Do you think wines have their own seasons? And, if you do, which do you recommended per season please?
Answer From Expert Roger Bohmrich MW
This is an intriguing idea which is, I suppose, implicit in our thinking about wine. The quick answer is that some drinkers do seem to have seasonal preferences which are reflected in the sales pattern of certain wines.
The most obvious example is rosé, which has long been associated with summer. Is it because rosés are drunk chilled and are seen as simple, refreshing beverages for a hot day? (Yet, so are many whites.) Also, the perception of rosé has changed in the U.S. in recent years; it has become more of a year-around drink. And because the standard has been raised as some makers have been motivated to produce lovely, nuanced rosés, not just poolside tipple.
Sparkling wine, led by Champagne, has been a drink of holidays and celebration. But that too has evolved as many popular and affordable bubblies (think Prosecco) are now enjoyed at any time and in any season. Could we link specific white or red wines with a season? That's hard to do: both colors are consumed all year long. Admittedly, for some a chilled white may be more appealing in hot weather while a "warm" and richly flavored red might take the chill off winter. All in all, isn't it better to drink what we want regardless of season? I would prefer to point people in that direction. Wine has long been constrained by so many do's and don'ts. What do you think?
