July was very busy. Warm but we also finally got those afternoon showers. We are now into August and about a month away from Labor Day. But still plenty of time to enjoy the outdoors. Some even call it “playing time”. School will start a week later. Which means extra time to do a hike or have a bike ride or simply walk outside and enjoy the sunshine. When we come home we want something light and easy drinking to finish off the day. Here are some suggestions that would do amazing for you.

Red Wine: Family-run for four generations now, Ca’ Del Baio has been making wines ever since the early 1900s. They produce high quality Barbaresco, which they are best well known for. But we will focus on another gem of theirs – Paolina Barbera d’Alba. Named after one of the daughters Paola, who struck me with her passion for wine when I met her. She is the master behind this silky and fresh wine, with a great balance between acidity and fruit. She told me Barbera is Italians’ first choice when it comes to pairing a pasta dish with a red wine. Well, this one is simply stunning, whether enjoyed by itself or with that pasta meal. Price tag is very fair too – only $17.99 a bottle. Come and check it out yourselves!

White Wine: Summer calls for clean, crisp, easy drinking wines. Today we will talk about a grape that has gained a lot more attention to itself in the last few years – Grüner Veltliner. It is mostly known to come from Austria, where it is the mostly planted grape variety. Almost all of it is grown in the northeast of the country, close to the most beautiful river Danube. Along with Riesling, it grows on steep terraces and results in a mineral-driven, lightly fruity and very food friendly wine. Salomon Undhof has been in the Kremstal area since 1792. Thus, it is one of the oldest privately owned wineries in the country. Their Hochterrassen Grüner Veltliner is elegant, with citrusy brightness and a juicy and clean finish. A wonderful quality for only $15.99 on the shelf. You’ve got to try it today!

Beer: Eddyline Brewery is located in Buena Vista, Colorado. Known for its high quality beers that come in 16 oz cans. I am a big fan of their lineup but one sticks out when we’re talking about summer – the Raspberry Wheat. They started it as a summer seasonal back in the day but it quickly became people’s favorite and is now available year round. On the nose – a vibrant aroma of the Oregon raspberries they use, on the palate – it is slightly tart, very refreshing and delicious. On sale this month too – so a 6 pack of 16 oz cans is only $9.99. I’ll see you at the store soon!

Independence Day has been a federal holiday since 1941 but tradition of its celebration goes back to 18^th century. In more recent times, people had gathered to watch fireworks, parades and concerts. We might not see any of these this year for obvious reasons but that doesn’t mean we will not have a good time. We will still get together with our friends for barbecue, beach volleyball or other leisure activities. Those call for a glass of good wine or beer, of course. So I will give you a few Made-in-USA suggestions to enjoy while celebrating July 4^th.

Red Wine: MANA. Loosely translated from Hawaiian it means to live with energy. This is a story where a Maui lady meets Mainland. Ashleigh Hutchison, that is. She moved to California to fulfill her passion about wine. I met her during her time with Miner Family Winery. Since, she had started the Industry Outlaw business, a part of which is MANA wines. They give back to the communities via partnerships with many non-profit organizations. MANA Pinot Noir is light and bright but full of flavor. Exactly what you’re looking for on a warm weekend day. A bottle of it is only $12.99. Enjoy!

White Wine: The Albariño grape is originally from the area of Galicia in Spain. Hendry Wines planted it first in 2003 in their vineyards in Napa, California. Since then, it has been a great success for them. In recent years, they even grafted over two vineyards from Pinot Gris to Albariño. Peachy, citrusy and floral on the nose, palate offers green apple and lemon zest, with good acidity on the finish. Drinks well by itself or with light dishes that are high in flavor. A bottle goes for $22.99. Not the cheapest out there but so worth it!

Beer: Back in 2009, Oskar Blues released their Mama’s Little Yella Pilsner. I have seen it being described as Bohemian, German-style or even Mountain Pilsner. But to simplify – it is “a damn good, crushable beer”, as they say it themselves. Unlike mass market light beers, it is not diluted with corn and/or rice. Clean, crisp, refreshing, easy-drinking. A wonderful July beer! A 15pk of cans is only $16.49 this month. Come and get some!

Last few weeks have been really challenging. Five letters and the number 19 after them changed our lifestyle, if not our lives. Among all that we need to find some positivity to get us through. Too many people are concerned for too many reasons. It’s definitely a tough time out there. Stress is high, people are even panicking. Days could be long and exhausting. At the end of it we need a glass of something nice to soothe us up. Some choose hard liquor for its higher alcohol content, thus its disinfecting quality. But I’ll recommend some nice wines and beer to finish your day with.

Red Wine: California is best known for its outstanding Cabernets and Pinot Noirs. But there are other grapes there that are of high quality. The so called Rhone grapes – Syrah, Grenache and Mourvedre, among others. Bistue Cellars is located east of Napa and fairly close to Sacramento. Named after the winemaker Carolina Bistue, who had worked in Priorat in Spain prior to this. Hence her love for those grapes. This wine is intense and full-bodied with well-matured tannins. It will complement greatly any steak or chicken. And I think you’ll love the wine and the blend, which contains 9% Cabernet Sauvignon as well. It is currently on sale for only $23.99 a bottle. Come and get some!

White Wine: We are all very familiar with the New Zealand Sauvignon Blanc, I dare to say. But did you know that some very fine Sauvignon Blancs are produced next door in Australia too? Cape Mentelle is a great example of that. It is located in the Margaret River zone in the Southwest part of the country. The area is known for its high quality Cabernet Sauvignons. But this wine is exceptional too. A healthy amount of Semillon is blended in to add some complexity. As the winemaker describes the wine it is the embodiment of their place and terroir. Some similarity with the New Zealand style but in an improved way, in my opinion. Also rated 94 points, for those who find these numbers important. You can get a bottle of it for only $14.99 now.

Beer: Spring is officially here. Weather is soon to start warming up. This is probably the last chance to enjoy something darker. Left Hand Brewing from Longmont, Colorado is a master of the dark beer brewing. Many of us know about their flagship Milk Stout and its Nitro version. But a few months ago they came out with a Porter – Death Before Disco. Brewed in a classic style, it is full-bodied with rich chocolate malt and dark berry notes. Dry and roasty on the finish, it drinks beautifully. For the whole month of April you can get a 6 pack of cans for only $7.99. Enjoy!

Whether you are a football fan or not, whether your favorite #12 is playing or not, whether you like the halftime commercials better than the actual game, Super Bowl is a big thing. Fact! Over 100 million people will be watching, although viewers in the Northeastern part of the country might be slightly less this year. Preparations start days ahead. Traditionally, most consumed adult beverage that day is beer. We will turn our attention there in a moment. But first here are some suggestions for wines that will go well with your nachos, chicken wings and everything else you might have on the table.

Red Wine: Easy drinking and affordable, we are not looking for anything too fancy. But we still want a quality wine. Stelvin closure (screw cap) is preferred so we don’t miss any action on TV. Castle Rock’s Red Wine Cuvee from Columbia Valley in Washington is the winner here. A blend of Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Pinot Noir and Syrah. It is elegant with loads of dark berries on the nose and palate, well-balanced with soft tannins. Pairs very well with Kansas City BBQ and such. And a bottle of it is only $12.99.

White Wine: We continue with the theme – A to Z Pinot Gris from Oregon would be a great fit in the white wine world. Aromas of peaches, apricots and yellow plum are followed by a balanced and fresh palate. Acidity is crisp and the fruit notes make it a very enjoyable wine. It pairs easily with many different courses of a meal, making this an ideal complement to any dining or drinking occasion. Would complement a San Francisco Cioppino, for example. Stelvin closure and a very friendly price tag of $15.99 for a bottle.

Beer: Bonfire Brewing’s Brush Creek Blonde Ale is a great choice for the big game! 100% of the water comes from Eagle’s Brush Creek, fed by springs and snow-melt in the Sawatch Mountains. Light, smooth and delicious, it also comes with a low abv (alcohol by volume) and low ibu (international bitterness units). A guarantee you’d want to enjoy more than one can. For the whole month of February a 6 pack of cans is only $7.99! What’s not to love here!? Go Broncos! (in remembrance of those free dougnuts we used to get during regular season)