Summer Sipping: What to Drink With the Dishes of the Season

By Alex V, Vino Zero Co-Founder & Sommelier

Here comes the sun!

Summer food just has a different energy to it...

Everything becomes lighter, brighter, fresher. Long lunches turn into evening dinners outside. Tables fill with salads, grilled vegetables, seafood, herbs, citrus, and simple dishes built around good ingredients.

And interestingly, it’s also one of the best times of year to explore non-alcoholic wine, in my humble opinion.

Not because it’s a “replacement” for wine, but because summer drinking often lends itself naturally to lighter, more refreshing styles — wines that complement food and the occasion without necessarily needing the weight or warmth of alcohol (and let's be fair, alcohol and hot sunshine really don't mix).

Over the past few years, one of the biggest shifts we’ve seen at Vino Zero is how people are incorporating alcohol-free wine into everyday moments. Midweek dinners. Outdoor lunches. BBQs. Long afternoons in the sun.

Not necessarily drinking less wine — just drinking differently.

And summer is probably the perfect example of that.

A crisp alcohol-free Sauvignon Blanc alongside a citrusy salad or grilled prawns can feel every bit as refreshing and complete as its 'traditional' counterpart. Sparkling wines work beautifully with salty snacks, seafood, fresh cheeses and lighter starters. Even chilled alcohol-free reds are starting to find their place at summer tables.

The key, as always with wine pairing, is balance.

Fresh, vibrant dishes tend to work best with wines that have:

• bright acidity
• citrus or orchard fruit character
• freshness and lift
• lighter body and texture

Which is why styles like Sauvignon Blanc, sparkling rosé, Blanc de Blancs and lighter Pinot Noir-based wines tend to shine during warmer summer months - where lightness and freshness is what we're looking for!

A few of our favourite summer pairings right now:

Moderato Colombard NV <0.5% with goat’s cheese salad, grilled asparagus or seafood linguine.

DIVIN Sparkling Blush Rosé 0.0% with strawberries, burrata, charcuterie or summer picnics.

Studio Italiano Pinot Grigio 0.0% with grilled chicken, fresh herbs and Mediterranean-style dishes.

Zeronimo Vintage Zweigelt <0.5% with baked mushroom, grilled/charred courgettes or 

And one pairing that often surprises people (but is one of my personal favourites):

A lightly chilled alcohol-free Pinot Noir alongside grilled vegetables, mushroom dishes or even BBQ fresh salmon - honestly, if you haven't tried Pinot Noir with grilled salmon, this is a game changer!

Serving temperature matters too — arguably even more so with non-alcoholic wine.

In summer, don’t be afraid to serve whites and sparkling wines properly cold, especially outdoors (they will warm up and evolve in the glass in warmer temperatures). And lighter reds, such as Zweigelt or Pinot Noir,  can often benefit from 20–30 minutes in the fridge before serving.

All of the wines on our website include suggested serving temperatures, wine glass shapes/sizes and handy food-pairing advice - to help you make the most of what you choose.

One of the things we love most about summer wine drinking is that it tends to feel more relaxed. Less formal. Less rule-driven.

And honestly, that’s often the best way to approach non-alcoholic wine too.

Experiment a little! Try different pairings. Open a bottle on a Tuesday lunch. Pour sparkling wine simply because the weather is good. Throw a few ice cubes (and a couple of jalapeño slices) in your Sauvignon Blanc.

As I always say, wine is very personal...do it your way.

Wine has always been about enhancing moments, food and connection — and that doesn’t disappear just because the alcohol does.

Cheers to more sunshine, balmy days and beautiful sunsets...with real connection and great wine!

And, as always, I'm here to answer any wine or food questions you have - reach out whenever you need me.

Alex

Psst...did you know we now sell the ever-popular DIVIN Sauvignon Blanc and Pinot Noir in cute mini (250ml) bottles?! Perfect for those looking to try something new, for themselves or friends/family, with their next Vino Zero order.