Summer pairings: The best wines to pair with your fresh dishes

When summer arrives, our eating habits change as well. We look for lighter dishes, recipes that can be prepared in advance, and, above all, options that let us sit down to eat without too much hassle. At this time of year, a cold dinner with cheeses and cured meats, a generous serving of gazpacho, a hearty salad, or a barbecue with friends become true classics.

And this raises an interesting question: which wine should you choose to pair with summer dishes?

At Bodegas Corral, we’d like to suggest some simple and appealing pairings with our wines. Because you don’t have to save wine for special occasions. It can also be the perfect companion for a casual dinner on the patio.

Gazpacho, salads, and fresh dishes: the land of white

Let’s start with one of the stars of the summer: gazpacho. Tomatoes, cucumbers, bell peppers, olive oil, and just the right amount of vinegar come together in a refreshing combination that calls for a wine capable of complementing it without overpowering it.

Don Jacobo Blanco is a particularly good fit here—a refreshing choice to serve well chilled and pair with Russian salad, tomato salads, fish, seafood, or vegetable dishes. It’s the kind of wine you can keep on hand in the fridge for when it’s time for an aperitif.

If we want to take the dining experience up a notch, we can opt for Los Corrales de Moncalvillo Maturana Blanca 2022. This native Rioja variety adds character and allows us to pair it with slightly more elaborate dishes: salads with smoked fish, tartare, seafood, mild cheeses, or even a generous serving of anchovies.

Melon with ham: a classic that never goes out of style

Some dishes need no introduction. Melon with ham is one of them. Sweet, salty, fresh, and quick to prepare, it has all the ingredients to take center stage at a summer meal.

To pair with it, our Don Jacobo Blanco is once again a great choice. Its freshness helps balance the contrast between the sweetness of the melon and the salty flavor of the ham.

And if the table includes other appetizers, such as shrimp, canned goods, pickles, or a selection of soft cheeses, the pairing will be even more complete.

A cold dinner of cheeses and cured meats

Summer nights have their own unwritten menu: a cheese board, ham, pork loin, chorizo, salchichón, crusty bread, and a few snacks. We don’t need much more to put together a dinner with friends.

Here we can switch gears and move on to reds. Don Jacobo Crianza 2023 is a versatile choice to pair with cured meats, semi-aged cheeses, and more robust cold dishes. It’s a wine designed for those moments when dinner starts with “we’re just going to have a little something” and ends with the platter completely empty.

If you’re looking for more body, Altos de Corral Single Estate Crianza 2021 opens up a wider range of culinary possibilities. Its profile is particularly interesting when paired with aged cheeses, cold cuts, and dishes with more pronounced flavors.

Barbecue: When Summer gets serious

And now we come to the barbecue. It may be very hot out, but that’s never stopped us from lighting the coals.

Burgers, chops, skewers, ribs, grilled vegetables, or marinated meats call for full-bodied red wines. Don Jacobo Crianza 2023 pairs especially well with casual barbecues, while Altos de Corral Single Estate Crianza 2021 is a good choice when the menu gets more intense.

For those who want to venture off the beaten path, we recommend Los Corrales de Moncalvillo Maturana Tinta 2022. This wine is made from a traditional Rioja grape variety that brings personality to the table and is perfect for grilled meats, Iberian cured meats, and dishes with intense flavors.

Summer is also something to savor slowly

In the end, the best summer pairing doesn’t have to be complicated. Gazpacho, a salad, melon with ham, a cheese platter, or a barbecue can all set the perfect stage for enjoying a good wine.

All we need to do is choose the right bottle, serve it at the right temperature, and, above all, be in good company.

Because summer has its own rules. Meals are eaten later, after-dinner conversations drag on, and there always seems to be room for one more glass.