The sun is shining and the wine is flowing in Irving this summer! With several new restaurants and local favorites, Irving has great options to get your summer sippin’ on. For the warm weather, some wines are definitely more appealing and refreshing than others. Here is a guide to some of the best summer wines and where to find them in Irving!
Chardonnay
Chardonnay (my favorite white wine) is rich, buttery, and creamy with fruity flavors. Typical notes include yellow apple, pineapple, starfruit and vanilla. This wine is slightly acidic and is usually aged in oak barrels. Classic food pairings include creamy cheeses, fish, shellfish, and lightly seasoned chicken and pork. Try to stay away from overly-spiced and spicy dishes when sipping chardonnay and remember to not keep the bottle too cold; it should only need about 15-20 minutes in the refrigerator before pouring. For dining out in Irving, order a glass of chardonnay and pair it with the Smoked Fried Chicken with creamy coleslaw and buttered cornbread from The Ranch at Las Colinas or the Shrimp & Shroom Linguine from Fish City Grill made with shiitake and cremini mushrooms, with a light parmesan cream sauce.
Sauvignon Blanc
Sauvignon Blanc is the ultimate summer wine. Crisp, juicy, and highly acidic, this popular white wine is a great option for those not wanting a drink too sweet. Best served chilled, you should try to pour at 50–55°F. With notes of honeydew, grapefruit, white peach and passionfruit, this tropical flavored wine is often paired with herbed chicken, tofu, fish and cheeses like feta or chèvre. A great place to enjoy Sauvignon Blanc is at one of Irving’s local restaurants featuring Thai or Vietnamese cuisine. Try the Kung Pao Chicken from Thirsty Lion Gastropub featuring spicy soy-ginger glaze, peanuts, Szechuan chilies, sambal chili sauce, sticky rice and soy-glazed Thai vegetables. For a refreshing summer dish like spring rolls, chicken pho and shrimp vermicelli, visit Pho Empire and order to-go to enjoy with a bottle of sauvignon blanc at home.
Pinot Grigio
Pinot Grigio, sometimes called pinot gris, is a great option for summertime. Refreshing and zesty, you will discover notes of lime, green apple, lemon, pear, honeysuckle and almond. This dry, acidic wine is served iced cold at 45º F and pairs perfectly with spiced pork or chicken, raw fish like ceviche, sushi or poke, and fresh vegetables and salads that are not afraid to flavor things up with parsley, mint, tarragon, thyme or fennel. Cork & Pig Tavern serves my favorite pork chop in Irving. It's a wood-grilled double-cut full chop with a bourbon glaze and seasonal vegetables on the side. Start with the ahi tuna ponzu salad for the ultimate pinot grigio meal. For the best summertime patio dining experience, head to Mexican Sugar and have a glass of pinot grigio in one hand and a bite of their insanely refreshing shrimp and scallop aguachile in the other, featuring shrimp, scallops, vine ripened tomato, cucumber, avocado and green apple aguachile.
Riesling
Fried chicken and wine? There's no better summer combo! Go for an aromatic riesling which features notes of nectarine, apricot, honeycrisp apple and pear. Not only does crispy chicken pair great with riesling, but also bacon, shrimp, roasted vegetables, and high heat spices like cayenne pepper, ginger, clove and curry. For some amazing fried chicken in Irving, visit LAW Restaurant, Whiskey Cake, Mama's Daughters' Diner, or Red Hot & Blue. Other great food pairings for riesling come from Amaravati Indian Restaurant and their tasty Shrimp 65 with fried shrimp cooked and tossed in spiced yogurt sauce with curry leaves, or the drunken noodles from Sapp Sapp and get extra spicy if you are feeling bold! .
Rosé
Rosé is the official wine of summer and good times all around. If there's an open rosé, then a backyard BBQ, girls night out or day at the lake is nearby. While any red wine grape can be used to make rosé, you will mostly see it produced from grenache, tempranillo, or pinot noir. Typical flavor profiles of rosé are strawberry, melon, rose petal and citrus. Being the favorite drink of summer, you can expect rosé to pair greatly with warm weather foods like chicken salad, salmon, feta cheese and BBQ grilled vegetable skewers. Head to some of the great patios in Irving and try some perfectly complimentary rosé wine snacks and dishes. For the ultimate picnic, head to Chicken Salad Chick, choose your favorite salad flavors (hint: they are all delicious, try them all) and grab a bottle or two of rosé at Total Wine & More Las Colinas to share with friends and family.
Pinot Noir
While white wines may dominate the summer wine list, red wine lovers still have a stake in this season. Light bodied with slight floral notes, pinot noir is the perfect red wine for summertime. Notes of cherry, raspberry, mushroom, clove and hibiscus fill your senses with each sip to a smooth finish. Pair your pinot noir with duck, chicken, pork and mushrooms. For a delicious pork dish in Irving, head to Gloria’s Latin Cuisine for their lechon asado with grilled pork tenderloin, chile ancho sauce, plantain, yuca, Spanish rice and black bean soup. For several duck options, Fortune House is the perfect stop to enjoy a bottle of pinot noir at home with the best take-out like tea-smoked duck or marinated duck with chilled brown sauce.
