Cheers to summer!

Happy Thursday, everyone!

Or should I say Happy Thirsty Thursday, everyone :-) Ever since I finished my cleanse (no grains, dairy, sugar (aside from fruit and the like), or alcohol), I've noticed that my palate is much more discerning when it comes to booze. Not only can I not handle much more than a glass or two of an adult beverage, but I find my tastes yearn towards really flavorful wines and artisanal beers (hipster-alert!). It could be the influence of an utterly fabulous evening spent touring and tasting at Brooklyn Winery, but whatever it is, it makes me feel much better about indulging when I know I'm really drinkin' good stuff :-)


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In the spirit of summer's return with a vengeance (holy humidity, Batman!), and promises of Summer Friday afternoons spent making love to a glass of crisp, cold Rosé, here is a list of my favorite warm weather libations...and as always, make sure to imbibe mindfully:

1) Ben Ami Chardonnay: This crisp, dry chardonnay is perfect for summer sipping. Best served nice and cold, this unoaked wine conjures up tropical fruits like pineapple and guava in its aroma. I was introduced to this wine at a tasting at my local shop, and plan on stopping by for several more tastes (errr, bottles) this summer!

2) Ahh, Gruner Veltliner, one of my favorite varietals. Pale, crisp, light to medium-bodied, and slightly spicy, this a versatile wine...and by versatile, I mean you can pair it with food or just drink it straight from the bottle (joke). No really; it's a favorite, perhaps because it comes primarily from my Eastern European kinsmen...

3) I don't like Zinfandel. Maybe I'm a snob, but I can't help but associate Zinfandel with an undiscerning palate. Mostly they're just too sweet for me. I like Brooklyn Winery's Zin because it's a blend of Zin and Petite Syrah grapes. It doesn't even LOOK like a traditional Zinfandel: it's rich, deep hue is confusing! Vanilla, mocha, strawberry, and oak: just the thought of those aromatics makes me feel tipsy :-)

4) Some people are beer people. I'm a wine person who likes beer. And when I do drink beer, it's generally an IPA, or India Pale Ale. Lagunitas is a great high quality, craft beer brand. I like most of their beers, but their IPA tops the list. Best served chilled (obvi), I love the smack of hoppiness and the gorgeous hue. Great for summer backyard barbecues.

5) Beer people generally consider themselves a dark-beer person or a light-beer person. I guess I'm more on the dark side, which is why I'm going to choose the darker of the light beers--if ever faced with such a decision :-) As you can see, the Bronx Pale Ale isn't exactly light, but it's not quite dark. It's the Goldilocks of beers, which suits me just fine.