In fact, the 2010 Dietary Guidelines for Americans, published every five years by the U.S. Department of Agriculture, recognizes evidence to support drinking in moderation:

“Strong evidence from observational studies has shown that moderate alcohol consumption is associated with a lower risk of cardiovascular disease.  Moderate alcohol consumption also is associated with reduced risk of all-cause mortality among middle-aged and older adults and may help to keep cognitive function intact with age. “

If you are wondering about the use of the word moderation, they further clarify what is a moderate amount of alcohol.  It’s actually pretty easy, two servings for men and one for women.  I love this recommended amount because it roughly translates to a very simple quantity for the average adult couple.  Share a bottle over two days.

Sharing that bottle is easy when you make it part of a meal.  When you are preparing your menu for the evening, whether it’s a simple or gourmet meal, don’t forget the beverage.  Not only does it have the health benefits, it can help reduce daily stress, and it can add complexity to your meal.

So this year, as you are making your resolutions, don’t forget to add wine!  I know when I’m drinking this year, I will be drinking for my health!

Most of the hesitation towards rosé comes from most consumers experience with White Zinfandel in California. The light salmon hue of a dry rosé immediately draws a Pavlovian response, “I don’t like sweet wines.” Stop right there, because the rise in pink wines is not in the sweet segment, but rather the fermented bone-dry wines.

Dry rosé can be created in various different ways. Some are created by pulling juice off a red-wine ferment in order to concentrate the color of the red wine (Saignée method). This is probably the most common method used today, but others are beginning to focus solely on rosé with no intention of creating a red wine. The other method you’ve probably done yourself at a wine tasting! The blending of red and white wine to create rosé is the specialty of Champagne and is fairly uncommon elsewhere in the world.

The names of the grapes are familiar. Rosé from around the world can be made with any of the red grape varieties. While the great dry rosés from Provence are usually blends, there are fantastic single varietal bottles of Pinot Noir, Cabernet Sauvignon, and even Malbec! One of the best features of rosé is the wines will take on the flavor characteristics of the red grapes. Red drinkers will recognize the flavors of their favorite red wines in a light and refreshing style, while white wine drinkers will appreciate the crisp acidity and clean flavors.

The next time you are reaching for a bottle of wine for the summer months, whether you’re at the pool, on a boat, or sitting on a beach in the South of France, try a dry rosé. If you can set aside the cloyingly sweet memories of your early drinking days, you will be immensely rewarded with one of the wine world’s greatest pairings… a bottle of dry rosé and a comfortable seat outside on a beautiful sunny day.

Cheers!
David Metz

Chardonnay
There is something seductive about the creamy texture of Chardonnay, but the rich flavors don’t often play well with the summer sun.  As an alternative to Chardonnay, search out white wines from the Rhone.  Roussanne, Marsanne, and Grenache Blanc are often blended to create wines with similar texture and weight, but with more summer fruit flavors.

Sauvignon Blanc
Although it is already a great wine for summer sipping, Sauvignon Blanc can be a bit intense when the sun beats down.  Instead of reaching for that Sauvignon Blanc this summer, try grabbing a wine from Rueda.  These Spanish whites are predominately Verdejo, but may also contain a splash of Sauvignon Blanc.  Expect subtle citrus notes followed up with aromas of white flowers.

Pinot Grigio
Pinot Grigio is probably the wine that doesn’t need an alternative, but if we are exploring we might as well give it a mention.  Almost every region in France has a wine dedicated to the local fresh seafood.  They are light, crisp and charged with wonderful minerality.  My favorite this year is Picpoul.  A chilled bottle of Picpoul and some grilled oysters or mussels from Kathleen’s Catch is my idea of a perfect summer evening.

Reds
The most common summer sipper for red drinkers is Pinot Noir, but there are other great wines for warm weather red drinking.  Many entry-level Cotes du Rhones are fermented in steel tanks or concrete vats and are bottled young.  These methods keep the wines fresh and youthful, providing crushed cherry and bright raspberry flavors.  I love putting a bottle in the fridge for a few minutes.  The cooler temperature makes the wine seem brighter and temper any alcohol heat.

You should be able to find all of these wines at your local wine shop.  While there are expensive versions of some of the wines, you can find fantastic versions for under $15.  One more bit of advice.  When in doubt, open a bottle of Champagne.

Cheers!
David Metz

]]> http://www.johnscreekwineandcrystal.com/2012/05/10/our-first-week/feed/ 0 http://www.johnscreekwineandcrystal.com/2012/04/24/a-little-introduction/ http://www.johnscreekwineandcrystal.com/2012/04/24/a-little-introduction/#comments Tue, 24 Apr 2012 14:20:01 +0000 admin http://www.johnscreekwineandcrystal.com/?p=235 I love wine.  It does not matter whether it is red, white, green, or purple.  Not only do I find it enjoyable to drink, but also I find it romantic. Call me old school… I’ll appreciate it.  Now that we’ve gotten that out of the way…

About 13 years ago I started learning about wine, and I was blessed to befriend someone else who loved wine.  He didn’t care about soil types, barrels, or sugar content.  The man loved wine, and more importantly, he loved the people that drank wine.  He gave me the best advice of my life, “Wine has never been about what’s in the bottle, it’s about the faces around it.”

That’s precisely why I am looking forward to being at Johns Creek Wine & Crystal on a daily basis.  Even though I grew up just down Old Alabama in Roswell, Johns Creek is a new place to me.  As we have been through the process of building out the store, the tremendous support and encouragement has been overwhelming.  So from our selection of over 850 wines, whether its red, white, green or purple, I am looking forward to sharing a bottle with all the new faces in Johns Creek.

Cheers,
David Metz