Labor Day may be the last official hurrah of the season, but there’s no need to say goodbye-for-good to your favorite summer wines. This week’s features are all varsity summer cheerleaders for sure, but wine seasonality is a construct you needn’t let box you in — pop the corks you wanna pop & let the good times roll, on…and on and on.
Lady Slipper Blanc
We’ve said it before and we’ll say it again — Lady Slipper Blanc is wine-on-the-go done right! It makes a whimsical game out of the mundane, whether that’s summertime mowing, fall raking, or winter…ugh, let’s not even go there yet. The point is, this wine is fun and well-made, not too serious, and ultra refreshing. Pop the top for 375 ml’s (a full half-bottle, people!) of zesty peach, green mango, pink grapefruit, and a crack of Tajin-like salinity.
90+ Cellars Vinho Verde
This gem of the northern Portuguese coast is often touted as a summer wine, its lime-zest minerality, snappy little bubble, and low ABV making it a great companion to summertime activities. But it’s no secret that there’s a place for lightly-cal’ed & lightly-boozed beverages throughout the calendar year — so don’t let this option go into hibernation. 90+ Cellars Vinho Verde breathes life into any season with Kefir lime, white flowers, green apple, seashell minerality, and a lively spritz.
Les Cardonnieres Provence Rosé
Rosé season is year-round ‘round here! Les Cardonnieres, with its classic Provençal melon and sea-breeze salinity, has just enough round texture and depth to make for a food-friendly rosé you can call on in any season for tough food pairings. Especially for vegetable-heavy dishes and sauces with tang or heat, a Provence-style rosé like Les Cardonnieres has complimentary fruit tones and a fresh-but-round body to highlight rather than fight bold flavors. Look at it like a perfect side salad — fleshy white peach, salted cantaloupe, subtle crème fraîche silkiness, and a whiff of wild tarragon.
-Aimee Hutchinson | Wine Manager Top Ten Liquors