OK, so it’s summer and everyone is drinking white wine or rosé. We get it, and that’s wonderful. Summer is definitely white wine/rosé time. But some of us just have red wine in our veins, and no matter how nice the whites, we need our reds. With the variety of grapes out there in the world, it’s easy enough to find some that are deliciously drinkable even in the heat of the height of summer. Pinot Noir is one of them – especially local Pinot made from fruit grown in Columbia County, NY! Here are two that fit the bill. Both are made with fruit from a vineyard just south of Olana (Frederick Church’s house that’s now a museum). Ben and Kimberly Peacock at Tousey Winery (in Clermont) maintain the vineyard, which also yields Chardonnay. Carlo and I buy some of the fruit from them to make the Pinot under our Hudson-Chatham label (in Ghent). So, two Pinots made from fruit from a single vineyard and crafted by two different wineries. Pinot typically produces a lighter-bodied wine with bright cherry notes on the finish, which is what makes it so lovely for summertime. It pairs well with everything from salad to barbeque’d shrimp to steak. Try these Pinots side-by-side for a really fun and educational evening.
Hudson-Chatham Winery Pinot Noir – $26.95/bottle. Tousey Winery Pinot Noir – $26/bottle.