Top 10 Picnic Wines: Perfect Reds to Share by the River
Did you know that International Picnic Day was on Sunday, May 18, 2023?
Isn’t it incredible? Everyone thinks about it in order to make you spend two pennies. But, with this excuse, we can console ourselves with a snack on the grass by the river and a couple of bottles of wine to share with friends, especially in this time of skyrocketing inflation, war, and devastation.
Yes, despite the fact that they have instituted Picnic Day, we now have an excuse to open a few more bottles…
Today we’ll talk about light and fragrant red wines that pair well with sandwiches, stuffed focaccias, sandwiches, and other take-away items. No one is offended if you want to make a meatball sandwich, pulled pork, or parmesan.
But which wines are ideal for a picnic?
Of course, Pinot Noir is the undisputed king; that’s to be expected. It possesses all of the qualities required to top this list: elegance, noble trait, clear and sharp fruit, delicate tannins, and an endless suggestive ethereal charge.
But let’s go a step further.
You can splurge on delicate, soft, acidic, and floral wines. Concentrate on a sharp profile and a lightning-fast snap: acidity, yes; tannins, no. Dare to experiment with some non-traditional grape varieties, such as Raboso, Ploussard, Refosco, Gaglioppo, Sangiovese, Rossese, Grenache, and even the legendary Cinsault, known as Ottavianello in Italy.
There are hundreds of them, but since you’ll be eating a light lunch that’s not exactly succulent and fat, avoid rubbing the gums of those with steely tannins. Leave the big grilled calibers like Sagrantino di Montefalco, Cabernet Sauvignon, and Tannat at home this time. #notanninsnocry
1. Les Perdus Clos Prioundo
Let’s start with a wine that should always be in your refrigerator. A juicy and cheeky red with a slim but energetic body. A traditional Aude blend based on Grenache and Cinsault. It relies on an evocative balance of arrogance and softness. Suitable for almost any takeaway. It will enhance a thousand dishes, from Indian spicy to fried fish. Well worth the 19 euros. 14 degrees Fahrenheit, chilled.
2. Cataldo Calabretta
Emblem wine of Calabria, Cirò Rosso Classico Superiore 2019. Gaglioppo discovers a unique interpretation of subtle elegance in this delicate version full of sighs and ethereal scents. Berries, light spices, plenty of juice, very light tannins, and exceptional drinkability. Finally, a drizzle of balsamic vinegar. Aromas of earth, sea, and rosemary. A magnificent wine for cleanliness and precision. The lowest possible price is 15 euros.
3. Montauto Estate Pinot Noir 2019
This Tenuta Montauto Pinot is an atypical Pinot, thin and sharp, but quite fat and warm for the category; all of its southern origins, from a warm country, are felt. It lacks finesse, but thanks to its strong acidity, it lends itself to a wide range of combinations, from a tuna sandwich to a focaccia filled with an onion omelette.
4. Renudo Tomassetti winery, Marche Sangiovese
How should a picnic wine taste? Not simple, not trivial, but certainly friendly! And Sangiovese Tomassetti is a very good Marche nectar in the same way. Sunny, lighthearted, precise, clean, sharp, but approachable. However, it is tasty and has good depth despite the lack of frills or forcing. Rivers are smooth and full of pulp.
5. Cascina Tavijn La Bandita, Barbera d’Asti
A clean Barbera with a rural charm. Plenty of pulp, all fruit, flowers, and drinkability. In its pursuit of spartan pleasantness, this wine is straightforward and brutal. Instead of looking for frills, eliminate everything that isn’t absolutely necessary. Peasant wine devoid of arabesques. The true cost is 17 euros. Also goes well with paella.
6. Note di Rosso 2021, Alessandro Viola
Are you looking for a peppery red wine with panache and understated elegance? It’s right there! This Syrah, Nero d’Avola, and Nerello Mascalese blend defies, indeed sweeps away, all preconceptions about Sicilian wines and debunks the stereotype of fruity bombs full of alcohol to provide us with a gustatory panorama of rare finesse. To finish, a slender body, pepper and spices, balsamic touch, myrtle, and almost a touch of salt. Everything was packaged with care and precision, with no smudging. Excellent acidity and tannins that are light but lively. A spectacular wine that can be paired with any sandwich in the world. It costs less than 19-20 euros.
7. Rossese Di Dolceacqua Doc Terre Bianche 2020
This magnificent Ligurian wine, a hymn to the saltiness of the woods, combines flowers and sea. Slender frame, austerity, polite elegance, salty drive, concentration, but with a tight and engaging rhythm. Although it is not an all-juice glu glu wine, it has a distinct personality despite being crystal clear and easy to drink. To say the least, 18 euros for a sunny wine.
8. Dolcetto d’Alba 2021, Cascina Fontana
In its fruity and prune charge, this red is immediate and disruptive. It is devoid of make-up, does not waver, and does not scratch, but it is accompanied by a delicate and accommodating sip in which flowers and cherries emerge forcefully. Never before has a wine been so inspired and flawless. Excellent value at 18-19 euros.
9. Trebbiolo Rosso 2021
A Piacenza red wine made to be loved unconditionally. Light, flowing, and fragrant, but with a decidedly Emilian stubbornness. The palate is juicy and appealing, but the tannins are gentle. The nose is a kaleidoscope of earthy and ripe aromas. Alcoholic rhubarb, gentian, and cherries. It doesn’t stop, it has a rhythm and propulsion, it doesn’t indulge in profundity or cerebral moments, but it is entirely focused on the fruity charge. A wine that creates addiction while also providing warmth and peace. Take it and drink it all; it’ll only cost you 14 euros!
10. Biagio Antico Romagna Sangiovese Superiore Doc 2019
On the palate, there is a lot of freshness and sweetness. Flowers and berries everywhere, cheeky but alluring and friendly. When you take a sip, it immediately opens your palate and invites you to drink without hesitation. The course is light and rhythmic, with a delicate elegance and excellent drive. Tannin is very light. 14-15 euros: a more than reasonable price.
