Summertime Sips: Best Summer Wines and Cocktails for Every Gathering

A deliciously curated collection of libations to elevate every sunlit occasion.

This summer, let your glass reflect the season: elevated, expressive, and unforgettable. Whether you’re sipping in Sonoma or hosting in the city, these selections are your invitation to slow down, savor, and celebrate the sun.

For a Refined Coastal Soirée

Hailing from one of Meursault’s most storied Premier Cru sites, this Louis Latour Meursault Premier Cru “Château de Blagny” 2022 white Burgundy brings elegance to any table. Grown on limestone-rich slopes first tended by Cistercian monks, the wine opens with a delicate bouquet of acacia blossom and honeysuckle before unfolding layers of warm almond, ripe pear, and a precise, chalk-dust minerality that could only come from the Côte de Beaune—best paired alongside butter-poached lobster or scallops in browned-butter sauce.

Meursault-Blagny Premier Cru, photo courtesy of Louis Latour

Photo courtesy of Ehlers Estate

For Garden Lunches with Friends

Ehlers Estate’s 2023 Sylviane Estate Blanc – St. Helena
Elegant and organically farmed, this release offers both freshness and gravitas. With delicate minerality and floral lift, it’s a lovely companion to spring pea risotto, seared scallops, or a shaded table under olive trees.

For Mediterranean Vibes

Sicily’s Brugnano Grillo offers a breeze of citrus, salinity, and summer herbs—an ideal match for grilled vegetables or branzino. Harvested from sun-soaked coastal vineyards, it finishes with a whisper of almond and sea spray that transports you straight to a Mediterranean patio.

For Golden Hour Gatherings

The 2024 Priest Ranch Block 71 Sauvignon Blanc from Napa Valley shines with notes of white peach, lime zest, and pineapple made for golden-hour light and lively convos. Serve with crab cakes, citrus-marinated prawns, or a West Coast cheese board.

For the Creative Host’s Cocktail Night – Scott Beattie’s Artisan Cocktail Course + Rue de Rêve Mixers + Artisan Cocktails from the Garden

Elevate your entertaining with Scott Beattie’s Artisanal Cocktail Course or stock your home bar with Rue de Rêve’s handcrafted mixers. Beattie’s cult-favorite book, Artisanal Cocktails, brings the beauty of seasonal mixology into your kitchen with recipes inspired by Northern California’s bounty.

Photo credit: Layne Randolph
Photo courtesy of Ram’s Gate

For a Stylish Rooftop Brunch

The 2023 Ram’s Gate Estate Pinot Blanc, grown on a four-acre organic block in Carneros, greets the nose with soft white-flower perfume before unfurling cool citrus, pear skin, and crushed-stone minerality. Six months sur lie adds a subtle creaminess that cushions its bright, feather-light frame. Blended from three heritage clones—Beringer Selection, Bien Nacido, and Etude—it offers restrained elegance that pairs beautifully with butter-poached halibut or truffle pasta.

For Any Celebration

Ca’ del Bosco’s Franciacorta Cuvée Rosé Annamaria Clementi glows a radiant salmon, layering candied cherry, marzipan, and toasted hazelnut atop a creamy, sea‑kissed palate. Just as comfortable at an impromptu Tuesday rooftop toast as at a milestone banquet, it pairs effortlessly with crudo, tempura, or young cheeses. Pop the cork whenever the mood strikes—this is the bottle that transforms any gathering, large or small, into a celebration.

For Poolside Aperitivo Hour

The Lambert Bridge Summer Spritz Basket is a fun, curated splurge that delivers instant elegance: Lambert Bridge Sauvignon Blanc, Meyer lemon-rose syrup, San Pellegrino, ice, and dried fruit garnish, artfully arranged in a charming basket. Set it poolside, mix a round of spritzes, and ease into aperitivo hour under the sun. With bright citrus, gentle bubbles, and a splash of Sonoma flair, your summer gathering is off to a sparkling start.

Lambert Bridge Summer Spritz Basket, photo courtesy of Lambert Bridge

Robert Mondavi Fumé Blanc, photo courtesy of Robert Mondavi Winery

A Nostalgic Family Reunion

In 1968, Napa Valley’s Robert Mondavi recast Sauvignon Blanc’s image by christening his oak-kissed, dry style “Fumé Blanc,” tipping his hat to France’s Pouilly‑Fumé. Today’s Robert Mondavi Fumé Blanc begins with a snap of Meyer lemon zest, leading to tropical scents like lychee and mango. Lush stone‑fruit flavors unfurl on the palate, with a faint salinity and a racing acidity. It’s summer captured in a single sip.

When Only a Red Will Do

Pop the J Vineyards 2022 Russian River Valley Pinot Noir in the fridge before a summer dinner party so it’s perfectly chilled when guests arrive! This Pinot Noir is versatile, offering notes of ripe blackberry, black cherry, and dark plum. A touch of oak makes for a delectable chilled red wine to enjoy on the porch to wind down a summer day. Serve with grilled eggplant, tuna steak, or lamb skewers during a garden BBQ.

Raising a glass of J Vineyards, photo courtesy of J Vineyards

Final Note

Summer isn’t just a season—it’s a series of moments. From poolside apéritifs to candlelit coastal dinners, these bottles transform the everyday into something memorable. Cheers to celebrating beautifully, one curated pour at a time.


ABOUT LAYNE RANDOLPH
While living in Italy for nearly a decade, Layne was legal counsel for Fendi in Rome and, as a side gig, a freelance travel writer. After relocating to Sonoma County, California, she dusted off her journalism degree to craft stories full-time as Roma to Sonoma. She’s led readers into the cellars and vineyards of hundreds of wine brands as a contributor to publications such as Decanter, Wine Enthusiast, AFAR, Napa Valley Life, and Haute Living San Francisco.  She is a 2022 and 2023 fellowship recipient of the Professional Wine Writers Symposium. She is pursuing an Advanced Level 3 wine certification from the Wine & Spirits Education Trust (WSET) and is a certified Napa Valley Wine Specialist through the Napa Valley Wine Academy. She focuses on travel and wine and dreams of places to add to the five continents, 50 US states, and 53 countries she has explored.

Layne Randolph