Summer Wine

Summer really is the new holiday season, don't you think? Between invitations to barbecues, pool parties, and weekend getaways our social calendars fill up quickly. Still, picking the perfect hostess gift or wine for dinner is a bit more difficult this time of year. Its hot outside, its hard to pair wine with vegetables; there are a myriad of reasons why we find it hard to select the right bottle. At the suggestion of Easy and Elegant, and in the interest of getting us all to the beach a little bit sooner, I'm adding my suggestions.

For friends who have invited you to their weekend house, consider bringing a bottle of sparkling wine. Veuve Clicquot and Tattinger are both lovely. For some American sparkling options, Argyle, Schramsberg, and Gloria Ferrar all produce great wine at a variety of price points. And, should some be left over, they taste great in mimosas the next morning. If, however, your friends have generously lent you the use of their house, you might want to be a touch more extravagant. Krug, Dom Peringon, or Salon would all insure that you receive a similar invitation next year.

If you have been invited to a casual BYOB barbecue, Zinfandel or Rose' are great choices. Zinfandel will stand up to most any grilled meat and Rose' will pair with white meat, fish, and the extreme heat of summer. Ridge produces a variety of complex and delicious Zinfandels from some of the oldest vines around. French rose' from Tavel and Domaine Ott won't disappoint. If you'd like an American version, Robert Sinskey's Vin Gris of Pinot Noir is light, refreshing, and organic.

For something a bit more exotic, consider a Malbec from Argentina. If ever a wine were tailor made for steak, this is it. Best of all, it's a relative bargain allowing you to buy a great bottle for a great price. Benegas Lynch and Doña Paula produce good wine at all prices.

Dinner parties in the summer might be indoors or al fresco. It goes without saying that you shouldn't assume your hostess will open the bottle of wine that you've brought as she might have already planned her wine pairings carefully. However, summer nights are long and it's easy to linger in conversation with your friends and, perhaps, open another bottle.

If you suspect, vegetables or salad will be the star of the evening, bring along a Savingnon Blanc or White Bordeaux. They will hold up to most any vegetable, even the notoriously difficult asparagus. If you know your hosts are Chardonnay drinkers, why not bring a White Burgundy? It's comprised of the Chardonnay grape, but is made in a style that's a bit more subtle. If the wine is intended as a gift, a White Burgunday from a top producer such as Chassagne-Montrachet will age gracefully, an unusual attribute for white wine.

For a pool party, bring something light and refreshing. While daquaris and other mixed drinks are welcome distractions, they certainly aren't the sort of thing you should drink all day. A low alcohol wine like Vihno Verde will insure footage of your rendition of the chicken dance doesn't end up on YouTube. Vihno Verde is a Portuguese white that is ever so slightly fizzy. The alcohol usually weighs in at around 8% and, best of all, it's almost always an utter bargain. Bring a few extra bottles for the neighbors' sake as well.

If you've been asked to bring dessert for a progressive dinner, why not bring a Sauternes? It's a gorgeous dessert wine and pairs well with summer desserts like fruit tarts, key lime pie, cobbler, and cheesecake. I assure you everyone will remember the last course.

Regardless of the occasion, if you can't decide what to bring, any good wine store should be able to assist you. Simply find the shopkeeper and repeat the following, "I'd like a bottle of wine for ____ and my budget is $___."

Happy Summer!