When do the dog days of summer begin? It is only mid-July but it is hot. In Texas we have a least two more months of full on summer temps. As the mercury continues to rise we have to find ways to cool down. Packing a suitcase and heading to a cooler destination is a great way to beat the summer heat. The beach, a cruise, the mountains, all offer alternative summer fun. If you cannot get away then perhaps a trip to a local pool, lake, or a short drive to a weekend of camping will do the trick. Any of these choices will surely include delicious lighter summer meals to keep cool, and of course there must be wine!

It is fun to cookout and BBQ in the summer with hearty red wines to match these heavy meals. But as it continues to get hotter summer is also a time for lighter fare paired with crisp and refreshing white wines to stay cool. Although summer is a great time to discover these six wines, they are sure to please year round.

2016 Lindeman’s Bin 85 Pinot Grigio South Eastern Australia ($5): pale lemon with green hues; medium- aromas of fresh picked citrus, white stone fruit, white floral notes, and grassy notes; quite flavorful on the palate, racy high acidity creates a quenching mouth pucker, long tart finish, quite refreshing on a hot summer day;  click here to locate this wine.

2016 Herdade do Esporão V Verdelho Vino Regional Alentejo Portugal ($9): pale lemon; pronounced aromas of fresh picked orchard and stone fruit, blooming jasmine, grapefruit, lemon, pineapple; the invitation of the nose to take a sip is followed by the pleasure on the palate, zesty and light with layers of flavors, medium+ acidity, long tart finish; lovely and refreshing, ideal to pair with seafood, shellfish, or summer salads; click here to locate this wine.

2016 Left Coast Cellars The Orchards Pinot Gris Willamette Valley USA ($15): pale lemon; light aromas of citrus and orchard fruits, white floral notes, touch of minerality and white pepper; rich and textural wine, medium body, slightly creamy texture on the palate with medium+ acidity and a long slightly spicy finish; delicious to pair with summer sushi and Thai food as well as for porch sipping;  click here to locate this wine.

2016 Vivanco Viura Blanco Rioja DOCa Spain ($12.99): 100% Tempranillo Blanco; pale lemon; medium- aromas of grapefruit, lemon zest, pineapple, lime juice, white peaches, soft white floral notes, crushed stone; zesty on the palate with more tart citrus zest and crushed stone minerality; medium acidity with a medium finish, refreshing and unique; an ideal shellfish pairing; click here to locate this wine.

2014 Smith Madrone Riesling Spring Mountain District USA ($30): medium- gold; pronounced aromas of crushed stone, petrol, white stone fruit, citrus and jasmine; dry racy palate with medium+ mouthwatering acidity, elegant with medium body, great minerality/crushed stone on the palate, long finish; this wine is truly fantastic, makes a great summer pairing with sushi, seafood, salads, poultry, shellfish, frittata, pizza, etc; What can’t be paired with Riesling? Possibly pickles, don’t drink with pickles.  click here to locate this wine.

2016 Left Coast Cellars White Pinot Noir Willamette Valley USA ($21): the palest of pale pink; medium+ aromas of a fresh picked bouquet of gardenias, sweet alyssum, and lemon blossoms, with  ripe white peaches, lemon curd, lime zest, raspberry and orange creme; slightly off dry on the palate with medium+ acidity, crisp and widely refreshing, this wine begs to cool your palate while paired with some of summer’s spicier cuisines, or just to sip by the pool;  click here to locate this wine.

*Disclaimer: media sample wines, all thoughts and opinions are my own.

As the heat of the summer continues to escalate these wines will definitely offer relief.