With the advent of summer and hotter weather, people who like to sip wine on a patio, pool deck, picnic or simply paired with light snacks usually opt for sparkling wines, roses or maybe lighter whites.

One issue that can complicate buying these chillable wines is whether the wine is going to be dry or sweet. Wines that are too dry may not appeal to those people who want a simple, approachable, slightly sweeter quaff.

People who consume wine regularly and prefer dry wines fear the opposite — that a wine will be too sweet. And the worst of it is that the domestic wine industry often doesn't usually tell potential purchasers how sweet or dry a wine is.

So, although most French sauvignon blancs from the Loire Valley are dry, those from New Zealand tend to be sweeter. Most regular wine consumers know this.

Complicating this is that we all taste sweetness levels differently. Long-time wine drinkers who are used to completely dry wines often say most sauvignon blancs are too sweet.

Although New Zealand sauvignon blancs are typically a bit sweet, they usually have excellent acidity. For people who like that style, the wines tend to taste in the aftertaste. French sauvignon blanc lovers say the same wines are too sweet.

This points up the critical factor that confuses the issue and makes it difficult to discuss. Some wines that are sweet can taste dry if the acid is high enough. And some wines that have no sugar might taste to some people as if they are slightly sweet because of low acidity!

So, whether you consider a wine to be dry or sweet depends on how you perceive sugar and acidity. Which makes writing about wine difficult because I can't know what each reader perceives.

However, one thing is certain: the colder a white or pink wine is served, the more it will taste dry and crisp. And the warmer a white wine is serve served, the softer it will taste.

Another important factor in determining the kind of wine that you will find on a retail shelf is the alcohol level. Alcohol provides an impression of sweetness. The lower the alcohol, the less the sweetness is apparent.

If you find a wine with 12% alcohol, you may be sure that it will be drier than a comparable wine with 14.5% alcohol.

In addition to paying attention to the alcohol, it's also a good idea to look at the vintage. With wine sales as weak as they have been in decades, many older wines from previous vintages are now being discounted.

The 2024 white and pink wines hitting the shelves today are bright and fresh and can be delightful. But I have seen several stores still carrying wines as old as 2020 and 2021. Some may still be fine, but many have lost that youthful magic, freshness and fruit.

One more trick to finding a fresh bottle of wine. If you shop at a supermarket, check the bottles. If you see a layer of dust, it indicates that the wines have been sitting on the shelf under fluorescent lights a little too long and might not be as fresh as you prefer.

Wine of the Week: 2024 Triennes Rose, Mediterranee Indication Geographique Protegee ($18) — The aroma of this fresh and lively floral/citrus-y pink wine is delightful. Although it differs from previous vintages, which were slightly crisper, this version is a little sweeter and best served very cold to enhance its refreshing qualities.

Dan Berger lives in Sonoma County, California, where he publishes "Vintage Experiences," a weekly wine newsletter. Write to him at winenut@gmail.com. To find out more about Dan Berger and read features by other Creators Syndicate writers and cartoonists, visit the Creators Syndicate webpage at www.creators.com.

Photo credit: Myriam Zilles at Unsplash