The weather is delightful; the sun shines, the sky is blue, and it is rather warm outside, which translates to the perfect ambience for a lovely picnic. In addition to thinking about what food you wish to partake in while on a picnic, the beverages are just as important. Picnics can be quite elegant and luxurious and there are a few wines that fit both the season and the occasion perfectly.

Riesling wines primarily have a fruity aroma from fruits such as apricots, nectarines, pears, and apples. Other aromas that can be found in this wine are jasmine, honeycomb, and lime peel. Sweet on the palate to balance its acidity, Riesling wine can be dry as well as sweet. A dry Riesling from Alsace or a German Pradikat sweet Riesling are ideal for a picnic, particularly if served cold.

This wine pairs perfectly with meat, cheese, and vegetables. You can prepare a delicious spread of pork, duck, chicken, bacon, shrimp and crab, alongside sweet, roasted vegetables like eggplant, squash, and carrot. A delicately flavoured cheese made from cow’s milk is also a good pairing with dried fruit.

Muscadet

White, light, and dry, Muscadet wine is perfect to pair with food due to its acidity and citrus taste. There is an added saline-like taste to the wine, as many Muscadet vineyards are located near the sea. This wine is typically aged on the lees, or ‘sur lie’, in which the wines are aged on suspended dead yeast particles. When aged through this method, Muscadet has a yeasty flavour and a creamy texture that increases the longer the wine is aged on the lees.

Turnip, parsnip, spring onions, and summer squash are great vegetables to pair with salmon, oysters, mussels, pan-roasted chicken, scallops, and shrimp while drinking this wine. Gruyere, parmesan, gouda, and brie are excellent choices on bread with a glass of Muscadet.

Grüner Veltliner

Grown primarily in Austria, Grüner Veltliner is a striking alternative to Sauvignon Blanc. The main flavours of Grüner Veltliner wine are lime and green pepper, with undertones of grapefruit and lemon. Its typical acidity confers it a unique taste, with a tingly yet delicate aftertaste. Although having a touch of sweetness, Grüner Veltliner is a mainly dry wine. Its taste profile showcases oaky aromas of brazil nut and wax pepper, acquired through the ageing process.

Grilled sardines, turkey, anchovies, chicken, trout, haddock, and other white coloured fish with broccoli, potatoes, asparagus, and other greens are fantastic meals to enjoy with Grüner Veltliner. Goat and cow’s milk cheese when creamy and soft, are also ideal to eat with a glass of this wine.

Sancerre

This famous French Sauvignon Blanc from the Loire Valley has a hint of flinty-smoke flavours, a ripe gooseberry aroma, and acidity. Due to the semi-continental climate and to the limestone hills in which the vineyards are located, this wine has a rich texture. The common tasting notes in this wine are that it is earthy with citrus, oak and melon. Sancerre has different levels of complexity when it comes to flavour, with regions such as Bué, Chavignol, and Ménétréol producing some of the most excellent wines.

When it comes to pairing Sancerre with food, you will find that roast chicken, salmon, grilled trout, and roast turkey are great choices. Avocado, asparagus, cucumber, and other greens are perfect to accompany your meal. With cheeses, you can not go wrong with brie, camembert, mascarpone, gruyere, or goat’s cheese.

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