A picnic is the ideal opportunity to enjoy nature, good food, and, of course, perfectly selected wine. However, choosing wine for a picnic requires some planning—from the temperature and portability of the wine to food pairings and adapting to the outdoor ambiance. Here’s a small guide to selecting wines that will enhance your outing in nature.
Cooling wine requires some planning
Picnics usually take place outdoors, where you don’t have full control over the wine temperature as you would in a restaurant or at home. If you opt for white wines, it’s easiest to bring an ice bucket with you and buy some ice along the way—it’s possible to find bags of ice at larger gas stations in Serbia, allowing you to serve wine professionally. For warm days, white wines and rosés are the best choices for a picnic. Cooling bags are also a good option.
Sauvignon Blanc, Pinot Grigio, and Chenin Blanc are light and fresh wines with herbal, citrus, and tropical notes that perfectly match the picnic atmosphere. Dry rosés, like those from Provence, can withstand slightly higher serving temperatures, and you can also bring light red wines such as Pinot Noir or Gamay.
What food to choose?
Food at a picnic is usually simple and varied—sandwiches, cheeses, fruits, cold cuts, and light desserts. All of this will pair well with the refreshing wines you have chosen for the picnic. Soft cheeses like Brie and Camembert will go nicely with Chardonnay and light Pinot Noir, while Cheddar and Gouda will accompany dry Riesling. Prosciutto, salami, and chorizo sausages pair well with higher acidity wines with fruity notes—like Sangiovese and dry rosé, for example. Fresh strawberries and melon, excellent companions for spring and summer picnics, are also a good choice. It’s important to avoid heavy, tannic wines like Cabernet Sauvignon or Shiraz, as they can be too intense for light picnic meals and warm days.
Choose wines with lower alcohol content
At a picnic, you’ll likely spend several hours in the sun, so it’s wise to select wines with lower alcohol content (below 13%) to avoid quick fatigue. Light and refreshing sparkling wines won’t weigh you down, allowing you to enjoy more glasses without overindulging.
Sparkling wines for celebrations under the open sky
Nothing says “outdoor celebration” like a glass of sparkling wine. Champagne, if you want luxury, will give the picnic an air of elegance, and these wines are extremely versatile. They can be served with a wide range of snacks and desserts, and the bubbles will provide refreshment on hot days. It’s crucial to keep these wines cold, and we truly recommend giving them the treatment they deserve with ice, but if the picnic location isn’t too far, the bottle will hold its temperature longer than you think—just chill it well before departure and avoid exposing it to the sun before or during serving.
Tailor your selection to the ambiance and company
A picnic can be a romantic outing for two, a family day, or a gathering with friends, so the wine should reflect the occasion and the tastes of those present. For a romantic picnic, choose an elegant wine like French rosé or sparkling Lambrusco. For larger groups, take a few different bottles—say, one white, one red, and one sparkling.
Choosing wine for a picnic is an art of balancing practicality, taste, and atmosphere. The key is simplicity—choose light, refreshing wines that are easy to drink and pair well with the food you bring. With a little planning, your glass of wine served under the sun will become the star of the day, beautifully blending hedonism and the natural environment.
