Rose is one of my all time favorite wine genres. Seriously. I met a woman over the weekend who had just discovered it for the first time – and she was absolutely exhilarated by the find. She and a group had been out to eat at Dante in Cambridge. The wine guru there who I’ve mentioned before, Chas Boyton, recommended a Californian take on rose: the Sutton Cellars Rose.

She couldn’t get enough and had popped into the shop to see if we stocked it. We don’t, as it turns out, but I happily chatted with her about the wonderful world of rose and helped her choose another. I was pleased she had already learned a lot from her one jaunt with the stuff (and no doubt at the tutelage of Mr. Boyton):  no matter if everyone at your table is enjoying different cuisine, it pairs wonderfully; it is lively and refreshing on a hot day; it is NOT sweet; and it is a terrific way to spice up an otherwise non-celebratory night out.

Tra-la! Pop on over to Wicked Local today to learn a bit more about this DRY wine and how to find one to suit your palate. I focus on my favorite style (French) providing but a general overview of one is likely to encounter, but there really is something for everyone on the market. That’s part of its magic.

Which rose is your favorite this summer?

This week has certainly been an “are we there, yet?” week.  With a perfect beach weekend on tap, I imagine I’m not the only one clamoring for the end of the work week. So entertain yourself today with these two tidbits from Wine Enthusiast Magazine, or their “UnReserved” on-line bits of juicy ramblings about this, that and the other of the wine world. Then be sure to pop back for info on a cool Greater Boston event that will make your weekend feel like a long one; it’s sure to be the icing on your (Monday) cake!

The value of food/wine combination experimentation: BBQ and… Riesling!

From the wine trail: summer get-a-ways for sipping and !@#$!?? Tasting Room Fun?

And last but certainly not least….

If you’re looking for an incredible way to prolong your weekend (at least mentally), add a “Summer Highlight” to your list and enjoy the freshest of fresh seasonal, local goodies around town, head over to Gibbet Hill on Monday night…. Check it out!

What tales from the wine trail do you have to tell this summer? Or do you have any intriguing wine pairings you care to share?

It’s not often I talk about what I consider “main stream” wine: wine you can get just about anywhere, no matter how large or small the shop.  In our case, we are so small every wine slot counts. We have to be even more choosey when it comes to our selection. We are equally careful not to pack our shelves with things you CAN, in fact, get anywhere; our brand is built around finding unique, harder to find, boutique selections.

Except when it comes to the Kim Crawford Sauvignon Blanc. This is a wine I have no issue ‘giving up’ a slot to. I think it is absolutely delicious. The fact that the price came down a couple of dollars this year makes me even more gleeful about it – it was pushing my limits previously at $19.99.

I had the pleasure of meeting the man behind the magic, Mr. Crawford himself, just about a year ago. I tasted through every wine available in the MA market. And there are a LOT. I could appreciate and enjoy most, with a couple of rare exceptions that were just a bit too weird, honestly. Yet at the end of the day, for the value, I still think the basic level Sauvi is the way to go.

It offers up a beautiful bouquet of gooseberries, sunflowers and freshly cut grass. The palate is rich for a Saugivnon Blanc – maybe at a 4 on a scale of 1 to 10, 1 being water and 10 being a glass milk. The gooseberry, pink grapefruit, lemon-lime and grassy flavors coalesce in your mouth. I particularly enjoy the somewhat briney, sea-like and deliciously long finish.

Try pairing this bad boy with any kind of fish, summer salad or… grilled chicken. Just a couple of days ago I whipped up a quick, off-the-cuff recipe of grilled chicken (marinated in plain yogurt, paprika and a dash of red pepper), topped with a soft nectarine salsa. Stupendous.

This is a New Zealand Sauvignon Blanc with flare. Lots of it.

How does the Kim Crawford Sauvignon Blanc stack up in your wine world?

I have now been to the beach a total of 4 days this summer – all of which have been during the month of August. So yes. It’s official! Summer weather has finally arrived here in New England. And I just can’t help myself! I am happily sipping from all categories of wine: red, white and… rosé!

It’s time to make hay while the sun shines, and try something uniquely delicious and satisfying at the end of a sticky, summer day. Head over to Wicked Local to check out which Wicked August Wines you might just want to give a s-whirl!

Have you had the pleasure of tasting any of these offerings? What are your tasting notes?

Summer is a sultry, nap-worthy, beach-loving time of year. So it’s not often you go away for a long weekend and come home to find out about one of the biggest wine heists in recent New England news! Right here in Hopkinton, MA – better known as the starting line for the Boston Marathon – a bottle of 1945 Chateau Mouton Rothschild was swiped from a liquor store. I dunno, I guess I always thought such heists would have much more elaborate planning, much more intrigue, like that depicted in the Thomas Crown Affair. Then again, if we could just walk on out of a fine wines shop with a $20K bottle of wine, we’d probably be harder to find thereafter…. For the full report, check out this Globe article!

Back when I was a 9-5 office rat on a lovely summer Friday, sometimes I took a few extra minutes to get into the swing of my workday, or daydream at lunch. Here are a two wine blog columns worthy of such web-perusing this week:

Dr. Vino on Labels Worthy of…Banning?

Lenndevours: A trip to Seneca Lake to chat with an 80-year-old Matriarch…

Which other wine tidbits did you find particularly entertaining this week?