wines, especially pét-nats, Lambrusco, or Cava, work across styles—dry or off-dry—with effervescence that enhances texture and cools the palate. Indeed, Lambrusco has made a firm comeback, and it delights many connoisseurs. There’s the 2023 Vigneto Saetti Rosso Viola Lambrusco, which scored 95 points from Wine Enthusiast and goes for under $20 at Bottle Barn’s online wine store. Imagine wild strawberries, sour cherries, fresh herbs and baby rosebuds in a glass! Its “vibrant and crisp acidity pops on the palate, highlighting the wild red fruits.”

The best summer wines—red, white, pink, or sparkling—prioritize energy and balance over concentration or density. No matter your taste, there’s a summer wine waiting to brighten your glass and refresh your palate. Explore Bottle Barn’s curated selection to find the perfect bottle—or case—for every sunny moment ahead.