Quench your thirst

As record-breaking temperatures sweep the country, staying hydrated is the need of the hour and what better way to cool yourself than throwing your feet up and relaxing with a chilled glass of wine! But there are so many wines in the market and the eternal dilemma is which one would be the ideal choice now that the summer is here too! Ajoy Shaw, Chief Winemaker at Sula Vineyards makes the choice easier for us as he recommends his top picks from the House of Sula and also its import arm Sula Selections.

Sula Riesling

Sula’s Riesling is bright and citrusy and perfect for the Indian summers. Its fruity aroma coupled with hints of green apples, grapefruit, peach and honey make it the perfect choice for the rising temperatures. Riesling is versatile in its ability to be paired with food because of its balance of sugar and acidity.

It pairs really well with Indian food and also Thai and Chinese cuisine. Light eating is generally preferred (and ideal!) in the summers. Sula Riesling is also a hit as it pairs with green vegetables, salads and fish (cooked as well as raw).

Hardys Stamp Chardonnay Semillon

Hardys Stamp Chardonnay Semillon is a lovely blend of Chardonnay and Semillon. The wine is fresh and fruity, with a hint of oak clean, crisp finish and a perfect for the summers.

A chilled glass of Hardys Stamp Chardonnay Semillon pairs wonderfully well with light and delicate food such as raw and lightly cooked crab and prawns, steamed or grilled fish, steamed dim sums.

It also pairs well with dishes that have sweet or sour flavors. The Stamp range of wines are famous for being fruit forwarded and what is a summers without fruit right!

Chablis by Bouchard Aine and Fils

Originating from the Chablis wine district in the Burgundy region in France and from the house of Bouchard Aine and Fils Chablis is an elegant wine with notes of fresh hazelnuts and a touch of peach.

Very fresh on the pallet and well balanced, Chablis has a dense structure and a long-lasting mineral finish and pairs well with oysters, white meat dishes, chicken in a cream sauce, shellfish, crayfish and goat cheese. Only sniffing on Chablis is a refreshing experience.

Seco Rose

A slightly sweet and very fruity bubbly with attractive aromas of nectarine, water melon, soft white fruits and deep scented white flowers, Sula’s Seco Rosé is a lively, light, refreshing wine, perfect as an aperitif in the summer. It pairs beautifully with spicy food a wide variety of Indian cuisine! It is a great wine for cocktails too. ValenSeco a mix of Sula Seco Rose and RAW Pressery’s cold pressed Orange juice is a must try and a perfect drink for a summer afternoon!

Trapiche’sVineyards Pinot Grigio

Straw yellow in color, Trapiche Pinot Grigio exhibits intense citrus aromas. The wine is fruity and mild on the palate with balanced acidity that highlights its freshness. Elegant with a mineral finish, the Trapiche Vineyards Pinot Grigio pairs well with Mediterranean food, white cold meats and seafood and makes for an excellent wine choice this summer!

Mud House Sauvignon Blanc

New Zealand’s Sauvignon Blanc has taken the world by storm and Mud House is a glorious example. Herbaceous and green with heady tropical fruit notes of zesty grapefruit and fresh guava, the Mud House Sauvignon Blanc is crisp and refreshing and pairs well with green vegetables such as asparagus, zucchini, fresh peas, artichokes, fresh herbs, a variety of cheese especially goat cheese and delicate fish such as sole.

Zinfandel Rose

T Sula Zinfandel Rose is ripe, fresh and fruity with abundant aromas of cranberries and fresh strawberries. A versatile ‘anytime’ wine, Sula’s Zinfandel Rose is great for picnics, parties and hot summer days. If one wants to eat light and stay fresh all summer, Sula’s Zinfandel Rose is a great choice! Zinfandel Rose goes well with salads, light dishes, barbeque/tandoori preparations and goat cheese. It is a pretty wine – and only the color of the wine when in a glass can put a smile on one’s face!