The warm weather has finally arrived in our corner of Florida and that means it’s time for seasonal food and drink favorites. From fresh produce to crisp wine, the spring season makes way for some of our favorite indulgences. The Marker 32 team put together a list of wonderful food and wine pairings to guide you into spring.

Contrary to popular belief, it’s perfectly acceptable to sip a glass of red wine on a hot night. We’ll walk you through the best seasonal wines to pair with some of your favorite entrees.

Our Favorite Food and Wine Pairings this Season

Rosé

It’s finally time to pop a bottle of everyone’s favorite summer drink! Rosé is the perfect wine to transition you and your friends into the hot weather. Look for a bottle that’s a light, translucent pink opposed to a ruby red. Some of the best options come from Provence and the south of France.

To avoid overpowering your food, pair a glass of Rosé with a dish full of flavor. Ahi tuna, pork chops and oysters are all matches made in heaven for this wine. One of our customer favorites is a glass of crisp Rosé and Marker 32’s Tuna Poke with uni, mango, ginger aioli, uni, sweet soy and crispy gyoza.

Dry Riesling

Riesling boasts a unique flavor profile that you either love or can simply live without. It’s a crisp spring vino choice that pairs beautifully with so many seasonal dishes. Living near the coast, we love pairing a chilled glass with fresh fish.

The mild levels of alcohol and bright flavors make Riesling the perfect sidekick to raw oysters, smoked fish dip or a flaky white fish filet. Our Local Catch Hoppin’ John with black-eyed peas, basil pesto rice and tomato compote is a great main dish to pair with a glass of Riesling.

Light Pinot Noir

The longer a Pinot Noir ages, the more pungent it becomes. Find a newer bottle from New Zealand or California to sip this spring season. When you pop into Marker 32, we have the perfect Pinot selections to pair with our starters and entrees.

It’s important to choose heavier, bold foods to pair with a spring red like Pinot Noir. Seared duck, salmon, lamb and berries are great options. The Marker 32 Grilled Lamb Chops with roasted marble potatoes, baby carrots, charred cippolini onions and a whole grain mustard demi-glace couldn’t be more perfect to accompany a glass or two of Pinot Noir.

Enjoy the View and Seasonal Food Found Only at Marker 32

There’s just nothing better than eating fresh fish and sipping seasonal wine while looking out at the Intracoastal. Where can you do that in Jacksonville, exactly? Marker 32, of course! Come on by to try out our spring menu favorites. Please be sure to make a reservation. We’ll see you soon!