This might go without saying, but…. we're like, really excited for summer. Because unlike summer 2020, this summer we can actually leave our homes. Can you believe it? We're trading in our sweatpants for real clothes, like shorts and swimsuits! Sign us up!
Now that we've hyped you up for this summer, too, it's time to talk about the wines we should be drinking to make it through the day because does anything say summer quite like drinks at 2:00? You don't need a newsletter to tell you that summer is the time for crisp whites, rosés, and even the occasional light-bodied or bubbly reds. And because day drinking requires sipping and nursing drinks for long periods of time, you need to be particular about what you're drinking.
But before we dive into our day drinking suggestions, let's get one thing clear: you need to eat. If you aren't eating alongside the cocktails, you will not feel well the next day. And that, our friends, is a fact. So always put your safety first and eat along with your drinks. Heck, even make sure you're drinking water alongside it. Be safe. Be you. Get it? Good.
Now that we've put that aside let's dive into wines you need to be sipping on this summer!
Bubbly
Where would we be without our delicious bubbly drinks? We'll start: nowhere we'd want to be. Bubbly wines, aka sparkling wines, are the true drinks of champions. We're talking about the Champagnes, the Proseccos, and the regular, but still superior, sparkling wines, of course.
Your average Champagne or sparkling wine is created typically from a blend of three different grape varieties: Chardonnay, Pinot Noir, and Pinot Meunier. If you find yourself with a bottle of Champagne or sparkling wine with a label that reads "Blanc de Blancs," that means that the wine is entirely made out of chardonnay grapes. However, if you find yourself with a bottle with "blanc de noirs," that means the wine is made entirely from pinot noir grapes. Whether you're looking for notes of sun, black cherry, or a touch of ripe red berries, drinking a bottle of wine is a delicious way to spend your Friday, Saturday, and Sunday.
Now that we got a little lesson done let's dive into the individual varieties of these bright bubbles.
Champagne
Let's rip off the band-aid and make sure we're all on the same page here: all Champagne is sparkling wine, but not all sparkling wine is Champagne. In case you need a reminder, Champagne is the most famous sparkling wine this world has to offer. As such, Champagne is only Champagne if it comes from the Champagne region of France (hence the name). The drink is well-known for its tiny bubbles that create a fruity taste that doesn't always taste sweet but delightful.
The only downside that comes with drinking Champagne is the price tag that accompanies the excellent stuff. Do you know that orange drink you see on Instagram or maybe have stolen a sip on a fancy occasion? Yes, we're talking about Dom Perignon. Well, that Champagne can be thousands of dollars, and we're not sure about you, but we're not going to casually whip out a bottle for a fun day with our girlfriends in the sun.
So our tip: if you're considering day drinking with Champagne (or any sparkling wine for that matter), make sure you know what you want to get out of it. If it's an all-day sipping fest, Champagne might not be the right drink for you. But if it's quality you can taste, Champagne might be the option for you. It all comes down to what you're looking for! Champagne is the best way to say "Congratulations!" (except maybe for a pregnancy), and it's a welcome reward after five days of working for the weekend. Maybe you're celebrating following your band's passion, or you're just happy to have large quantities of champagne on a Sunday. Celebrate life's little everyday moments with a glass of bubbly.
Prosecco
Because we've made clear the difference between Champagned and sparkling wine, it's time to tackle the world of Prosecco. Like Champagne, Prosecco is only Prosecco if it hails from the Veneto region of Italy and is made mainly from Italian glera grapes. The next time you're going to a summer birthday party, ditch the gift cards and bring your BFF a bottle of bubbly.
Sparkling wine
Last but not least, we have sparkling wine. Unlike the snobby snobs above, sparkling wine is made anywhere that wine is made. However, the top five countries producing sparkling goodness are Italy, France, Germany, Spain, and the United States.
While sparkling is produced virtually everywhere, many of these bubbly drinks differ in their fruitiness, bubble size, and methods. In fact, it seems most countries took after France and decided to create their own version. To name a few:
- Sekt: From Germany, this sparkling wine ranges in sweetness and dryness. But the good news, Sekt makes an excellent sparkling wine for day drinking because it is typically less alcoholic and has less acidic than Champagne.
- Cava: Can you HOLA? If you didn't get the hint, Cava is a sparkling wine that hails from Spain! Created from Macabeu grapes, this type of Spanish sparkling wine has an exceptionally similar flavor to Champagne.
- French sparkling wine: And now that we've say hola, we can say Bonjour! Because France has Champagne while also producing other sparkling wines. Let's say the French take their wines very seriously - and we appreciate them for that.
- American sparkling wine: Well, this will sound boring but say hello...because our country is also in on the action! Here in our home country, there are endless flavors to discover, from blends using traditional Champagne grapes to vintages with a completely different recipe. Napa, California, is always known for its wine and its types of sparkling wine are no different.
Checkout sparkling wines the next time you have a ticket to see a country music band, an instant pot dinner cooking, or if you're just looking for a new house wine to drink every weekend. Sparkling wines are perfect for life's special moments, whether you're in major metropolitan areas or vacationing in the remote areas of Washington.
Rosé
A wine with a cult following, rosé, can be either sweet or dry, but typically, they are more on the dry end of the taste spectrum. With primary flavors like red fruit, juicy peach, pineapple, flowers, citrus, and melon, rosé is complete with a pleasant green taste. Watermelon rosé is the perfect palate for summer, and you would have to be a robot to not love the warm-weather fun it provides And not-so-humble plug, Bev offers a handy can of crisp and dry rosé with fresh strawberry and raspberry aromatics, paired with a crisp white southern peach finish. You're one online purchase away from summer fun being delivered right to your front door. Cancel your other online orders, and put Bev in your cart today!
Typically, rosé's flavor profile is similar to light red wine but is brighter and crisper in its soft pink color and fruity taste. And if you're asking us, rosé bubbles are the ultimate refreshment of the summer and perfect for day drinking. It'll make you feel like you're in tropical Hawaii, even if you're in a dry area of the desert or the arctic chills of Alaska.
Chilled White Wine
Last but not least, you can never go wrong when you're day drinking wine spritzers or chilled white wine. Grab these the next time you go out for groceries at your local store (or making online orders), when you're planning to throw a summer party in your garage, or you're making some adjustments to your regular pickup order. Serve a chilled white wine for fewer rain checks, and more sunny days with your friends. The perks of a great cocktail are that everyone will show up to your warehouse party ready to have a blast.
Don't expect new results from your same old winter drinks — here are a few that are always on our minds as soon as the temperature gets a little bit warmer:
Chenin Blanc
With the delightful, refreshing taste of an ice-cold beer sans the calories, Chenin Blanc is fragrant and zippy with high acidity. Made to pair with desserts or even out creamy, pungent cheeses, you're going to want to pair your Chenin Blanc with charcuterie boards all summer long. Make every 2-day weekend feel like a vacation, whether you're K-12 teachers, rock stars, entertainment employees or marketing mavericks.
Pinot Gris
Also known as Pinot Grigio, Pinot Gris is zesty, light-bodied, and dry. Oh, you want item details? Prepare your taste buds for handling a delicious combination of fruity flavors like lime, pear, lemon, apple, and white nectarine. This won't be a one-time only order—Pinot Gris is the best, bar none.
Sit Back and Relax
Whether you're listening to three-time Grammy award-winning country band Little Big Town on a pontoon or enjoying alcoholic beverages while hanging with your grammy on the front porch, day drinking wine is always a good idea. Forget about your appointment Monday, and start drinking on Sunday. Grab your coolers, drink your net weight in wine cans, and spend your day drinking from sunup to sundown.
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