Fourth of July Wine Recs
It's been summer for a couple weeks now, but the fourth of July always makes it feel like it's truly summer - from the shortened weeks and sunburns to the traffic and disco naps in between parties. So as we head into the holiday weekend, I've been writing up lists for our team to special at tables and bottles to recommend to our regulars always looking for something new.
Here are a few that can help you plan for yours:
BTG - by the glass at Popina:
I love champagne. It's always been important to me to pour champagne by the glass. Right now, we're pouring Domaine Mea L’Assemblage which is salty, chalky, and fresh! Hard not to love this one and at $25/glass -- it's... fireworks!
Tiberio Trebbiano always punches above its weight-class. It's probably the staff favorite right now with its ripe orchard fruit and salty fresh herbs.
For reds--its the new Bardolino; which is always great for summer sipping. Bright & juicy--it seems simple at first; but uncovers itself with fruit layered in subtle spice.
Bring it to the BBQ or drink it watching the fireworks:
Every since Abruzzo - I'm hooked on Cersauolo, so I'm bringing Amorotti or De Fermo Cerasuolo to a BBQ. Its the perfect "red" - just a touch deeper than a rosé. In Abruzzo they drink this with Arrosticini (lamb skewers).
For champagne...because no BBQ is complete without champagne... I'm bringing champagnes from Gamet or Geoffroy. We recently did a wine dinner with Marianne (Gamet) & Sacha (Geoffroy) reminding me the incredible range of champagnes from Rosé de Saignee to perpetual reserves from the 70s.
A bottle of Balthazar Cornas could be fun too, since there's likely to be lots of meat at your typical fourth of July bash. I'd wrestle between cuvees; but end up just grabbing whatever magnum because the entire point is to share.
For white: a bottle of Roland Lavantureux Chablis or perhaps an Aligote from Chantereves.
For those of you staying local this week, roll through on Thursday from 1-6 for an all-day menu and enjoy some of these wines. For the traveling types, shoot me a note if you need to find these bottles on the fly...
Whatever you choose - an ice cold glass of rosé in the backyard with us, or a magnum of champagne poured grill-side, enjoy your holiday.
-James