What wines are you drinking this summer?  If you are in the Southeast, you are experiencing this heat wave with me. ( At first I thought it was just hot flashes, until I remembered that I was way too young for those!!)  June has rolled in with temperatures in excess of 90 degrees, and there is not much relief in sight.  So, do you switch to beer or gin and tonics???  Absolutely not!  (Well, only sometimes…)  The true wine lovers must pioneer on, finding new ways to stay cool.  Here are a few of my favorites:

Rose:  preferably French (even better if it’s from Provence), always dry, always chilled.  Remember, this is not your mama’s white Zin!  The best Rose’s should have aromas of fresh strawberries and rose petals.

Albarino:  My favorite right now is the Nora Albarino.  A dry, crisp wine from the Rias Baixas region of Spain, this wine has crisp lemon and green notes, followed by a zippy, vibrant flavor.  (Hey, how often can you use zippy in a sentence?)  This wine also tastes pretty damn good with Sprite and a lemon slice, although I won’t admit to drinking wine spritzers in public.  Note: This is only acceptable if you are near a body of water.

Red wines are still in play for summer, but they must be chilled to the correct temp.  I like my reds around 55 degrees.  Pop them in the frig or a wine chiller for a few minutes, pour and drink.  If you unintentionally over chill the wine, wrap your hands around the glass and swirl.  This fool-proof tactic will warm the wine – it is the most common method unless you have a good friend that is willing to be a bottle warmer. (Where did Robin go???)

Okay, so I want replies.  What are you drinking this summer?  Where are you drinking? And what time should I show up???  Cheers!