Summer Sippers: The Best Spanish Wine Options for Outdoor Dining

Spanish wines have a wide range of flavors and are perfect summertime drinks. As the outdoor dining season heats up, pair your meal with a flavor that suits your palate. Top options include reds from the Rioja wine region, white Albariño, Sherry, and sparkling Cava.

Ice-cold Spanish wine cocktails also make refreshing and tasty summer sippers. Bring hints of sunshine to your glass with our homemade Sangria. Tinto de Verano and Agua de Valencia are two other favorites that hail from Spain.

Embark on a journey with us as we uncork the essence of Spanish wines. Discover the best summer sipper to enhance your outdoor dining experience. Bask in the warm weather and pair your meal for culinary excellence.

Let’s explore some of the best Spanish wine options to beat the heat.

Red Light-Bodied Spanish Wines

Consider ordering a fruit-forward red in a glass or bottle during the warmer months. Spanish wines that are served chilled will feel and taste quite refreshing.

Here’s a list of the top light-bodied reds to enjoy this summer:

Rioja Joven wines carry notable fruit flavors with minimal oak aging. Feel refreshed with hints of red berries, cherries, and plums. Pair this young Spanish wine with a pasta, chicken, or steak entrée.

Garnacha or Grenache are excellent fruity reds for summer sipping. The wines feature flavors like strawberries and raspberries with a hint of spice. Enjoy a glass with our Braised Beef Shortribs or Roasted Red Pepper Gnocchi Shrimp.

Mencía wines are light to medium-bodied, making them ideal for summer indulgence. Showcased flavors include red and black fruits and floral notes. Mencía wines can be refreshing and versatile, pairing well with various dishes.

Light-bodied Cariñena wines suit summer well and balance fruitiness and structure. Experience hints of blackberries, cherries, and spice. The red wine’s acidity offers a pleasant contrast when paired with pasta.

Navarra Rosado is a rosé wine that originates from northern Spain. The red berry and citrus flavor notes create the perfect summer sipper. Pair this Spanish wine with salad, seafood, chicken, or pork.

Refreshing White Spanish Wines

Summer is the best time to enjoy flavorful and refreshing white Spanish wines. The drinks taste invigorating and crisp, especially when served chilled.

Here are white Spanish wines to sip and savor this summer:

Albariño showcases bright acidity with citrus, green apple, and peach flavors. The versatile white goes well with seafood and salad options. Albariño is a popular choice among wine enthusiasts during warmer months.

Verdejo wines are light-bodied and known for their aromatic profile and refreshing acidity. Flavor notes include tropical fruits, citrus, and fresh herbs. Enjoy this Spanish wine on a hot summer night with a seafood dinner.

Viura or Macabeo grapes produce fresh and versatile wines that are often unoaked. This white has hints of fruit, citrus, and floral notes. Pair Viura Spanish wine with risotto, pasta, salad, or seafood.

Godello is a grape variety that produces aromatic and vibrant Spanish white wines. Sip and taste green apple, pear, and citrus flavors. Relax with a glass to complement your shrimp, pasta, or risotto entree.

Sparkling Spanish Wines

Cava is an affordable sparkling wine that originates from Spain. The drink undergoes the same method used to make Champagne. Cava has a crisp and refreshing taste with citrus and apple fruit notes.

The sparkling wine, known for its lively bubbles, is a popular summer drink. Cava is light and can be savored on its own or mixed in a cocktail. With a lower alcohol content, the beverage is easy to enjoy in the heat.

Cava is a perfect partner for various summer dishes across our dinner menu. Sip a glass of sparkling Spanish wine with any appetizer or entrée. Customers love complementing Cava with seafood and chicken meals.

Txakoli, pronounced chak-oh-lee, is another sparkling Spanish wine that’s highly acidic. This white is a unique option that differs from Cava. Txakoli has a strong regional identity and is made from indigenous grape varieties.

Both sparkling wines also undergo different production methods. Txakoli uses a traditional Basque process for natural carbonation. The unique Spanish wine often has green apple, citrus, and herbal flavors.

Sherry and Dessert Wines

Sherry is a type of Spanish wine with various colors and flavor notes. These drinks are often pale or white, but some have darker and richer profiles. Some sherry and dessert wines are a pure delight during the summer.

Fino is a pale and dry Spanish wine with a crisp and delicate flavor. This sherry has almond and green apple notes. Fino is similar to Manzanilla but has a distinctive aroma and is richer.

Amontillado is a Spanish wine that undergoes two aging processes. The Sherry starts as Fino or Mantazilla but is transformed over time. Amontillado has darker colors, nutty flavors, and richer profiles.

Pale Cream blends dry and sweet Sherry that can be served chilled as a summer dessert wine. Flavor notes include dried fruit and honey with a floral aroma. Pale Cream has a golden color and suits palates that love sweetness.

Sherries go well with our Braised Beef Shortribs and Harvest Chicken Risotto. The Spanish wines also taste decadent with any of our dark chocolate desserts. Cork has pairing experts that make us one of the best Wilkes Barre restaurants.

Moscatel, or Muscat, is a grape variety used in Spain to make sweet dessert wines. With a distinct floral aroma, the drink has hints of stone fruit, citrus, and honey flavors. Moscatel tastes exceptional with fruity desserts, custards, and pastries.

Homemade Sangria

Sangria is a refreshingly fruity drink that is ideal for the summertime. Red Spanish wine is blended with fresh peaches, nectarines, berries, apples, or pears. Pineapple and lime can give this cocktail a tropical twist.

The crowd-pleasing beverage can be tailored to your taste preferences. Homemade Sangria Blanca uses white wine instead of red. Choose refreshing citrus or traditional fruits for this summer sipper.

Pairing possibilities are endless with this popular Spanish wine cocktail. Enjoy homemade Sangria with any dishes on our menu. The refreshing summer drink elevates any beef, seafood, and salad meal.

Tinto de Verano

Tinto de Verano is a refreshing Spanish drink that means “summer wine” in English. This well-received cocktail is a lighter alternative to Sangria. The ice-cold beverage quenches thirst and is perfect for hot days and nights.

Despite being known as a wine-based lemonade, the drink uses lemon-lime soda instead. Tinto de Verano is a citrus-infused spritzer that tastes sweet and tangy. This summer sipper often features a young Rioja or Spanish table wine with 7-Up or Sprite.

The light spritzer is also versatile and can be tailored to your preferences. Add extra flavor with a splash of citrus juice or fruit slices like lemon or orange. Enjoy Tinto de Verano with our Seafood Salmon, Crab Cakes, or Chicken Francaise.

Agua de Valencia

Agua de Valencia is another popular Spanish wine lemonade cocktail. This summer drink differs from Tinto de Verano. Cava, orange juice, and a sweetener are mixed and served chilled.

The fizzy Spanish wine complements the zesty, citrus flavor. A simple syrup or liqueur balances the acidity and adds sweetness. Agua de Valencia is often garnished with orange slices or zest for visual appeal.

Beat the heat with this bright-colored summer sipper. Agua de Valencia delivers a refreshing burst of citrus. Order this Spanish wine drink with our rib entrees or Mandarin Spinach Salad.

Sip and Savor This Summer!

Explore Spanish wine options in one of the best Wilkes Barre restaurants. We offer premier outdoor dining and also have indoor seating. Our expert staff can help pair your meal for the ultimate culinary experience.

 

Make it a summer to remember and book your reservation with Cork today!