How to Choose Wines for Your Al Fresco Dining Party?

When planning a perfect party in the fresh air, those al fresco dinners involve much more than great food. For the ambience and experience for all your friends and family, we think selecting the right wines to set off both the food and the mood, is equally important.

The right wines can enhance the flavours of your meal, but more than that, they can complement the feeling of being out there in the fresh air, broadening the smiles of your guests.

We’ll take you through what you need to consider including thoughts on food pairings, serving suggestions and how to make the most of your surroundings.

Choosing Wines That Work for Everyone

The reason that it’s so hard to cater for everyone’s tastes when selecting the right wines for your dinner party is that it’s nearly impossible! Sommeliers train for years to get this right, so no one is expecting you to get it spot on every time. There are, however, some handy tips to help you out in times of need.

Firstly, if budget and setting allow, don’t be afraid to offer a variety of wine styles. This can include a crisp, light white wine like Pinot Grigio or Sauvignon Blanc, or even a versatile, dry rosé with balanced acidity that can appeal to both red and white wine drinkers. Red wine enthusiasts can look for crowd-pleasing medium-bodied options like Pinot Noir or Merlot.

Great Wines for a Lunchtime Get-Together

When it comes to lunchtime wines, the first thing to consider is that it’s lunchtime! Select lower alcohol, lighter-bodied, and refreshing options that will still leave you and your guests at least semi-useful for the rest of the day!

If you want to set a celebratory tone, why not start with a sparkling wine? Prosecco is made using a specific method (called the tank method) that captures the fresh, fruity profile of the grapes that make it. It’s a great option for lunch times or as an afternoon aperitivo.

For white wine lovers

One of the reasons behind the success of grapes like Sauvignon Blanc or Pinot Grigio is that their wines have vibrant acidity and fresh, citrusy notes. They’re light, refreshing, and pair beautifully with salads, seafood, and light appetizers, perfect lunch wines.

Rosé, the essential

Never far from a lunch table is a good bottle of dry rosé. Again, its bright fruit flavours and refreshing finish make it a versatile, food-friendly wine that suits a variety of dishes from meat to vegetables, light to heavy. On top of that is the evocative feeling of a glass of rosé. It screams summertime and sitting on a terrace overlooking the Mediterranean. That experience element is so important to set the tone of the day.

For red wine lovers

Opt for a lighter-bodied option like Pinot Noir or Beaujolais. These wines have lower tannin levels and a fresh, fruity profile that won’t overpower the meal. They can also be served slightly chilled in warmer weather, to enhance their refreshing qualities.

Find out how to pick a suitable and chillable red wine from our blog post: Why is Chilled Red Wine a Trend Now?

Great Wines for Candlelight Dinners on the Terrace

For romantic or atmospheric evenings on the terrace, it’s as much about creating that magical ambience. To that end, you probably want to start with luxury bubbles such as Champagne or English Sparkling Wine. Excellent either on their own, with canapés, or even starters, these wines will ensure the perfect atmosphere to begin the evening.

To continue the luxury theme, go for a rich, creamy textured white wine to match the indulgence of dishes such as lobster or creamy pasta. Chardonnay or Viognier will fit the bill perfectly, adding freshness and balance to your dishes.

For red wines, luxury means texture. We suggest a velvety Pinot Noir or Cabernet Franc for those early summer evenings. These wines offer a silky mouthfeel and complex flavours that pair beautifully with grilled meats, roasted vegetables, and savoury dishes.

Great Wines for a Barbeque

When you’ve got the troops coming over for a barbeque, the wine pairing revolves around finding options that enhance the smoky, savoury flavours of grilled dishes, whilst refreshing the palate.

A zesty Sauvignon Blanc or a fruity Riesling can complement spicy marinades and tangy barbecue sauces, its citrus-like acidity can also help to cut through rich flavours. A bottle or two of chilled rosé offers bright acidity and fruity notes, but also the versatility to pair excellently with a range of grilled vegetables, chicken, and seafood.

And finally, for red wine lovers, a spicy Zinfandel or a robust Shiraz are perfect for hearty meats like ribs, burgers, and steaks. Their fruit-driven backbone again refreshes the palate ready to send your guests up for seconds or even thirds!

Great Wines for Picnics

The watchwords for picnics are versatility and portability.

The wines need to be versatile as you’re unlikely to have the space in the bags or the arm strength to carry a lot of different wine options to the park or beach. Again, we can head back to refreshing and fruity friends like Sauvignon Blanc or Pinot Grigio, perfect companions for salads, cheeses, and light sandwiches. Dry rosés are wonderful as they can pair with pretty much any picnic staple you can think of, from charcuterie to grilled chicken. For red wines, again it’s worth going light-bodied and softer options such as Pinot Noir or Beaujolais for that lighter, fresher, fruity profile.

And finally, the portability. Picnics are where the likes of Bag in the Box or cans come into their own. Not only are they easier to transport and more recyclable, but you can also open them without a corkscrew or bottle opener. Just don’t forget the glasses!

This Blog post is written by Mike Turner
Freelance wine writer, presenter and judge

Mike is a regular contributor for The Buyer magazine and is a certified educator and ambassador for Bordeaux, Rioja, Ribera Del Duero, Barolo and Barbaresco, running trade and consumer events across the UK from his base in the East Midlands.

Next in our food pairings series: Wine Pairing Tips For Your Easter Feast