Well, it’s been a minute, hasn’t it? I’ve been tasting some magnificent wines this summer and there is still plenty of sunshine and warm weather left to savor the sips of summer! I hope you find some inspiration for your own late-summer sipping here!

My love of Chardonnay is known far and wide. Three Sticks One Sky 2021 Chardonnay is just about one of the most delightful Chardonnays I’ve had. You’ve got caramel apple wafting out of the glass, followed by a refreshing whiff of lime zest. And you know how sometimes you smell or taste something and you’re like, “Ooooh, this smells expensive?” Well, I was bang-on, because this sexy minx of a Chard is a bit of a splurge at $70. But oh, is it good. If you’re looking to indulge, this wine is rich, bright, well-blanced, elegant. On second tasting, I even got a hint of cinnamon. Food pairing: grilled zucchini dusted with panko and Parm, fried chicken, pasta with truffle cream sauce, white pizza. Yuh-mee!!! Bonus: organic vineyard!

Black Star Farms 2017 Tribute Off-Dry Riesling – I bought this at the winery in Leelanau, Michigan last summer, and when I had a craving for sizzled green beans with garlic chips, this was the perfect pairing! The are kind of salty, busting with umami and this wine! Sadly, I don’t think they sell this any longer, but efore you laugh at Michigan wine, know this: it’s fucking delicious! This wine has just a tiny bit of sweetness and is dripping with juicy peach, nectarine and zingy acidity.

Perla del Garda Lugana Madonna della Scoperta 2019 – This is another bottle I bought at the winery, last fall, in Lugana, in northern Italy. The grape in all Lugana wines is Turbiana , and after visitng the winery and lunching with owner Giovanna Prandini, THIS is a bottle I knew I had to fit into my suitcase! I ADORE Lugana wines (nearly all are white), for their citrusy freshness, medium weight and texture and overall elegance. You can find Perla de Garda wines in the U.S. — use Google to unearth distributor in your area that handles the brand, and ask your local wine shop if they can order some from you. (Eataly also is a great source for Italian wines.)

Game Box California Rosé 2022 – Well, let’s hear it for a wine that doesn’t take itself too seriously! Game Box partnered with actor Neil Patrick Harris and his Wondercade lifestyle website on this California boxed rosé, and you know what? It’s damn good. The three-liter box is printed with games and puzzles and when you get three liters – the equivalent of FOUR 750ml bottles of wine — for $22, I bet this has done a disappearing act on store shelves. It’s good, uncomplicated, unfussy rosé – perfect for porches and parties.

Gusbourne 2022 Rosé of Pinot Noir Oh, you haven’t heard of this one? Maybe it’s becasue Gusbourne is a winery in southern England, specifically in Kent! While the winery is known for its delightful sparkling wines, temps are rising enough to ripen grapes adequately for still wines. This rosé was delish! There was a cornucopia of over-ripe raspberries, cherry/raspberry compote and zesy, focused acidity, like a piercing bolt of summer lightning giving way to rosy, red fruits. Sadly, it’s not available for sale in the U.S. (yet?), but you can find Gusbourne’s sparkling wines at lots of stores and restaurants. (I paid maybe 13 pounds.)

Rombauer Sauvignon Blanc – Well, didn’t we ALL see the news this week about Rombauer being guzzled up by Gallo? We did and guess what. The main thing it means is that Rombauer’s wines will get a bigger distribution engine to make them more widely available, and while plenty of people only know (and either love or hate) Rombauer Chardonnay, they make other wines that are great – like this Sauvie B.! This is all sunny grapefruit and wet stones. It’s very well-balanced, between the juicy citrus and a nice zing-a-ling acidity and medium weight. A definite porch pounder if you ask me – and perfect alongside Thai food, sushi, fish tacos, chicken salad and more. $28.

Robert Hall 2021 Sparkling Grenache Blanc– Have YOU ever had a sparkling grenache blanc? I hadn’t, so this was a really fun one to try! I loved it. It’s from Paso Robles (the new cool-kids AVA for wine these days), is made in the traditional method (like Champagne is) where the second fermentation happens in the bottle, leading to those toasty, bready notes that I love in a sparkler. It unleashes a lovely flood of lemon zest, sweet red apple, starfruit and is basically totally delicious. If you’re looking for a unique sparkler to share with friends that’s not Champagne, Cava or Prosecco, this one will do nicely! $40

Mud House 202 Sauvignon Blanc – As I work to get over my dislike of NZ , I said yes to this sample and chuckled at the press release, which read, “Something about summer seems to unleash our adventurous side … the perfect time to seek out new experiences and broaden our horizons.” So there! I’m broadening my horizons with NZ SB. I will say, this one will hit the sweet spot for those who like a bit of sweet, juicy citrus in their wine. Served super-chilled, I liked it. I had a nice streak of acidity, and would be a crowd pleaser at a porch party! $14.

Domaine Bousquet Sparkling Rosé I mean – a rosé sparkler this good for $12? More, please! And it’s made from organic grapes (like so many of Domaone Bousquet’s wines). I’ve been falling in love lately with just about everything Domaine Bousquet does. As one of Argentina’s most prolific producers, Bousquet has been organic for 25 years now. (Fun fact 65% of all organic wines exported from Argentina comes from Bousquet.) This is a non-vintage, sparkler made in the Charmat (tank) method, and it’s just lovely –all red stawberries, and raspberries balanced with great acidity. I’ve seen it on wine lists all summer long from London to Portland, OR and I just order it every time.

More to come, I promise (and sooner!) Cheers to the last weeks of summer!