I hope you are at home (because you want to be,) enjoying a long holiday weekend with the people you love the most on this beautiful Memorial Day, or playing in paradise somewhere. Wherever you are, make sure there is something tasty to enjoy in your glass.

If beachside playing is in order, give the new spritzer from Spaceage a try. Spaceage Meyer Lemon Strawberry Rose Spritz ($15/4 pack) from winemaker Josh Phelps celebrates the adventurous side of all of us. 90 calories per can, with 5.5% alcohol, and produced from hand-selected California fruit, the spritzer is super fresh and zesty, perfect for holiday relaxation. Also from Josh Phelps, Grounded California Sauvignon Blanc ($15) pops with juicy gooseberry, freshly cut grass, soft herb, and juicy lemon-lime, perfect for sipping from the start of summer to the end.

From the organically farmed Ryan’s vineyard in the Oak Knoll AVA of Napa Valley, Ladera Napa Valley Sauvignon Blanc ($36) has a beautiful texture, structure, and refinement, while showcasing a fruit-filled palate. Blending predominantly Sauvignon Blanc with Sauvignon Musque, giving a beautiful complexity to the character of the wine, revealing layers of passionfruit, juicy kumquat, white peach, and honeysuckle.

Nothing says summer like super dry, super fresh Rose wine. And Provence is the home of great Rose wine. Miraval Cotes de Provence ($20) showcases the region to perfection, delivering a highly aromatic wine showcasing classic herbs de Provence like woody sagebrush and thyme, lavender, and lilac, with fruit flavors of tangerine, strawberry, and raspberry, with crushed stone and a light briny note from the influence of the Mediterranean Sea. Sister wine, Studio by Miraval ($16) named for the recording studio set up in the Miraval Chateau by the former owner, jazz pianist and composer, Jacques Loussier, sings with sultry notes of white flowers, ruby red grapefruit, and zesty citrus, enhanced by the sunshine-filled days of the French Riviera.

From Napa Valley Pinot Noir, Goosecross Rose of Lucy ($36), named for owner Christi Coors Ficeli’s daughter, is clean, refreshing, and fruit-filled. Aromas of wildflower and red fruit lift from the glass, followed by flavors of strawberry, rhubarb, mandarin, and watermelon. A perfect wine to pair with summer salads, ceviche, or grilled salmon.

Nicely textured and well-rounded, the historic Inglenook winery showcases an elegant blend of classic Rhone white varieties in their Blancaneaux ($65.) Melding Viognier, Marsanne, and Roussanne grown on their Rutherford estate, Blancaneaux reveals gorgeous notes of white peach, golden apricot, white flowers, tropical lychee, and orange blossom honey. Textured and rich, without being weighty, the luscious wine lingers on the palate for days, inviting you back for another sip as you slowly savor and enjoy.

A perfect pairing with your barbecue favorites or even a slow-cooked Ragu or bolognese, ColleMassari Montecucco Sangiovese DOCG (SRP $25,) highlights the historic area of Montecucco in Tuscany where wine has been made since the Etruscans inhabited the area in the 8th century. Rustic and earthy, melding ripe blackberry and blueberry, with cherry compote, floral notes of rose petals, melding seamlessly with savory herbs.

As you may be gathering with family and friends you haven’t seen in a while this weekend, Duckhorn’s “The Discussion” is the ideal red to enjoy, as taking the time to talk, hear, consider, and enjoy each other is such a welcome event. Representing the pinnacle wine for Duckhorn, and the constant drive to have continued discussions about what makes a great wine, “The Discussion” ($155) is a powerful blend of 51% Cabernet Sauvignon, with 46% Merlot, 2% Petit Verdot, and 1% Cabernet Franc.  Duckhorn has always had an affinity for Merlot, as shown in the balanced blend of fruit sourced from throughout their Napa Valley estate vineyards, and aged 2 years in new and neutral French oak barrels. With concentration and complexity, the wine opens with inviting notes of dark chocolate, toasted nutmeg, and black cherry preserves, leading to flavors of ripe plum and fig, roasted espresso, graphite, and leather. This is the wine to pair with your grilled ribeyes and will benefit from a bit of bottle aging, or allowing the wine to breathe a bit before enjoying.

#Cheers