^TM

For those lucky enough to live in parts of the country where the temperatures are warm and the sun shines brightly year-round, dining al fresco is 12-month pleasure. The rest of us, though, have to wait for spring to plan a picnic.

Picnicking with flair means finding the perfect setting, choosing the appropriate menu and often, matching it with the right wine. For many people, that final choice is the most difficult one.

Choosing a picnic wine doesn't have to be a problem. Generally, lighter and less expensive wines are a good choice for picnics. They seem to go well with everything from popcorn and cheese to grilled meats and desserts and they respond better to outdoor handling than a 15-year-old bottle from the cellar will.

Chilled Gamay Beaujolais is a good picnic wine. A light-bodied red, it's usually quite refreshing and under $10 a bottle. The White Zinfandel trend just won't die. And for good reason, it's an especially versatile wine and goes well with most picnic foods. Sangria, made from Spanish red wine and citrus fruits is another good summertime beverage. Both White Zinfandel and Sangria also are quite moderately priced. Sparkling wines are another good match with picnic foods. Many come in handy four-packs of small bottles, serving one to two people.

Picnic goers can feel safe tucking just about any white wine into their basket. Chenin blanc, with its fruity flavor and hint of sweetness, goes especially well with white meats (even fried chicken), fresh fruits and mild cheeses. Sauvignon blanc (or fume blanc) is a crisper wine especially good with seafood, fish and salads. Chardonnay is more complex and elegant. It is usually dry and suitable to serve with many different kinds of foods, especially poultry and seafood. Good picnic reds, in addition to Gamay Beaujolais, are Burgundy, Beaujolais, Chianti and (red) Zinfandel. To select a wine for outdoor drinking, apply the same standards you do when you select a wine for any meal. Be willing to try new varieties, but drink what you like. When planning wines, just as when planning menus, the best choice is your choice.

Back to TravelLady Magazine