Osler's Razor

Summer's here, and in Texas June is the best month for a simple meal out on the deck or porch. I'm no wine expert, but I do have a few favorites I thought I might share. The two wines described below are good, not expensive, and pair very well with typical summer foods like fish and hamburgers. American wines are usually identified by the grape they are made from (ie, Chardonnay or Pinot Noir). French wines, however, are generally identified by the area or village they come from (for example, Champagne is an actually geographic region).

Great with Burgers: Beaujolais

Beaujolais is from Burgundy, and is made with the Gamay grape. It is a light-bodied fruity red and is often served slightly chilled. It's almost like Sangria at times, though less sweet. Every November a big hoo-ha is made about the "Beaujolais Nouveau" which is just-bottled wine rushed all over the world for a first taste of the vintage, but what you want is regular beaujolais (not labelled "Nouveau"), which is available at the larger H.E.B. stores for about $8-$10. There are three levels of perceived quality. Simple Beaujolais, then Beaujolais-Villages (from certain parts of the region), and finally Beaujolais from a specific town in the northern part of the region, such as "Morgan."

Great with Seafood: Vouvray

Vouvray is from the Loire valley in France, and is made from the Chenin Blanc grape. It is a slightly sweet white wine which makes for an interesting change from many American wines. It can be quite pleasant without food, but is another good picnic wine, or for the porch dinner. You can pick it up for about $8 at the larger H.E.B. stores. One caveat: Vouvray can vary quite a bit, so find a year and producer you like and stick to it.