Mumbai food: Best wines to sip and savour on a hot summer day

Wine

On a muggy summer's day, the imagery of putting our feet up with a glass of chilled wine to bring heat and anxiety levels down, would top of our wishlist. We invited two sommeliers to tell us what they prefer to sip on in summer, and share tips to make smart chioices with food too.

"It would be ‘Oh so nice' if the solution to getting hot in Mumbai were like the lyrics to the song by Nelly. However, till we get past our prudishness there are a few ways to cool off during the hot summer months. None of us are drinking Chardonnays or Merlots in this May heat with the temperature solely in control of the weather gods," says Nikhil Agarwal, sommelier and founder of All Things Nice.

Aneesh Bhasin

"With air conditioning and fans at homes and hotels, you could be drinking anything. I'd definitely be drinking a lot more white and rose wines simply because they're enjoyed best at about 11 degrees Celsius and are generally lower in alcohol (don't fret you can always sip on more!) You must also indulge in sparkling wines, served even colder than the whites at six degrees.

Nikhil Agarwal

They are incredibly refreshing," he adds.

Aneesh Bhasin, founder, Hipcask (India's first wine app) couldn't agree more. "You can serve the whites and the roses chilled. They are also not as full bodied as the reds which can sometimes get too heavy. The best thing about these wines is that they can be consumed for brunch or dinner and are versatile," says Bhasin. "Pair them with all kinds of cuisines. Avoid too much spice. It might kill the delicate taste of the wine," he adds.

Favourites
Charosa Sauvignon Blanc
Chandon Brut
Grover Zampa Brut Rose
York Chenin Blanc
Sula Reisling
Vallonne Rose
Fratelli M/S - Sauvignon Blanc Chardonnay
- Aneesh Bhasin