Red wines for the hot days

Remember when red wine had to be paired with meat and white wine with fish? We're long past that! Full-bodied white wines are now enjoyed with fatty steaks, as the acidity of the wine contrasts with the meat's fat. Meanwhile, chilled red wines can be enjoyed even in the midst of scorching summer days.

In countries like ours, where it's hot most of the year, more and more light red wines are being produced. These wines are made with a cool approach, considering the final sip. They have less sweetness and heaviness, more spice and minerality, and use local grape varieties.

There are some rules for choosing red wine to drink on hot days, such as low alcohol content, light color, young age, and reduced oak presence. I also tasted a few wines that don't fit these rules but were still great after chilling them. Besides, most of them are priced reasonably.

Winery: Galil Mountain, Red SpringDetails: Galil Mountain Winery, located in Kibbutz Yiron on the Lebanese border, excels in producing accessible wines, both in price and taste, such as the red wine in the Spring series.

Profile: A light and accessible wine with a bright red color, aromas of red cherry, berries, and spices, a soft and velvety texture, and a long and enjoyable finish.

Price: NIS 59.

Pairing: Gourmet salads and cheeses.

Winery: Lotem, ScherzoDetails: Scherzo is a short musical composition with a fast tempo. Scherzo 2021 from Lotem Winery is a light and easy-to-drink wine made from Merlot grapes grown in the Golan Heights.

Profile: The combination of fresh cherry and strawberry aromas with light herbaceousness is aromatic, refreshing, and full of life. The body is medium, the acidity is fresh, and the finish is slightly tannic. Perfect for hot days.

Price: NIS 85.

Pairing: Smoked roast chicken.

Winery: Carmel, Moonlight RedDetails: 'Moonlight Red' is a friendly blend of Cabernet Sauvignon, Shiraz, Marselan, and a bit of Merlot.

Profile: A light red with a deep color and rich aromas of red fruits, with touches of vanilla, chocolate, and mild spice.

Price: NIS 39.

Pairing: Raw fish and pasta.

Winery: Golan Heights, Mount Hermon, MagentaDetails: A blend of Syrah, Tempranillo, Tinta Cao, and Touriga Nacional grapes from the Golan Heights. Light to medium-bodied.

Profile: A tasty and accessible wine with aromas of red and black fruits, combined with herbs, earth, and cocoa. Fun and light.

Price: NIS 39.

Pairing: Margherita pizza with anchovies (because anchovies are life).

Winery: Feldstein, SunDetails: A new wine from Feldstein, named after the Mesopotamian great goddess of light. Bringing the message of summer.

Profile: A blend of Grenache, Syrah, and Argaman grapes, fermented in whole clusters and aged in concrete tanks and clay amphoras. A red wine that should be drunk chilled, with scents of flowers and ripe blueberries, and a refreshing, crisp, and acidic drinking experience.

Price: NIS 130.

Pairing: Grilled seafood or raw fish.

Winery: Teperberg, INSPIRE IntegritasDetails: An intriguing blend of Carignan, Mourvèdre, Grenache, and Syrah. Medium-bodied, rich in fresh red fruitiness and floral notes combined with earthy and spicy aromas.

Profile: The texture is smooth, the acidity balanced. A great wine for a summer evening, provided it is slightly chilled.

Price: NIS 75.

Pairing: Fish or meat carpaccio, butter, and fine bread.

Winery: Recanati, Yonatan RedDetails: A blend of Cabernet Sauvignon and Shiraz that underwent fermentation in stainless steel tanks to preserve fruit freshness and spent time in contact with French oak barrels.

Profile: Hypnotic purple color, aromas of black plum and cherry. A full-bodied and rich wine, with rounded tannins and balanced acidity at the finish.

Price: NIS 45.

Pairing: Grilled meat and fries.