Summer wine

Patio Wine
Photograph by Melody Flammger

I love how nice the weather has been lately and realized that as we head into Summer, there's a whole different feel to the kind of wine we want to drink.

Here are some wines I recommend for while you're chilling on your patio or just hanging out with friends:

Photograph by Christopher Flammger

Red Newt Cellars Blue Newt White:


I recommend this wine because it's a nice, lightweight wine that is sweet enough to stand on its own.  It's still zippy, acidic and fun- as any good patio wine should be.  The balance between the high acidity and high sweetness is something I love about many of the Finger Lakes wines.

Photograph by Christopher Flammger

Hazlitt Vineyards Red Cat:


If you haven't had Hazzlitt's Red Cat already, it's a must.  Just about every winery's success has been compared directly to Red Cat's.  The idea behind Red Cat is the same as any patio wine- easy drinking.  I find the occasional bottle enjoyable.  The "Red Cat" name comes from the fact that it is made from a grape called "Catawba", which is a red grape native to New York.

Photograph by Christopher Flammger

Xplorador Sauvignon Blanc:


This was the most recent Sauvignon Blanc purchase I've made.  I generally prefer Sauvignon Blanc from New Zealand but will be giving this one a try.  Sauvignon Blanc is a great patio wine in general- no matter which style you like because it tends to be juicy, mouth watering and acidic just like lemonade.  Perfect for the patio if you ask me!