July 6th Picks: Vibrant Coastal Rose & A Favorite Summer Red

Caitlin Peter's Pick

Hirsch Vineyards Rose of Pinot Noir Sonoma Coast 2023

Hirsch Vineyards is one of the Sonoma Coast's most iconic estates, farming organically on a rugged site just a few miles from the Pacific Ocean. Their wines uniquely capture the wild beauty and spirit of this extreme coastal terroir. The 2023 Rosé of Pinot Noir is equal parts elegance and vibrancy, bursting with notes of wild strawberry, watermelon, blood orange, and a touch of coastal salinity. Bright, refreshing, and effortlessly charming, this is the bottle you'll happily open for friends...and secretly hope they don't finish.

Zack Whitaker’s Pick 

Morando Silvio Grignolino Monferrato 2024

The Morando family has a long and storied history of winemaking, spanning the last four centuries, starting in Sardinia then moving to Corsica, and finally ending up in Piedmonte. Their current estate rests in Monferrato, where Grignolino reigns supreme, and Silvio himself is hailed as the "Grignolino Wizard". And you need to be a wizard to truly showcase the beauty of this very pernicious and difficult to grow grape. Fermented and aged completely in stainless steel to preserve the freshness and fruit character, this incredibly light bodied wine still manages to be crisp and well structured at the same time. Think of this as a summertime Nebbiolo that still has the flavors of dried rose petals and sage, but trades the dark cherry flavors for wild strawberries. This is my favorite summer red that is great by itself, but also pairs surprisingly well with a wide range of dishes. I recommend drinking this with a slight chill to really let the freshness shine through...so be sure you have a bottle to put into your cooler next time you celebrate!