I was asked this by a friend of mine last week as she was preparing for a picnic the following week. Here’s the easy answer— Rosé or Riesling. Now for the long answer.

For the most part, red wines are out. They’re just way too big. A Grenache or a California Pinot might be ok, but they are kind of the asterisk to the rule due to their overall lightness in nature. But hands down, I prefer a Riesling for a picnic. Here’s why.

At a picnic, and especially when the weather heats up, you want a refreshing wine, not one that makes you tipsy topsy after the first glass. Overall, Rieslings, especially German Rieslings, have an incredibly low alcohol content. Some can hit the 8-9% range, compared with some California Cabs hitting 14.8-15%! The sweetness or dryness of the wine will go with summertime picnic faire, from peaches to cole slaw.

Just like the world of Pinot spans from intense fruit to barnyard dirt, so does the Rieslings. Thankfully we have the German Government to help us out in determining the properties of the Riesling. The Germans disclose nearly everything about the wine on the label. Not just where it was sourced and how much alcohol is in it, but also the dryness, the time of harvest and much much more. The downside? It’s in German. The upside? It’s in German. Ok. So I’m kidding on the upside part (unless you took German in high school / college). This is where your wine buyer / wine master at your local wine merchant will help you out.

A sommelier / wine buyer will know all about Rieslings. Ask to see if they have any from the Alsace region (It was a French territory at one time, but the German’s decided to take it back). And any land that is even remotely close to French terrior (pronounced terr – waoir) is just begging for grapes (see Rioja, Spain for further proof).

If you are up wine tasting in Dry Creek, give Gopfrich Winery a call. Aside from producing Zins and Cabs, he imports Rieslings directly from Germany and is happy to have you taste the varying Rieslings. He is also invaluable in giving you a brief crash course on the labeling of the wine (make note, go there before drinking heftily).

Bring the Rosé to the picnic

To all those men out there, get over yourselves and buy a Rosé. You can still stay clear of the silly named “Fumé Blanc”, but at least get a handle on Rosés. They are hot these days and more and more wineries are producing them. For a picnic, I’d recommend a dryer rosé. The sweeter rosés have a bit too much residual sugar to work well with barbecued / potluck style food. Plus, you’ll impress your friends by letting them know it’s a dry wine and “You have to try this”.

Rosés generally range from $15 – $20, so you won’t have to break the bank for a wonderful outing. Once again, I’d consult your local wine buyer and see what he has to offer.

Below are a few wines I’d personally recommend:

Gopfrich Rosé & Rieslings (2007 Rosé Review)

Scheid Rosé

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Haydn Adams is the author of the book, Wineries Beyond Napa Valley: Dry Creek and Alexander Valley, an insider’s tasting guide to the hidden gems region. He also contributes to the Beyond Napa Valley Wine Blog, writes for vinvillage.com, and can be found roaming the hills of Sonoma County looking for the next hidden gems. You can contact him at haydn@beyondnapavalley.com