Sizzling summer sips in red, white and bubbles have arrived at Whole Foods Market®
Taste and tweet on June 26
Â
As temperatures soar and rhythms slow, Whole Foods Market raises a glass to its crisp, playful, delicious Top 10 Summer Wines that are perfect for poolside frolicking or sharing under a blanket of stars on a warm summer night.
Whole Foods Market’s hand-selected summer wines take shoppers on a tasty trip through some of the most prolific wine regions of the world with nothing but a wine glass in hand and a lasting finish as a souvenir. Wine lovers can sip and savor the balanced white peach and thyme flavors of a Spanish verdejo or adventure to the Rhône River Valley with a red whose aromatic black fruit and spicy bouquet pairs perfectly with blue cheese burgers on the grill.
“It is summertime, and Whole Foods Market is making the living a whole lot easier with our line-up of wines that make for a great time without breaking the bank,†said Doug Bell, global beverage buyer for Whole Foods Market. “There is something for every person and occasion – whether it’s paired with shellfish for beach picnic or mixed into sangria for a backyard barbecue.â€
Whole Foods Market invites wine enthusiasts 21 and older to discuss these and other favorite summer wines at the next Twitter Tastings on June 26. Go towholefoodsmarket.com/wine for more information and use the hashtag #WFMwine to follow the conversation. The online tasting schedule is:
 Thursday, June 26, 8-9 p.m. EST:
- Frey Agriculturist Organic Blanc, California
- Les Hauts de Bel Air Sauvignon Blanc, France
- Querciabella Mongrana, Italy
- Santa Rita Reserva Cabernet Sauvignon, Chile
The company’s Top 12 Summer Wines include:
Innovac!ón Chenin-Chardonnay, Argentina – With aromas of white flowers, apple and papaya, the flavors move from Bosc pear to applesauce and spice. The finish is clean and well-balanced.
- Recipe pairing:Â Grilled Turkey Burgers with Gouda
- Cheese pairing: Cellars at Jasper Hill Harbison
Frey Agriculturist Organic Blanc, California – This white blend from Frey Vineyards, the first certified organic winery in the U.S., has tropical fruit flavors with a note of sweet grass and whisper of riesling and orange blossom on the finish.
- Recipe pairing:Â Vietnamese Grilled Pork Chops
- Cheese pairing: Cowgirl Creamery Mt. Tam
El Perro Verde Rueda, Spain – With a bouquet of grapefruit on the nose, white peach, thyme and subtle savory notes move to a long finish that is nicely balanced between tanginess and fruit.
- Recipe pairing:Â Chilled Melon Ball Soup with Basil
- Cheese pairing: Mitica Mahon
Les Hauts de Bel Air Sauvignon Blanc, France –
- Recipe pairing:Â Spicy Celery Salad
- Cheese pairing: Sevre et Belle Bucherondin
This Entre-Deux-Mers Bordeaux blanc is made by the Sichel family and has aromas of grapefruit zest, rosemary then green pepper and delicate yellow peach and citrus flavors that lead to a balanced mineral-tinged finish.
Louis Latour Grand Ardèche Chardonnay, France – In the bouquet, there is toasty oak, fresh green apple and pear, and there is a depth of richness and balance in the smooth, ripe finish.
- Recipe pairing:Â Roasted Heirloom Tomato Butter with Thyme
- Cheese pairing: Vermont Creamery Bonne Bouche
Soleil des Garrigues Ventoux, France – With black fruit, spices and sweet cherry on the nose, this red blend has minerality and sweet anise flavors with soft tannins gently rounding out the finish.
- Recipe pairing:Â Grilled Chicken with Fresh Herbs
- Cheese pairing: Mons St. Soleil
Montevina Barbera, California – This juicy, easy drinking red is a terrific food wine. With fresh acid and low tannins, it displays aromas of cherry and Amador spice and flavors of dark cherry and toasty oak.
- Recipe pairing:Â Lamb Sliders with Celery-Yogurt Sauce
- Cheese pairing: Taleggio Ca De Ambros
Sanford Flor de Campo Pinot Noir, California – An initial burst of bright red raspberries and bing cherries moves to hints of cola, black pepper and earthiness. Toasty oak influences the balanced, medium finish.
- Recipe pairing:Â Grilled Salmon with Sweet Corn and Avocado Salad
- Cheese pairing: Uniekaas Robusto
Querciabella Mongrana, Italy –From the largest area of certified organic-grape-growing land in Italy, this red blend has a complexity of dark fruit and sweet anise. A lovely, rich butteriness backs up notes of sour cherry and cocoa.
- Recipe pairing:Â Spinach and Ricotta Salata Grilled Pizza
- Cheese pairing: Seaside Cheddar
Santa Rita Reserva Cabernet Sauvignon, Chile – This Maipo Valley red has forward herbal notes of green parsley mixed with aromas of ripe black fruit. Food friendly and well-balanced, intense flavors of black pepper and ripe plum deepen the lingering finish.
- Recipe pairing:Â Flank Steak Fajitas with Mango Chimichurri
- Cheese pairing: Roquefort
Mas Picosa Capçanes Monstant 2013, Spain – This Priorat red has spice cake and candied dark berry aromas and a jammy fruit counterpointed by a zesty minerality. The long finish is rounded out by soft tannins.
- Recipe pairing:Â Black Bean Tostadas with Pickled Veggies
- Cheese pairing: Catamount Hills Cheddar
Deccolio Prosecco, Italy – This perfect bellini sparkler has lemon-lime, tangerine, tropical fruit and honey on the nose. With fruit-forward flavors of orange peel, peach and apricot, this refreshing wine is medium-bodied on the palate.
- Recipe pairing:Â Sonoma Tofu Salad
- Cheese pairing: Cypress Grove Humboldt Fog