A Little Bird Told Me with Cardinal Wine & Spirits: A Splash Of Summer

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Now that summer is finally upon us, it’s time to look at some exciting wines and beers to make your backyard soirees the talk of the neighborhood.

As the temperature rises, we look for lighter, more refreshing wines to seduce your taste buds.

Pulenta – Pinot Gris: Crafted by consulting winemaker extraordinaire Paul Hobbs, this beauty dazzles with loads of fresh lemon, kiwi and golden delicious apples cascading over your tongue. This grape is a stunning example of what Argentina is capable of producing.

Terranoble – Sauvignon Blanc: Yes, New Zealand makes fine Sauvignon Blanc, but again we wanted to go off the beaten path, and this one from Chile was the homerun we were looking for. Crisp, clean and refreshing with no shortage of rich, tropical fruit. A terrific quaff at a ridiculous price.

Gilles Noblet – Macon-Fuisse: A stunning example from France of a lighter style Chardonnay that many prefer in the summer. This drink is certainly not lacking in fruit or complexity, as flavors of tangerine, melon and lemon zest expand in the mouth surrendering to a long, rich finish.

Borsao – Dry Rose: Though we drink them year-round, Rose peaks during the summer and with good reason. It is the perfect complement to anything from seafood salads to steaks. Gushing with flavors of cherry, rhubarb and strawberry, this is a no-brainer for the picnic basket.

Edmeades – Zinfandel: For barbecued ribs, Zinfandel is the perfect choice. It explodes with rich, dark fruit that coats the mouth, revealing notes of blackberry, currant and hints of chocolate.

Trevor Jones ‘Boots’ – Grenache: A fun discovery from Australia that gets us excited about what the future holds for this sexy grape. Racy, bright red fruit erupts in your mouth, but doesn’t feel heavy — think Pinot Noir on steroids. An outstanding food wine with intense fruit that complements food rather than overpowers it.

What kind of barbecue would be complete without beer? For that we asked our Beer Guru, Jeremy Brock, what kind of fun things he’ll be drinking this summer while getting in touch with his carnivorous side.

Rogue – Somer Orange Honey Ale: Forget just plopping an orange in your beer and calling it refreshing. Rogue actually brews this one with massive amounts of orange peel. Complementing the orange with hints of honey brings out a sensuous bouquet and exotic flavors to quench your thirst on a hot summer day.

Capital Brewery – Summer Fest: From our neighbors to the north, this German Märzen-style lager is brewed with malts imported from Germany. WARNING! As soon as this beer hits your tongue, the zest of spicy hops, caramel and mild bitterness might cause you to forget about the grill and burn those brats you’ve been craving all day.

Laughing Dog Brewing – Devil Dog: A beer lover’s dream come true. A meal on its own, this Imperial I.P.A. is perfect for anything on the grill or even sitting around the campfire. Not for the weak, this bad boy has huge, chewy, sweet malt and citrus aroma that explodes with flavors of spice, grapefruit and tangerine.

Southern Star Brewing Company – Bombshell Blonde Ale: Picture this: It’s 90 degrees, and you just finished the lawn work. You’re sweaty, and all you want is to sit on the patio with an ice-cold brew. The Bombshell is IT! Brewed in Texas, this light blonde has sweet, earthy lemony notes, along with a creamy body that defines the word refreshing.

Why does it seem like summer is always getting shorter? Oh well, at least we’ll have some fun beverages while summer lasts.

• Bruce Garfield, president of Cardinal Wine & Spirits in Crystal Lake, Jeremy Brock, general manager of Cardinal Wine & Spirits, and Scot Stadalsky, the wine guy at Cardinal Wine & Spirits, offer more than 70 years of combined experience in the wine and liquor industry to McHenry County.