Taste of the Tropics

“Aruba, Jamaica, ooh I wanna’ take ya’. Bermuda, Bahama, come on pretty mama. Key Largo, Montego. Baby, why don’t we go?”

By Jerry Hammaker Owner, Certain Aged Ventures www.CertainAged.com

Thehot days and nights of summer have many people thinking of swinging in a hammock, a Piña Colada, or a Bahama Mama in hand. Tropical heat and tropical flavors just go together.

Mojitos, Bay Breezes, Hurricanes, and so many more mixed drinks satisfy on a hot day. Why not wine? A nice, chilled wine can be a fully refreshing taste of summer. Tropical fruit flavors abound in certain wines, especially white and rosé wines. Aromas and flavors of pineapple, banana, mango, passion fruit, and even lychee fruit, along with summery flavors of citrus, strawberry, and raspberry, are an ultimate pairing for hot weather. We aren’t talking about adding fruit or artificial flavors to wine. Volatile thiols aside, typical aromas and flavors of grapes come forward in a glass of wine when grown in certain climates.

Tropical aromas and flavors are often found in wine from grapes grown in hotter climates. Take unoaked Chardonnay as an example. Chardonnay, made from cool-climate grapes, typically has more citrus and green apple flavors. When warmer weather Chardonnay grapes are used, the wine picks up more peach and melon flavors. But, if in hotter climates, Chardonnay grapes are made into wine, you can expect more pineapple, banana, and peach flavors. This same type of varying flavor profile can be found in most wine grapes, depending upon the climate, where the vineyards are located, and the weather of a particular vintage. Similar tropical aromas and flavors can also be found in grapes left to hang a bit longer on the vine. The grapes will develop a higher sugar profile which changes the characteristics of the wine, akin to mellowing out the flavor profile from green apple to something like ripe pineapple. This change can especially be noticed in lateharvest and dessert-style wines.

Take a trip to your favorite wine shop or even the wine aisle of your grocery store. Simply think about what sections of that shop or aisle represent climates that are typically hotter. Then, go to those sections and look at some labels. You will probably see Chardonnay from Santa Barbara, California; Italy; Spain; and South Africa. Sauvignon Blanc with tropical notes can be found from New Zealand, Spain, and Chile. Greece’s famous Assyrtiko (“Ah-seer-teeko”) wine is a nice example, especially from Santorini.

France, but great examples can be found in warmer climates like Sicily and Tuscany in Italy, South Africa, and different areas of the United States, such as Virginia and California. Gewurztraminer typically has aromas and flavors of lychee fruit and can develop other tropical characteristics, especially when grown in areas like Australia, Argentina, and specific areas of California. Torrontes from Argentina is another lychee fruit-forward wine with citrus and peach flavors. Try a rosé wine from Provence, France, for flavors of macerated strawberry, summer melon, and rosé. Select one of these wines, take it home, and pop it in the fridge. When you are ready, pop the cork, and enjoy the tropical aromas and flavors!

Whether you are relaxing in a lawn chair, with your feet in a plastic baby pool, or lounging in a hammock under swaying palm trees, make the perfect pairing of tropical tastes of wine with the tropical heat.

“We’ll get there fast, and then we’ll take it slow. That’s where we wanna’ go….”

Italy grows hundreds of different wine grapes. Look for Vermentino from Tuscany and Sardinia. Also, look for Soave which is made from the Garganega grape. Chenin Blanc from South Africa can be made in either a crisp and dry style or an oak-aged creamy style. Northeast Spain brings us Rioja Blanco with its age classifications of Crianza (1 year), Reserva (2 years), and Gran Reserva (4 years and over). Viognier is most commonly found in Northern Rhone,