Wine has always been a part of Andrew McCreery’s life.
“I grew up in a formal household and every Sunday we would have a roast or leg of lamb with the wine to accompany it,” McCreery says.
McCreery, who co-owns d’Vine Gourmet (dVineGourmet.com) and Boutique on Boston with his wife Denise, experienced his first grape harvest in Mainz Germany in 1985 when he was stationed there while in the Army.
“It was two unforgettable days of immersion into German wine culture,” he says.
After graduating from the University of Arizona with degrees in history and political science, McCreery began working in wine and spirit sales in 1996.
“Also that year, I passed the exam and became a certified sommelier from the Master Court of Sommeliers.”
When it comes to summer wines, McCreery says they are defined as easy to drink, crisp, affordable, and chillable—and that they go well with any appetizer or food fresh off the grill.
Here are some wines McCreery feels would be ideal choices this summer.
Squealing Pig Rosé
As McCreery notes, the classic summer wine is rosé made in the style that comes from Provence in France, bursting with fresh fruits and crisp acidity.
“My current favorite is the Squealing Pig Rosé from Sonoma. This wine has flavors of ripe strawberry, raspberry, and pink grapefruit. Normally, I avoid grapefruit flavors, but this is so very yum, yum, yummy,” he says. “This rosé is getting older, so we got a great deal that we have passed on to our customers and it still is extremely fresh and bright.”
Joseph Mellot Sincérité Sauvignon Blanc
Sauvignon blanc is one of the “classic grapes” that have found a home in almost every wine growing region across the world, McCreery says, adding that for him, the Loire River of France does this wine the best.
“We carry the Joseph Mellot Sincérité Sauvignon Blanc, which has off-the-chart flavors without the off-the-chart prices,” he says. “European wines are very controlled by the government and pricing is often reflective on lines on a map and not by the inherent quality of the wine. My goal in buying is not to find the most expensive wine, but to find someone who shares a fence with them. This is still a stunning wine but is 40% less in price.”
Pinot Noir from Sokol Blosser Winery in Oregon
“Just because it is summer doesn’t mean you have to give up red wine,” McCreery says, adding that he is especially fond of the pinots from Oregon’s Willamette Valley. “Sokol Blosser Winery is family-owned and -operated, founded in 1971.The winery has a second label called Evolution that it started in 1998. Its pinots are off the chart, yet still affordable,” he says.
The secret for enjoying pinot noir in the summer, McCreery notes, is to serve it at the right temperature—about 60 degrees.
"'Room temperature’ in Chandler is a bit too high for serving red wine," he says. "Just place it in the refrigerator for about 10 to 15 minutes prior. For me, the difference is huge, and it really smooths out the finish.”
Merkin Vineyards Chupacabra Red Blend
For an Arizona wine, McCreery goes with an old favorite, Merkin Vineyards Chupacabra Red Blend.
“For me, this is a great ‘Goldilocks’ wine—not too big, not too small, and with a flavor profile that has a wide appeal,” McCreery says.
The grapes are grown at the Buhl Memorial Vineyard in the Willcox American Viticultural Area and is vinified in Cottonwood.
“The vineyard is at 4,300 feet in elevation, which places it higher than 99% of vineyards in America," McCreery says. "Flavors of violet, soft plum, and delightful rhubarb with an ultra-smooth finish make this a crowd favorite.”