Though Riesling is the most familiar wine of the country, it's time to start paying attention to German red wine, like Dornfelder. It is a wine reminiscent of a refreshing Beaujolais: very light and gulpable, especially served slightly cool. I wondered if it had, like many Beaujolais, gone through a process called carbonic maceration. I'm not in the mindset to give you a chemistry lesson (nor do I have the skill set), so I'll just say it's a process that amps up the fruitiness and tamps down the harshness. This would be such an ideal summer red; it would kill with burgers and dogs. So start exploring the world of German wines beyond Riesling. Get a bottle of Dornfelder and fire up the grill!
I enjoyed the 2009 Villa Wolf Dornfelder, which was a sample bottle given to a friend who was in a sharing mood:
