May, Change For The Good!
April came and went, leaving us yearning for more beautiful weather.
Here in Barrie, we saw some unseasonably warm weather, prompting many of us to tackle some outdoor projects that would have been left until May. Thatching the lawn, sanding decks and building new barbques left us with more free time in May! With the hard work behind us, let’s look at what we can do to prepare for the upcoming summer, which will bring more opportunities to entertain and relax with friends, family and neighbours (but only the ones we like, right?!).
As the seasons change, for many there is a change in what we keep in our cellar. Don’t worry if you don’t have a cellar. A cold room, spare room, or unfinished basement will do too! Some of us (me included), will start looking at white wine, rosé, or even fruit wine as their choice of beverage during the warmer months. With our selection of 4, 5, and 6 week wines, you’ll be able to start crafting and bottling before the dog days of summer are upon us. Here are some great suggestions we hope you’ll love:
Sauvignon Blanc is the ultimate summer wine and our Cru International Sauvignon Blanc style wine offers fresh citrus flavours and bold herbal tones on the palate. Or enjoy our Cru Select Australia Style Chardonnay, which is slightly tart on the palate, while unfolding flavours of vanilla and cloves.
The suggested serving temperature for lighter white wines: 7-10 ̊ C.
The suggested serving temperature for white wines with more body, or oak: 10-13 ̊ C.
Food Pairings: White wines tend to pair better with lighter foods such as green veggies and fish.
2. Suns Out, Rosés Out! It’s time to rejoice in the official wine of summer – the rosé! You can enjoy this trendy blush drink with our En Primeur Winery Series Pinot Noir Rosé, which is bursting with aromas and flavours of strawberry jam, complemented by raspberries, rhubarb and floral notes. Juicy on the palate, this wine is exquisitely balanced with a luxuriously smooth mouthfeel. Or you can enjoy our Cru International French Rosé style wine that features spiced strawberry and crisp citrus aromas on the nose, with fresh strawberry flavours and a refreshing fruity finish on the palate.
The suggested serving temperature: 7 – 10 ̊ C
Food Pairings: Rosé pairs well with many foods – fin fish, shellfish, white meat, cured meat, hard cheese, soft cheese, greens, and exotic spices like turmeric, ginger, saffron, and cumin.
3. While we’re talking about summer wines, we needed to give a nod to the mighty Sangria. Our Orchard Breezin’ Seville Orange Sangria offers fresh and sweet juicy flavours that are balanced by the bitterness of the Seville Orange. The sweetness of sangria pairs well with spicy foods and desserts, or enjoy it on its own and add your favourite chopped fruit!
Keeping your sangria chilled: As the ice in a pitcher of sangria melts, it will gradually dilute the drink. To avoid this problem, replace the ice with something a little more flavourful, like sliced frozen fruit.
Food Pairings: Sweet and fruity, sangria pairs well with spicy food.
Well, we hope we were able to give you a little inspiration for summer. I personally have a wonderful White Zinfandel that will be ready to bottle in 2 weeks, and just hope the 30 bottles will be enough to last me through the summer. Actually, I should really get going and start an Orchard Breezin’ Sangria started today! Who knows how hot this summer is going to be?!
Give us a call or stop in the store for a quick chat, and let’s start planning your summer today!