Yes indeed, with summer now at its height, temperatures soaring, the beach and the boat and the backyard calling, I’m ready for some summer wines right now! Time to put away those heavy reds for a while. The great thing about summer wine is that you don’t have to get too serious and you don’t have to spend too much money. That also means you’re free to take more chances.

There are hundreds of great summer wines - red, white and rosé – to try from all around the world, but right now I’d like to suggest three wines from The Better Half in Marlborough, New Zealand.

First of all there’s The Better Half Sauvignon Blanc. Summer and New Zealand Sauvignon Blanc is a natural, and this is a perfect example. Pale lime in color and with aromas of lime, melon and guava with herbal notes, the wine is bright, crisp and clean with good balance and a persistent finish. In short – all that you could desire from a Marlborough Sauvy Blanc. Pair with seafood, chicken and salad dishes.

For red wine lovers there’s The Better Half Pinot Noir. Pinot Noir is one of the best red wines for summer enjoyment – lighter, less tannic and yet still showing some complexity. This one is sourced from Marlborough’s Wairau and Awatere Valleys and offers bright violet aromas with some earth and spice tones, flavors of red cherries and raspberries, smooth tannins and a silky mouthfeel. Serve with picnic meats, roast beef and fresh mushrooms.

Finally, for those of you who allow summertime to make you more adventurous and daring, there’s The Better Half Gewurztraminer. I can’t beat the winemaker’s own notes on this little beauty of a wine:  “An intensely perfumed nose with characters of white rose and lychee. Palate – Luscious rich floral characters and flavors of baked quince mingle with underlying notes of ginger and mango with a lingering hint of orange blossom.” If that doesn’t make you want to rush out and buy a bottle I don’t know what will. Pair this with Asian and Asian fusion dishes.

Where does the name ‘The Better Half’ come from? Well first of all, winemaker George Elworthy uses his extensive knowledge and experience of winemaking in New Zealand and Italy to make sure he gets his grapes from ‘the better half’ of each vineyard. But ‘The Better Half’ is also a puckish play on words, as Elworthy is also the husband of Jules Taylor, once winemaker for the well-known Kim Crawford wines and now for her own eponymous label which has been so successful in our ABC stores and elsewhere.

So don’t forget to take some chances this summer. And don’t forget to reach for ‘The Better Half’. Cheers!

Bill Stobbs, ABC Fine Wine & Spirits Wine Supervisor

Follow me on Twitter @abcwinebills