Red wines in summer? Absolutely! We know lots of wine lovers enjoy cool and refreshing whites during summer but we’ve got some don’t miss reds that are perfect for the season and the foods that make summer, well…summer. And if these reds (and recipes) linger and end up on your fall table, we promise not to tell.

We’ve chosen our favorite hot-weather reds from among this year’s Summer Top Ten Wines, our selection of top-notch summer wines at easy-to-swallow prices. Ranging from recently popular off-dry reds to classic Bordeaux to Côtes du Rhône, these wines sizzle with summer foods and are all less than a cool $20 per bottle.

And if you’re a devoted white wine drinker, or just want some great new ideas for pairing whites with summer foods, check out our blog on white wine pairings.

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Although we believe most seasons are just right for great pairings of food and wine, summer just seems to offer endless opportunities for matching lighter, refreshing wines with simple, easy-to-prepare foods. With the amazing selection of this year’s Summer Top Ten Wines, it’s easy to find delicious counterparts that complement these top-notch summer wines at easy-to-swallow prices.

Here are some of our favorite summer companions for white wines included in our Summer Top Ten Wines, all less than $20. Stay tuned – we’ll share our summer red wine pairings and recipes on this blog July 28.

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The Summer Top Ten Wines are just perfect for pairing. In fact, they’ve become quite compatible and cozy with an amazing selection of artisan cheeses. So much so, we’re pronouncing this the Summer of Love…for wine and cheese!

We’ve worked with our Global Cheese Buyer Cathy Strange to perfectly match cheeses that are delicious companions to our top-notch summer wines at easy-to-swallow prices. These specially selected Top Ten Summer Wines, all priced under $20, hail from the world’s top wine-producing countries. From alternative whites and recently popular off-dry reds to classic Bordeaux and Côtes du Rhône, these wines are well suited to romance their cheese counterparts from France, England, Spain and the U.S.

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From Boca Raton to Washington DC and across the country to Chicago and Los Angeles, wine-loving tweeters raised their glasses and typed their tweets in harmony to celebrate the Top 10 Summer Wines in last week’s Twitter Tasting.

We traveled the world to find these top-notch wines at easy-to-swallow prices and, judging by the 100 or so wine lovers joining in the Twitter Tasting, tweeters were glad we did! The Top 10 Summer Wines traveled from some of the world’s best wine countries including Greece, Argentina, France, Italy, New Zealand and Spain for a collection of wines that are well suited for sipping at the beach or poolside, paired with grilled foods or other summer favorites, and all are less than $20.

As the corks popped, the tweet parties began at Whole Foods Market stores across the nation while others hosted their own Twitter Tastings in their homes and backyards. In one short hour, we tasted six of these summer-licious wines and the Twitterdom was buzzing with tweet after tweet sharing comments, photos and kudos for the Top 10 Summer Wines.

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This Father’s Day, let dad kick back with a cold one while you cook up some delicious dishes with a secret ingredient: beer! Believe it or not, a cold bubbly beer can do a lot more than just fill a mug. It complements plenty of great dishes and can be used in place of other liquids to add character, depth and that certain little “zesty something.”

When I was growing up, no one in my family drank beer so cooking with it was not ever considered. As I got older, I always thought beer was simply for drinking. You opened the bottle and guzzled it down. It wasn’t until I met my German friend, Chalid, that I realized beer had a greater purpose in life. It had a deeper meaning!

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From graduations to weddings, pool parties or simple family get-togethers, summer is a time to enjoy and celebrate outdoors and in! Look no further than Whole Foods Market for the freshest ideas to make the most of the season.

Simple Appetizers Anywhere

Poolside – Go light and casual with mini wrap sandwiches, shrimp cocktail, guacamole, fruit salsas or fresh fruit and veggie trays.

Garden Party – Go fresh and elegant with crab cakes, empanadas, mini quiches or tarts, cheese straws, goat cheese spreads, tomato crostini or antipasto platters.

BBQ Bash – Go for hot appetizers right off the grill like bacon-wrapped shrimp, chicken wings, tofu satay, quesadillas or stuffed jalapenos.

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Ready to get summer started? So are we! Join us for our next Twitter Tasting featuring the Top 10 Summer Wines. We’re so excited to introduce you to these top-notch wines at easy-to-swallow prices that we’re once again going viral. So let’s get the party started!

You and six of our Top Ten Summer Wines are invited to Whole Foods Market’s summer Twitter Tasting tomorrow, Thursday, June 9. Join us from 7 to 8 pm Central (8 pm Eastern, 6 pm Mountain or 5 pm Pacific) to taste and tweet! We’ll be there to lead these virtual tasting and share stories about these summer-perfect wines. And the best part is we get to see what you think!

Our Twitter Tastings have become hugely popular as we bring together wine lovers from around the country to taste and tweet. Simply pick up one or more of the featured wines and join the fun online or check with local stores for Twitter Tasting events. Follow along with us @WFMWineGuys and #WFMWine. We’ve got a handy tasting notes sheet for you to download and print that includes suggested cheese and food pairings and our own notes on each wine’s characteristics.

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Daydreaming about an exotic vacation this summer? Whether it’s lounging on the sun-drenched coast of southern France, hiking Argentina’s foothills, bungee jumping in New Zealand or diving into the clear, blue waters of Greece, this summer’s Top Ten Wines will take you places.

In fact, no passports are needed as you can enjoy a taste of exotic locales without leaving your own backyard or spending a pretty penny with these top-notch summer wines at easy-to-swallow prices are under $20.

These specially selected and priced wines include something for everyone’s summer enjoyment. “New World” meets “Old World” in this new lineup of summer sippers. From alternative whites and recently popular off-dry reds to classic Bordeaux and Côtes du Rhône wines, the Top Ten Summer Wines are well suited for sipping at the beach or poolside, pairing with grilled foods and other summer favorites, and sparking conversation with friends.

And speaking of tasty conversation, please join us for the Top Ten Summer Wine Twitter Tasting on Thursday, June 9 from 7 – 8 pm CT when we will lead a virtual tasting of six* of the summer wines. Our Twitter Tastings have become hugely popular as we bring together wine lovers from around the country to taste and tweet. Simply pick up one or more of the featured wines and join the fun online or check with local stores for Twitter Tasting events. Follow along with us @WFMWineGuys and #WFMWine.

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Our spring romance with Bordeaux ends within the next two weeks but there’s still time to stock up on these magnificent Old World wines. If you’re tuning in to this French wine affair for the first time, Whole Foods Market is offering a limited supply of select Bordeaux wines from the 2009 vintage, one that wine experts are advocating will be the best in more than 30 years. Each one of our nine featured Bordeaux wines is eminently drinkable now, tastes like a much more expensive wine and can be obtained, while supplies last, at bargain prices.

Bordeaux wines are some of the most refined and sought after wines in the world. This geographic region in southern France has a centuries-old wine producing heritage, and the wines coming out of the area typically exhibit flavors that provide a real sense of place, exuding tastes of the specific vineyards or Chateaux where the grapes are grown. Curious about where Bordeaux is and the mystery of “terroir”? Check out our map of this amazing wine-growing region.

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With spring in the air, romantics and food lovers alike are inspired to look for the perfect match. Since our expertise centers on food and wine, we’ll stick to that kind of matchmaking but be warned, a good wine and food pairing can certainly bring out the passion!

To guide you in this springtime matchmaking, we have secured a limited supply of Bordeaux wines from the sought-after 2009 vintage. Bordeaux wines are some of the finest and most desirable wines in the world and their flavors provide a real sense of place. We’re excited to bring you a selection of these astonishing wines at true bargain prices – under $20, during March and April while supplies last. Discover more about these special wines on our Discover Bordeaux site.

Hand-selected from small, family-owned properties, these Bordeaux wines are not only amazing to drink by themselves but they pair so well with food, especially springtime favorites. We’ve pulled together what we think are the perfect pairing so that you have just what you need to cook up something special with a French flair!

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