Craft & Cork >> Winemaking

There’s something about summer that makes fruit taste better — sweeter, juicier, more alive. Pair it with the right glass of wine, and you’ve got one of the season’s simplest pleasures. If you’re crafting your own wine at home, RJS Craft Winemaking offers styles to match nearly anything growing on the vine or tree right now.

Strawberries → Rosé or White Zinfandel
Strawberries want a wine with bright acidity and a little sweetness to match their natural juiciness. A dry Rosé keeps things light and crisp, while White Zinfandel leans sweeter for a more dessert-like pairing. Try either with strawberries and whipped cream, or a strawberry-basil salad.

Peaches → Viognier or Gewürztraminer
Peaches are floral and perfumed, so they pair naturally with aromatic whites. Viognier’s apricot and stone-fruit notes mirror a ripe peach almost exactly, while Gewürztraminer adds a spicy lift that’s great with grilled peaches.

Watermelon → Pinot Grigio or Sauvignon Blanc
Watermelon is all about refreshment, so keep the wine just as light. Pinot Grigio is simple and clean; Sauvignon Blanc adds a herbal, citrusy edge that’s especially good with watermelon and feta.

Cherries → Pinot Noir or Sangiovese
Cherries call for a light red, and Pinot Noir’s bright red-fruit character is almost a perfect echo. Sangiovese works well too, especially with darker cherries or a cherry clafoutis.

Citrus → Riesling or Muscat
Lemon, orange, and grapefruit need a wine with enough sweetness to balance their tang. Riesling’s natural sweetness and acidity make it a classic match, while Muscat’s floral, grapey character is lovely with orange or grapefruit desserts.

Berries (blackberry, blueberry, raspberry) → Merlot or Malbec
Dark berries need a red with some body. Merlot is soft and plummy, a comfortable match for a mixed berry tart. Malbec is bolder and a little spicier, nice with blackberries or a berry compote.

Mango & Pineapple → Chenin Blanc or Bella Bianco
Tropical fruit needs a white with richness to keep up. Chenin Blanc’s honeyed notes work well with mango salsa, while the fuller-bodied Bella Bianco suits richer pineapple desserts.

A couple of quick tips: match the wine’s sweetness to the fruit’s, serve whites and rosés well chilled, and when you’re not sure what to pour, reach for a Rosé — it’s the most flexible summer fruit pairing there is.

Explore RJS’s full range of wine styles to find your next perfect pairing.