Best wine for a picnic
A picnic puts different demands on wine than a restaurant table. The wine needs to travel, stay at a reasonable temperature without a fridge, work with a range of food eaten at the same time, and ideally be enjoyable without being precious about it.
Rose is the default
A dry Provence rose is the most reliable picnic wine. It is versatile enough to work with almost any picnic food, it tastes good at a range of temperatures, and it is light enough to drink in quantity without being overwhelming. A Cotes de Provence or a Languedoc rose at 12 to 18 pounds is the sensible choice.
Sparkling wine
Good sparkling wine travels well and works with a wide range of food. The acidity cuts through fat and salt, which makes it particularly good with charcuterie, cheese, and anything fried. A Cremant or a Cava does the same job at a fraction of the Champagne price.
What to avoid
Heavily tannic reds do not work well at picnic temperatures or with the range of food typically eaten. Heavily oaked whites become flabby when they warm up. Save those for the dinner table.
Heading out? Tell Pour what you are bringing and it will suggest the right wine for the occasion.
Planning a picnic? Tell Pour what you are bringing and it will suggest the right wine.
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