Weekend Patio Party Picks

Day long weekend is in full swing and that usually means organizing or attending some sort of garden party or barbecue soiree. Such invitations can be perplexing. For instance, what is one to wear? Will it be shorts or khakis, flip-flops or loafers? If you tend to agonize over such things you might be interested to know that in a city full of budding oenophiles which wine you bring to the bash may say more about you than how well you are dressed.

Okay, maybe it's not quite that crucial, but if your bottle of Fuzion Malbec is the 10th to arrive at the party you might as well not show up. Know that you can be as adventurous as ever in summer with wine and the sooner you drink something different the more fun you are likely to have.

There is something about eating and drinking outdoors in the summer that is hard to resist and bottles that offer instant gratification are usually a great fit in an al fresco environment. Certainly if the warm weather continues, it's the fresh, aromatic flavours of wine that will have wide appeal.

Remember light and fruity doesn't have to mean flavourless and flabby, nor should the wine possess a finish that is longer than the waiting times at the Peace Arch border crossing. The perfect summer sipper should be equipped with a balance of fruit and acid, moderate alcohol, low or no oak, and a clean, crisp, refreshing finish.

Mineral, chalk and citrus flavours are excellent white wine flavours; red fruits and soft tannins are the attributes one associates with summer barbecue reds. Don't forget rose. It has more mouth-weight than most whites but does not overpower the food in the way red wine tannins might. Less acidity and lower alcohol are two key features of dry rose, when compared with whites and reds that allow it to pair well with a variety of dishes both warm and cold.

Now that you are ready to start sipping, the question is, what should you bring to the party? Grapes like sauvignon blanc, Riesling, Gewurztraminer and unoaked chardonnay come quickly to mind; the younger and fresher, the better. You can add Chenin Blanc and some viognier to that list, as well as blends that involve a multitude of all of the aforementioned grapes.

Lighter red wine is more of a challenge, but anything that doesn't see a lot of oak would be a good start. Throw in some Gamay, Grenache, zinfandel and Pinot Noir and you are ready to hit the garden.

Just in case you are too busy to come up with your own list, here are six killer party wines for the weekend you can buy by the case. All you need now are some shorts and flip-flops.

I've said it before and I will say it again: South Africa has a flair for sauvignon and you can see it even in the bargain bottles. Two Oceans Sauvignon Blanc 2009 over-delivers with a blend of vineyards and fruits across the Cape. Look for a fresh, bright green fruit nose with bits of honey and an undercurrent of grass. Love the balance and fruit -- not too sweet, not too bitter -- and the light passion fruit finish. Delicious, easy-drinking introductory sauvignon that over-delivers for the price.

Another home run for Trivento producers, but this time it is not malbec. Trivento Reserve Syrah 2008 comes with dense, meaty, peppery fruit with a full twist of licorice and spice. Warm rustic, round and affordable, this will tame most steaks and almost anything else grilled on the barbecue.

When we say you should be adventurous, La Vieille Ferme Cotes du Luberon Blanc 2009 comes to mind. The Grenache Blanc, Bourboulenc, Ugni Blanc, Roussanne blend may sound scary, but the delicate rose petal, spicy, lemon grass, grapefruit, pear, quince and ginger aromas and flavours are made for summer. Fine intensity for the money and an all-around handy summer sipper.

Another hit, from its appealing, eye of the partridge colour to the floral fruity nose, is the Chat-en-Oeuf Dry Rose from the Rhone Valley. This Grenache/Syrah rose is delightfully dry with fine acidity and a mix of citrus strawberry fruits. Try this with your favourite summer salad or fresh, cracked Dungeness crab.

Already a wine list stalwart in Vancouver restaurants, the 1884 Reservado Malbec 2009 is classic malbec with its intense colour, peppery savoury fruit and plush character. I'm happy to report this version is drier than previous efforts, making it easier to get through the bottle. It represents crazy value at $18 and works well with most anything grilled on the barbecue. It is still young and fresh with some gritty tannins, but they will dissipate alongside the meat or going forward with time in the bottle.

Okay, not every wine can be inexpensive. The ripe, round, dry, full palate of Antinori Peppoli Chianti Classico 2007 suggests class and sophistication, and the black pepper, black cherry, meaty, smoky, plummy fruit backs up the supposition. Expect fine acidity (great with food) and excellent concentration (to impress your guests). Peppoli makes that "I know" wine statement, quietly. Now all you need is the perfect footwear and the weekend is yours.

Price: $10.50

UPC: 6001497600616

Score: 86/100

Remarks: Delicious easy-drinking introductory sauvignon that over-delivers for the price.

Trivento Reserve Syrah 2008, Mendoza, Argentina

Price: $13

UPC: 07798039590434

Score: 87/100

Remarks: Rich, almost dense, meaty, peppery, fruit with a full twist of licorice.

La Vieille Ferme Cotes du Luberon Blanc 2009, Cotes du Luberon, Provence, France

Price: $14

UPC: 631470000049

Score: 87/100

Remarks: Good intensity for the money, an all-around white for summer.

Chat-en-Oeuf Dry Rose 2009, Cotes-du-Ventoux, Southern Rhone Valley, France

Price: $14

UPC: 03430560001693

Score: 88/100

Remarks: Try this with fresh, cracked Dungeness crab. Delightful.

1884 Reservado Malbec 2009, Mendoza, Argentina

Price: $17

UPC: 00722358070008

Score: 88/100

Remarks: Crazy value at $18 and works well with most anything on the barbecue.

Antinori Peppoli Chianti Classico 2007, Tuscany, Italy

Price: $29

UPC: 008001935001362

Score: 89/100

Remarks: Ripe, round, dry, rich and full palate with light tannins.