Stay Cool, All Summer Long With These Light And Refreshing Meals and Drinks!
We’ve listed some suggestions for light, summertime wines, cool and crisp cocktails, and some fresh and healthy meal ideas that don’t require the stove! No one wants a meal that weighs them down in the heat, or a wine that’s to heavy to enjoy. Check out these options for some Summer suggestions on food and wine and try them out today!
Spend more time with friends and family, staying cool and eating fresh with these recipes that will leave you happy, all summer long!
——WINE——
We are a fan of ALL WINES, but some of them are much heavier and spicier than others, lending themselves to a cooler-weather climate, much better than hot. Red wines and other deep-flavored ones can be a bit much in the heat, so opting for light and fresh varieties will make your palette much happier!
White Wines:
Greywacke, Sauvignon Blanc, Marlborough, New Zealand, 2017
*Always one of Marlborough’s top Sauvignon Blancs, made by former Cloudy Bay winemaker Kevin Judd. It has gentle tropical and citrus aromas and flavours, and the complex layers mean that each sip reveals a little more. A very stylish wine.
Read more at https://www....Fmhs1ho3TY.99
La Crema, Monterey, Chardonnay, California, USA, 2015
*This Chardonnay has a ripe nose reminiscent of apple crumble, with its baked apple component joined by sweet spices and creamy vanilla. The palate is sweetened by a hit of vanilla on the attack, the rich, ripe fruit flavours wrapping themselves around the wood. Honeydew melon, spiced apple, nectarine
Read more at https://www....Fmhs1ho3TY.99
Berry Bros & Rudd, Chablis, Burgundy, France, 2016
*Chablis is in short supply due to a string of poor vintages, so buy the good-value ones while you can. This is fragrant, fresh and pure with grapefruit intensity, stony minerality and vigorous limey acidity that lasts through the long finish.
Read more at https://www....Fmhs1ho3TY.99
75 Great White Wines for Summer…All Under $25
https://www....under-25.html
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Rosé:
Riverside rosé
*Taft Street 2017 Rosé of Pinot Noir — Unscrew the cap, pour into your stemless plastic wine glass, and toast to summer as you float down the Russian River with a bottle of Taft Street’s rosé made with pinot noir grapes grown just a few miles from the iconic Sonoma County river. With its high acid and low sugar, it’s a dry wine with bright notes of raspberry, watermelon and strawberry. It’s a destined crowd-pleaser.
Sidebar 2017 Rosé Russian River Valley
*A side project of acclaimed winemaker David Ramey, Sidebar offers easy to drink wines that are meant to be enjoyed now (unlike Ramey’s coveted, cellar- worthy pinot noir under his Ramey Wine Cellars label). The first rosé we tried this year, it’s made from old vine syrah. It has a beautiful color that draws the eyes in and a taste of strawberry and cream that is lush and satisfying on the palate. A great reward after a long day of kayaking on the Russian River.
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Red Wines:
Not too many people choose a red in the hot hot summer weather but there are still some fans of the dark beverage that just can't let go of it, no matter how hot the temperatures get. Here are some tips for drinking red wines in the Summertime:
-Look for a lower-alcohol red wine (French wines are often a perfect match for hot weather because they tend to be lower in alcohol). “Stay away from those with more than 14 percent alcohol, which tend to be overbearing in the heat as well as those high in tannins whose slightly bitter taste will often be accentuated. Instead, look toward Pinot Noirs, Cabernet Francs, Tempranillo-based wines from Spain, and other bottles that weigh in under 14 percent.
-Some red wines, of course, can be served chilled. Beaujolais, for example. Serve light-bodied Beaujolais chilly, almost like a rosé, alongside a grilled burger -- and it's a fantastic match. But even fall and winter-friendly reds -- the bigger, bolder reds -- Cabernet Sauvignon, Syrah, Merlot, Zinfandel, blends from Bordeaux and the Rhone, for example -- they can all be transformed into summer-friendly wines.
-Just stick 'em in the fridge for about 20 minutes or so before dinner. On a hot day, you'll enjoy them so much more when served cool (but not cold) -- say, around 60 to 65 degrees F. It's basically the same temp at which you'd be enjoying them the rest of the year at room temperature. But in the summer swelter, with the ambient temperature elevated, you'll really feel the difference in temperature. The reds will come across as refreshing. But they won't be so cool that flavors are dulled. Give it a try! And if chilling reds doesn't quite do it for you, go rosé! For people who love reds, rosé is the ultimate compromise wine for summer dining. They're made with red grapes and are meant to be enjoyed nice and chilly.
Wine Serving Tips for Summer
1. Be sure to chill the wine to your satisfaction. See 5 ways to quickly chill wine.
2. Rosé or Pinot Noir are the reds to look for. They are the lightest red wines, delicate, refreshing. Rosé is best served ice cold, and it is a hot item these days. You’ll find some very classy Rosés coming from California wineries and featured in The California Wine Club’s wine club shipments.
3. Get an easy cool down from Sauvignon Blanc, Pinot Grigio and Viognier. These friendly whites are unoaked, with a delicate mouthfeel and pleasing fruit flavors. They are terrific quaffers (no food required).
4. Be aware of your texture preferences with Chardonnay. Ah, Chardonnay, you diva of differences — there are so many styles around these days, it’s hard to know what you’ll get when you pop the cork. For a Chardonnay to beat the heat, we choose an unoaked Chard without the heavy, buttery texture of malolactic fermentation. It’s simple and effective way to beat the heat, and great with a crunchy salad or seafood.
5. Sparklers to the rescue. Chill them well. A good sparkler will reward you with tiny bubbles zipping to the top of your glass, delightful fizziness and icy, lovely fruit flavors. Remember, methode champenoise is your artisan choice.
——COCKTAILS——
Sit back and relax with one of these cold and refreshing mixed drinks that you and all of your friends can enjoy in the summer heat!
1.Watermelon-Tequila Cocktails
When watermelon is in abundance, this is a great way to use it. Bobby Flay purees seedless watermelon chunks, then strains the juice through a sieve and mixes it with silver tequila, sugar syrup, blueberries, mint and fresh lime juice.
https://www....ila-cocktails
2.Strawberry-Lemon Mojitos
Strawberries sweeten these mojitos from mixologist Joaquin Simo.
https://www....ocktails-2009
3.Manhattan Ice Cream Float
Gabriel Frasca makes his own bourbon ice cream and cherry syrup for this clever riff on a Manhattan. For his superquick version, he blends vanilla ice cream with bourbon and uses a high-quality black cherry soda like Stewart’s or IBC.
https://www....e-cream-float
4.Cucumber Margarita
The only thing more refreshing than a margarita is one made with cucumbers. The cucumber-infused tequila also makes a great punch.
https://www....ber-margarita
5.Frozen-Grape Sangria
Some of your favorite fall flavors make a comeback in this refreshing sangria.
https://www....cipe-clv0911/
6.Sweet Tea Sangria
This spiked sweet tea features peaches raspberries and a big splash of white wine!
https://www....ngria-recipe/
—LIGHT BITES——
No one wants to spend time, slaving in the kitchen over a hot stove in the scorching weather of Summer. Here are some delicious recipes that require no oven and are light and fresh, perfect for the season! Be sure to check out site like ‘Pinterest’ for more no-cook or light and fresh summer recipes (*and remember that using your slow cooker on hot days will make the task of cooking, easy to make with not hot stove required!)
-Crunchy Asian Ramen Noodle Salad
This Crunchy Asian Ramen Noodle Salad recipe is quick and easy to make, tossed with a simple sesame vinaigrette, and perfect for picnics and potlucks! This is a serious winner as the combination of flavors
https://www....noodle-salad/
-Peach Caprese Salad
Fresh peaches add a new layer of flavor to typical caprese, making for the perfect Summertime treat!
https://www....salad-recipe/
*20 summer salads to whip up fast:
https://www....salad-recipes
-Roasted Red Pepper Hummus Veggie Wraps
http://www.m...-veggie-wraps
-Slow-Cooked BBQ pork, Fennel, & Onion Sandwiches
Slow-Cooked BBQ Fennel, Onion, and Pork Sandwiches are a nod to low-and-slow Southern barbecue--using just a little bit of pork shoulder. And just like traditional pulled pork, the meltingly tender vegetables and pork are piled high on toasted buns, slathered with a Greek yogurt mixture, and topped with shredded cabbage.
http://www.m...rk-sandwiches
-Summer Gazpacho
Great gazpacho is fresh, light, and one of the best (and trendiest) dishes to serve, all summer long!
https://www....mmer-gazpacho
31 Recipes that don’t require an oven or stove:
http://thewe...re-oven-stove
After you’ve made some of these awesome meals and cocktails, why not come to our studio for a painting and wine class?! Stop in to paint in an air-conditioned environment and have some tasty, light wine while you’re at it! There’s no painting experience required so come on in and try something new and unique and we’ll help you through it! You’ll be surprised that you can create a handmade work of art in a 2-3 hour class. We have a helpful staff, ready to assist you with anything you might need throughout the class, along with one of our talented instructors who will walk you through the painting, step by step, encouraging you the whole way! Bring in all of your friends and family, as spending time, doing something fun and creative with loved ones is always great!
We hope to see you soon for a class at our studio if you’re looking for something fun to do in or around the Raleigh-Durham area! We make the perfect event for everything from a fun and unique date night, an awesome girls’ night out experience, and we even offer private events! When you view our classes on our website, you’ll be viewing our schedule for our public classes, but you can also book a painting party with the guest list of your choice! Come in to celebrate a birthday, bridal shower, reunion, retirement, and more with friends and family, sharing their artistic sides, together. Make memories that will last a lifetime with a souvenir to treasure forever with one our classes.
*Learn more about our private parties, here:
https://www....ivate-parties
We also play host to tons of corporate events, too! Why not book your next work party or team building event with us? We offer several styles of paintings that incorporate team building strategies, encouraging the whole office to work together, creating a stunning world of art!
*Read more about corporate events, here:
https://www....porate-events
Finally, in addition to out studio parties, we offer mobile events, off-site! You choose the location and we’ll come to you with all of the supplies!
*Learn more about out mobile events, here: https://www....ainting-party