Rosé for Labor Day...or the weekend after

I would suggest a Rosé, a fruity Viognier, or a nice Gewurztraminer. Rosés are very versatile wines. They can be heavy or light, dry or full of fruit and a little sweeter (which carries more alcohol). I would say a light, fruity choice would be the best as it can pair with various grilled food as well as salads today...yes and steak too!

A Viognier is normally not as heavy as Chardonnay and has the tropical fruit that you can enjoy. Great with chicken and moderate levels meals.
One of my favorite whites is Gewurztraminer. A little sweet, a little spice...nice! Spicy foods welcome it and it is also great with hotdogs!

Light and Sparkly for the Summer

The summertime is the best time for light and sparkly sips.

I would recommend a sparkling pink Prosecco, a fun and frothy Italian sparkling wine, as an ideal quaff to greet the season. This fun rose-colored sparkler makes an even better solution for those steamy evenings when you need a salad for dinner because even with air-conditioning, you really don't want to see a flame on top of the stove or fire up the grill.

Some that may work for you are:

Cantine Riondo "Pink" Prosecco Raboso
De Faveri Spumante Rosé Extra Dry
Anime Pink Prosecco
Bartolomeo Prosecco Marzemino Vino Spumante Rosato Extra Dry

The pink bubbly adds a little special feeling to a normal summer day and we still have a few more of them left. Pair with salads, cheeses, vegetarian dishes, meatless pastas, or simply sipping.

Recommended Virginia Wineries to Visit Summer/Fall 2008

For the summer into the fall there are some recommended wineries to visit.

Sugarleaf Vineyards www.sugarleafvineyards.com
James River Cellars www.jamesrivercellars.com
Chateau Morrisette www.thedogs.com

Enjoy!