Lake Martin Magazine

For a lot of people, the passing of Memorial Day signals the beginning of the boating season. But there’s something else that folks around here look forward to with just as much enthusiasm – fresh ripe red tomatoes right from the vine.

Summer could arrive early this year (if it’s not here already), so it’s time to start planning. Here are a few things to think about before Old Sol gets directly overhead. Life on the lake is casual, relaxed and carefree. That means the food and beverages we serve will likely be casual and relaxed as well.

Some people know this, others don’t: there is a distinct difference between drinking wine and tasting wine. It is very much like the difference between eating and tasting what we eat. Taste is everything, but it isn’t just what we perceive with our mouths.

Knowing what, when and how to decant wine can have a huge impact on our ultimate enjoyment of a particular wine. Here’s a review of the basics and some things to think about before we pull the next cork.

Are you feeling holiday stressed yet? Are you ready for some advice on what to get the people who have everything? The trend this year is to buy practical gifts that are reflective of the austere economy. Wine drinkers are the easiest to buy for, though there are some caveats and a few things to keep in mind: For one, our taste in wine is a very personal thing. That cannot be overstated.

With the most stressful time of the year rapidly approaching, it seems that one wine question comes up more than any others: “What should I buy?” Decisions on gifts and entertaining may be overwhelming, but it’s not enough to get worked up about. For some of us, the lucky ones, Thanksgiving could be a week-long event. That means lots of wine, so tip No. 1 is to buy by the case to take advantage of case discounts.

Of the thousands – thousands – of grape varieties that could make wine, those that make the wines we drink most often are relatively few. If this was a test, how many could you name? It should be easy to get four whites; Pinot Gris (full credit if you call it Pinot Grigio), Sauvignon Blanc, Riesling and Chardonnay would likely be on everyone’s list. Some others might include Viognier, Gewurztraminer, Pinot Blanc, Trebbiano, Albarino or Chenin Blanc.

School buses, book bags and the smell of pigskin are back. All our little sponges are on the edge of their seats, upright with ears perked, eager to learn something new. We were there once and for some of us the excitement lasted all year. For others, school was a chore. Little did we know that learning never stops.

Anyone who reads this column religiously (Hi, Mom!) knows that about once a year, somewhere between Memorial Day and Labor Day, I have to snap out of my giddiness for wine and get serious about something. Being on the lake with friends, family and fireworks is an awesome reminder of how fortunate we are.

With temperatures approaching the oppressive mark there are several things we can do to enhance our enjoyment of wine. When they say drink plenty of liquids, alcohol isn’t what they are recommending, but there is a place for wine on the summertime menu.