The hazy, lazy days of summer are prime time for festivals, concerts in the park, and relaxing on the patio with a glass of summery goodness. Whether drinking wine on a blanket while enjoying Jazz in June or sharing a glass or two with good friends on a porch or patio, delightful options abound.
For the ultimate in convenience when on the go, consider the portable canned wines currently available, but be aware that one can packs a punch – a single can contains about half a bottle.
Nebraska is home to several popular wineries and tasting rooms, including Prairie Creek Vineyard & Winery in Central City, NE. The tasting room has a popular restaurant and is frequented by locals and city dwellers, but also takes its wines on the road to wine festivals and other events and is available in myriad locations across the state.
Mike McDonnell, general manager of the restaurant, confirms that recent offering Berry Dazed is a popular summer sipper. Served bracingly cold straight up, on the rocks, or as a slushy, the blush-hued wine is refreshingly tart and well balanced, not cloyingly sweet as many fruit wines can be.
For the most refreshing sips, look for grapes that grow in cool climates. These grapes produce fruity, bright, acidic wines with low tannins and a light body (light body = lower ABV because sun and alcohol don’t always mix). You don’t need to give up your favorite reds, either. A chilled Beaujolais or a zippy Pinot Noir both sip nicely on the patio and pair well with summer fare.
Indulge your European proclivities and try a white that’s new to you such as a refreshing Txakoli or Grüner Veltliner. Can’t decide? Keep it light and breezy and pour a glass of joyful rose’.
For those with a penchant for bubbly, branch out and consider a spritz. From the ever popular aperitivo Aperol Spritz to a classic white wine spritzer, these beverages are iced, refreshing, and keep you cool for hours.
Summer won’t last long, so get outside and enjoy.
