Elevated & Accessible Summer Wines

It might not technically be summer yet, but I think we’ve hit the peak time for easy-drinking whites and rosés, enjoyed in good company on a warm afternoon. When I say easy-drinking, though, I want to be clear that I don’t mean basic. An industry friend of mine once described a certain class of wines as “patio pounders,” a descriptor which so accurately encompasses the type of simple, tasty, and usually quite inexpensive bottles my friends and I enjoyed a great deal in our early 20’s. I certainly have nothing against those wines, but these days when I say easy-drinking, I’m asking for a bit more. I want a wine that is delicious straight out of the bottle, not requiring explanation or backstory, but with enough going on to entice me further with each sip, inviting me to unpack layers of flavor until the glass is empty.


Luckily for me, and for all of us, there seem to be more and more of these wines available - priced at an easy-drinking price, but with a level of care in the winemaking and a depth in the glass so as to elevate them way beyond the level of those aforementioned “patio pounders.” These are wines to enjoy in what I think is the best way - simply, with friends, and without fuss.

2022 Girolamo Russo ‘Etna Rosato’ $25

Made from 80-year-old Nerello Mascalese vines grown on the north side of Mt. Etna in Sicily. This is a gorgeous rosé fermented completely in stainless steel. James Suckling, who rated it a 92, said: "Sweet rose, stone dust and orange sorbet make the 2022 Etna Rosato a total pleasure on the nose. Soothingly round and with a pleasant inner sweetness, this flows across the palate with crisp, mineral-tinged orchard fruits offset by a hint of sour citrus. The 2022 finishes intensely mineral in style while leaving the mouth watering as hints of sour melon gradually fade."

2020 Roland Minkowitsch Gewurztraminer ‘Premium’ $25

From a 14th generation family farm in eastern Austria on the border of Slovakia. Martin Minkowitsch is continuing the family style of utilizing the most traditional cellar techniques, including crushing grapes in a giant wooden press from 1820. Fermented in stainless steel and aged in large wooden foudres, this gewurztraminer is full-bodied and luscious with a lovely floral nose and a delicate herbaceous background. Though totally dry, the palate still holds a ghost of sweetness from ripe, round flavors of lychee, rose petal, and white peach. If you haven’t tried gewurztraminer before, I cannot recommend this wine enough, especially during the heat of summer!


Did one (or more) of these wines pique your interest? There are multiple ways to order with us! If you place your purchase through our online store, we’ll be happy to package and hold your bottles for you to pick up at your convenience. You can also email us and ask us to set aside any bottles you’re interested in picking up at a later date. If you have any questions or would like to make special arrangements such as shipping, please don’t hesitate to give us a call at (919) 644-1243.