"Great Seasonal Sippers"  

   As the weather gets warmer we start to move outside, fire up the grill and pop open bottles of vino. Friends and neighbors start to come out of the woodwork, so having a back up of wine and briquettes always is handy. I love to entertain this time of the year and feeling the sun on my face while sipping a cool glass of Sauvignon Blanc is heaven to me. Also turning your friends on to a new recipe or a fun new bottle is something I enjoy. There's so many great wines coming from all over the globe that it's quite easy to find a new favorite to share. This newsletter will include five wines that will be superb for sippin and grillin. I tend to gravitate towards wines with mouthwatering acidity and ones that are lighter in body. Sauvignon Blanc and Pinot Noir are great go to wines because of this. Now if its steak off the Barbie we can go for a more robust and full bodied wine. Cabs, Malbec, Syrah and Big Red Zins all can fit the bill. Just remember that when it starts to heat up outside we need to give even the heaviest wines a chill. An easy rule of thumb is 45 degrees for sparklers, 50 for whites and 60 for reds. Getting your wine to that right temperature will make it more enjoyable and refreshing. Keeping a bucket, ice and water handy is all you'll need. Here are some favorites of mine.

1)    Overstone Sauvignon Blanc 2010, Marlborough New Zealand - This wine is a personnel favorite of mine for summertime entertaining. New Zealand Sauvignon Blanc for ten bucks is always exciting. The wine has tons of flavor and great acidity and all the attributes of a classic New Zealand SB. Aromas and flavors of passionfruit, grapefruit, gooseberry and bell pepper fill the glass and explode on the palate. Crisp, clean and super refreshing. Pair with grilled shrimp skewers, grilled scallops, Tilapia or just for sippin.

2)    Domaine du Nizon Chardonnay 2010, France - If you're looking for a crisp Chardonnay without the oak and butter here you go. This all estate wine from the South of France over delivers and will be excellent with a wide array of foods. It's light enough to go with grilled seafood or will work with chicken or as a refreshing sipper. Aromas and flavors of peach, apple, pears and a hint of spice. Very well balanced and enjoyable for most white wine drinkers. Pair with grilled Halibut, chicken salad or Brie cheese. 

3)     A by Acacia Pinot Noir 2009, California - Acacia is a pioneer in California Pinot Noir and has put out this fabulous Pinot Noir for a fabulous price. Super silky with all the attributes of a wine double  the cost. The wine has aromas of violets, cherries and spice. Succulent flavors of black cherry, raspberry and more cherries coat the palate with a perfect balance of acidity. This is defiantly a case buy at this price. Pair with stuffed portabella mushrooms, cedar plank Salmon or grilled chicken. 

4)    Black Stallion Cabernet Sauvignon 2008, Napa Valley California - This winery only produces about 3800 cases of wine a vintage. Usually a small handcrafted winery from Napa commands a small fortune for their cabs, but this winery is the exception. Super complex and concentrated with heady aromatics of plum, blackberry and vanilla. Flavors of black cherry, spice and chocolate complete the package in a nice long finish. A real steal for 20 bucks. Pair with grilled Porterhouse, Filet Mignon with blue cheese or grilled Tri-Tip. 

5)    Innocent Bystander Moscato 2010, Victoria Australia - If you enjoy Moscato you can't pass this one up. This is one of the best ones I've tasted in the last year and it's from Australia not Italy. Gorgeous pale Salmon pink color that radiates out of the glass. Aromas of watermelon, peach, roses and apples float into the air like a sweet perfume. Flavors of strawberries and raspberries fill the palate with a slight fizz and a nice sweetness. Pair with fresh fruits, cheese cake or as desert itself. If you like it sweet you can also just use it as a sipper.

Hope you find one you enjoy!

Sommelier Jeff Anderson