AS SUMMER FADES I’m feeling wistful. I should’ve spent more time at the beach, said yes early and often, gotten so deliciously sun-drunk that I forgot to reapply SPF. But instead of wallowing in my regret (we have all winter for that), I’ve been seeking out island wines, which instantly transport me back to the season’s peak.
Island wines, a catchall term describing wines from southern European island locales (think Sardinia, Sicily, and Santorini, among others), are full of freshness and verve, perfect for early-fall porch hangs, when the warmth still lingers in the air. While every island has its own terroir, climate, and indigenous grapes, there are a few key elements that help explain the defining features of this easy, breezy wine style.
Quick geology lesson: Islands are typically…