June was very hot! People even complained, which they never do. We are all hoping for the monsoon season to kick in. And the biggest day of the summer is approaching – Independence Day. Even with no parade again this year, the Town of Vail is excited to feature some incredible patriotic exhibits, on-the move musicians and other surprises. Town is already packed with excited people. I wish I could spend some time outside but I will be working all weekend. Which is totally fine, as I’ll be able to recommend some great wines and beers for everyone to enjoy. Here are some suggestions for you to try as well, proudly made in the USA.

Red Wine: Yamhill Valley Vineyards is the oldest winery in McMinnville AVA in Oregon. It was established in 1983 and they still have a few bottles of that vintage put away for very special occasions. Nowadays, all their wines are 100% estate grown. No two years are alike, especially in Oregon wine country. 2016 brought the earliest start date of harvest on record. Because the summer was long and dry it helped fruit to become more intense and with more texture. Their Estate Pinot Noir is bright and vibrant with ripe tannins and a lively acid. And this is the key for their winemaking technique – acid. Especially on rich vintages like 2016, it helps create a wine distinctive to its terroir. An amazing quality for only $22.99. I highly recommend you try it.

White Wine: Epiphany Cellars is a part of the Fess Parker family portfolio. Located in beautiful Santa Barbara County in California, they make a variety of wines. Some of them really interesting and unique. Their Grenache Blanc comes from Rodney’s Vineyard in the Santa Ynez Valley. Fess Parker produces a fantastic Riesling from the same vineyard. But back to our focus – the Grenache Blanc grape originates from Spain, even though it is mostly used in the Rhone Valley in France. Epiphany’s 2017 vintage is zesty and fresh on the palate, clean and very quaffable. 20% was aged in French oak to round the acidity. A very versatile wine that is worth trying. Only $21.99 per bottle.

Beer: It’s warm out there and there’s nothing more desirable than a light, crisp, easy-drinking, ice cold beer. Oskar Blues’ newest addition is perfect for those times. This Lager comes with a low 4.2% abv and has only 95 calories. Any similarity with Michelob Ultra’s stats is a pure coincidence. This beer is quality, though. They describe it as an American Pale Lager and a Pilsner. When I tried it, it drank like a light Lager to me. I suggest you have a taste of it and decide for yourselves. Either way, it is delicious and crushable. For the month of July a 15 pack cans will be only $16.99. Cheers!

Sun is shining. You can see more faces and smiles, literally. And what a difference that makes! There is no reason to not be happy. One more week of school. Sports seasons are finishing up. Summer is knocking on the door. A plethora of activities to choose from. And the best part – we can do it together. It’s Memorial Day weekend and traditionally that means grilling time. Let’s see some options in the adult beverage world to possibly add to our menu.

Red Wine: 96 Points Cabernet Sauvignon from Lodi, California. Rating is by the prestigious Chumlea Hill. You can find her, among other fictional wine critics, in that wine app that you take a picture of the label and the rating comes up. In all seriousness, though, this Cabernet is a great value! Just a touch of fruity notes, it has bold sweet tannins, a velvety mouthfeel and a juicy finish. Perfect with those burgers and hot dogs that you have going on the grill. Pour yourself a glass and taste the recognition. A bottle of it is only $14.99. Not bad for a 96-point wine that’s only available in the US, right?

White Wine: This one is for those of you that will skip the grilling. The meat part, at least. Lobster Reef Sauvignon Blanc comes from the Marlborough region in New Zealand. The label celebrates the unique rugged coast which is just a stone’s throw away from the vineyard. Its location is the main reason for the bright acidity and minerality in the wine. This SB is intensely aromatic, refreshing and very balanced. It is a best-seller for those qualities but also for its price tag – on sale for only $10.99. Quite possibly the best value in the white wine section. Give it a try!

Beer: This is about a love story between brewers and the city they do it in. Denver Beer Company’s Love This City Pilsner. With open hearts, they love that city, they say. And it can’t be otherwise. Denver had welcomed them and had made their journey a fantastic one. The newest year-round brew from them is this Pilsner. It is crisp and refreshing, with a light floral and fruity hop character. At only 5% abv and a clean and easy drinking finish, that could only mean you might want to try more than one. In a responsible manner of course. Delicious and priced right – only $7.99 for a 6 pack cans for the month of June. Cheers!

I hope all of you had a nice Easter holiday. This would have been the last weekend of the ski season. But Mother Nature brought some nice snow during March and season was extended. One last chance to get up on the hill. Before we know it Spring Break will be here and there goes April. So we need to enjoy every moment of it. Even though there isn’t as many people in town, our lives are still busy. Here are a few suggestions to enjoy after work or on your day off.

Red Wine: Sunny Spain brings great value in the wine world. Bodega Montecillo plays its part in it. It recently celebrated 150 years from its establishment. It is run by Rocio, a sixth-generation family member, and the Chief Winemaker Mercedes. Behind the inspiration and knowledge of these two ladies, some quality wine is produced, true to its roots and origins. Their 2016 Rioja Crianza is a classic – 85% Tempranillo and 15% Garnacha, aged in American oak. Complex and balanced, perfect to enjoy in any occasion. I enjoy it with a platter of cheese and dry meats. Wine Enthusiast liked it so much that it rated it #1 in their Best Buy category for 2020! An outstanding quality for only $15.99. Try it, you will love it!

White wine: We’ll stay in Spain for one more and my choice in the white wine world is Pazo Barrantes Albarino. From the Bodega of Marques de Murrieta, it is undoubtedly one of the flagship wines of the Rias Baixas wine region in northwest Spain. On the nose it is very floral and fruity. Palate is creamy, with lots of apple and pear notes and citrusy character. A great combination of dry fruit and zingy acidity. Full-bodied for an Albarino with a great ageing potential. An outstanding wine that is also rated 97 points. A friendly price tag of $22.99 awaits you.

Beer: There is a new Belgian in town and that’s Left Hand’s St Vrain Tripel. This Ale was designed to pay homage to classic Belgian Tripels while also adding a uniquely local twist. Colorado barley creates a subtle malt sweetness and American hops bring rich herbal and floral aromatics, both perfectly complimenting the warm spice and fruit character of the Belgian yeast. Innocent at first look and sip with its light color and body, it carries a staggering 9.3% abv. It is full of flavor and will bring satisfaction to your taste buds. For the month of April a 6 pack of cans is only $9.49.

This year February is a perfect month – starts on a Monday and ends on a Sunday. The first one of this kind in 11 years. And it started great – snow had finally come! Even though you can’t really see people’s smile, you can sense it. Everyone is in a better mood, including Mother Nature. And right on time, just before one of the busiest holiday weekends – Valentine’s Day and Presidents Day. Here are some suggestions you can enjoy while celebrating. And please don’t forget to get flowers for your loved ones! They will appreciate it.

Red Wine: When I think about Valentine’s Day, love, hearts, flowers and everything else that goes with it, Italy comes instantly to my mind. Today we will go to the opposite side of Romeo and Juliet’s home. Sicily is the largest island in the Mediterranean Sea and is home of some spectacular winemaking. Many of the varietals here are indigenous. Perricone, also known as Pignatello, is one of them. It originated in Northwestern Sicily and produces wines that have firm tannins and show dark fruit character with a slight bitter finish. Caruso & Minini’s Perricone has the balance between vibrant fruit and earthy minerality. It will be perfect as an aperitif or with your dinner or dessert, like chocolate-covered strawberries. It is made with organic grapes and is only $19.99 on the shelf. Saluti!

White Wine: This time I’ll go for a Rosé to match with our theme. Chateau D’Esclans in Provence in France is extremely well known for their Whispering Angel label. One of their other wines is The Palm. The label is as beautiful as the wine itself. It speaks warmth, beach, love! A classic Provence Rosé blend, it is very light in style. It shows great aromatic freshness along with minerality. Maybe before your Valentine’s dinner with your loved one start the evening with a glass of The Palm Rosé? A friendly price tag of $17.99 awaits you and a promise for good memories. Santé!

Beer: Bees. They love honey. We love them. I can’t imagine our World without bees. If it wasn’t for them at least 400 agricultural plant species/foods and 1 out of 6 of the world’s flowering plant species wouldn’t exist. They are very important to one of Melvin Brewing’s beers too – Killer Bees American Blonde Ale. Clean, smooth, easy drinking and yes – honey. Low in alcohol and highly enjoyable, you can’t say No to it! Especially not this month when a 6pk of cans is only $7.99! Cheers!

Thanksgiving Day. Lots of history behind it. But simply put it is one of the best holidays, if not the best. Because we gather with our families, spend time and have fun with them. But also because table is full of delicious dishes. It doesn’t necessarily have to be turkey or ham. My significant other makes these wonderful recipes that are delectable. Pumpkin soup, kale salad, mashed sweet potatoes, roasted cauliflower just to name a few. So I have to be flexible with the wine and beer options to pair with those. Here are some suggestions that you can enjoy with your Thanksgiving dinner at home.

Red Wine: You can choose from a wide variety of reds to go with your Thanksgiving dinner. The Sangiovese grape is one of them, especially when blended with some Canaiolo and Colorino in Tuscany. Montesecondo Chianti Classico is biodynamically farmed, fruit comes from two quite different vineyards in terms of soil, altitude and weather conditions. It results in a stunning wine that brings out the dark side of Chianti. In a good way. It still has the silkiness and elegance of Sangiovese. But structure is bold and firm and is a great match for many of the traditional Thanksgiving dishes. Deservedly rated 94 points two vintages in a row. $27.99 on the shelf. Once you try it, you’d agree it’s money well spent.

White Wine: This white is very versatile. It is light and fresh, yet it has a good tannic structure and creamy body style. Slight orange in color from the skin contact, palate shows citrus and honeysuckle notes, while the finish is bone-dry. I got so excited describing it that I forgot to mention its name. Biokult Naken from Austria it is. A blend of 90% Pinot Gris and 10% Muskateller, it is certified biodynamic and is rated 92 points by the Wine Enthusiast. I just very recently tasted the wine and immediately fell in love with it. I am confident you will as well. The $19.99 price tag is well worth it. Come and see for yourselves.

Beer: Since different Thanksgiving meals call for different styles of beers, we will focus on turkey this time. Avery’s Old Jubilation is a perfect match for it. It is a winter strong ale with a hint of hazelnut and toffee. Although it is full-bodied, it drinks clean, as no spices were added. A little bitterness counterbalances the sweetness of the malts, making it a great choice to pair with your dinner. At 8.3% abv it will warm you up and make your Thanksgiving unforgettable. A 6 pack of cans is $11.99.