It’s that time again: When we exchange our bathing suits and summer clothes for long sleeves and sweaters. The kids go back to school, the sun sets earlier each day, and we return to the hectic schedules that leave us too busy and too tired.

But I’m not ready for all that. Not just yet.

Summer produce is still sweet and delicious; lazy days tempt me to start one more book. And I love sitting outside on a summer evening, glass of wine in hand, listening to the breeze flow through the trees. As I sit quietly, I almost feel the slight chill in the air.

September is here.

This will be my first change of seasons in a long time! I lived in South Florida for almost 20 years, and we “enjoyed” summer all year long. My wine selections tended heavily to whites and rosés with a crisp sparkler every now and then. But I still love my reds!

That led me to seek out what I call Chillable Reds: lighter-bodied wines that are perfect in warmer weather. I drink these wines all year long, and I think they’d be perfect for our transition from summer to fall.

What Is a Chillable Red?

Typically, a chillable red is lower in alcohol, with soft tannins, and lots of red fruit character. High acidity – that quality in wine that makes your mouth water when you take a sip – really helps. But even grapes that tend toward full body, alcohol, and tannin can produce lovely wines that fit neatly into this category if they are made via a process called carbonic maceration.

Chillable reds are great with light bites of food or just on their own. They’re an ideal bridge between the lighter sips of summer and the more robust wines we crave when temperatures plummet.

Here are a few of my favorites:

2023 Two Shepherds Wiley Carbonic Carignan

Carignan grapes (organically farmed, dry farmed) were sealed in tank for 10 days, then pressed into stainless tanks to complete fermentation (native yeast, low sulfur).  Wine was then aged 4 months. No fining or filtration.

Gorgeous berry aromas, red cherry on the palate, crisp acid. Chuggable! 10.9% abv. My go-to red wine while I was in Miami. It’s so refreshing and delightful – a smile in a glass.

2021 Partida Creus Tinto Natural

Organically farmed Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon, and Garrut (aka Monastrell) from Catalunya. It’s unfined, unfiltered, with no sulfur added. We tried the TN at Miami’s Tam-Tam, a Vietnamese restaurant known for its natural wine list (and a Bib Gourmand from Michelin!)  11% abv.

Light in body with tart red fruit character (cranberry, raspberry); fresh mint and thyme; crisp minerality. Very well-balanced with moderately high acid and smooth tannins, no oak influence.  (Vivant Selections)

2022 Camuna Cellars “City Glou” Chambourcin

100% Chambourcin, a French hybrid grape known for its ability to tolerate wet weather and cold temperatures: perfect for winemaking in the Outer Coastal Plain of New Jersey. This wine was made by 50% whole cluster fermentation, 50% carbonic maceration. The result is the perfect chillable red: super aromatic (cherries, berries, peony flowers, cinnamon spice) with light body, low tannin, moderate acidity and alcohol. The palate gives pomegranate, rhubarb, cherry, cranberry with a hint of “green.” It reminded me a bit of Chinon from the Loire Valley in France. 12.4% abv.

DRINK COOL AND WITHOUT DELIBERATION

That’s the advice printed on the back label and makes a catchy summer mantra. We paired it with grilled flank steak seasoned with garlic and herbs and a romaine salad with green goddess dressing (amazingly good with the wine, BTW.) One of my top wines of the summer.

2022 Meeker Vineyards “Hooky” 100% Dolcetto Full Carbonic Maceration

Hooky was Meeker’s first attempt at making wine similar to a French Beaujolais Nouveau. Rather than use the Gamay grape, they chose an Italian grape variety, Dolcetto, which is known for its tannins. Grapes went through a full carbonic maceration to minimize the tannic influence in the final wine. The result? A light bodied red wine, with plenty of bright, juicy fruit and a crisp freshness on the palate. I loved this chillable red! Can’t wait for the next release!

2023 Vignobles Hubert Les Vacances de Monsieur Merlot 100% Merlot

Oh, the Hubert wines . . . I could go on for days about how much I enjoy them. My first love was the Bordeaux Blanc Chateau Peybonhomme-les-Tours, a heady blend of Sauvignon Blanc and Semillon. But today I’m talking about another of their wines:

Les Vacances de Monsieur Merlot (the Vacation of Mr. Merlot) is 100% Merlot from certified organic and biodynamic vineyards. What fun this is! Made with native yeasts and separated from the marc after a short winter maturation to minimize tannins; bottled on a fruit day of the biodynamic calendar. Red, plummy fruit, cherry, a hint of fresh dirt on the nose; similar on the palate with low tannins, moderate acidity, and light body. A higher abv (14.5%) than I’d normally recommend for a chillable red, but this wine feels lighter. Excellent for sipping or pairing with simple fare. (Summit Selections)

Enjoy the last days of summer! Cheers to the chillable reds!