My summer drink picks (as a beverage obsessed sommelier)
Because a girl need options.
Raise your hand if you’re one of those people who always needs a drink in hand. I’m not just talking alcohol here - I just mean literally anything to sip on. (my hand is up). For real though, if I don’t have a drink in hand I’m probably asleep, and this need is even greater in the summer!
Since I was (very generously) gifted this freaking amazing beverage fridge, I thought this would be a great opportunity to fill it up with my first round of summer drink picks! We’re talking wine, beer, kombucha, soda - allll the fun stuff. This fridge also doubles as the worlds cutest bar cart, so I also included what I’m keeping ON TOP of my fridge to make all my summer cocktail dreams come true. Let’s do this.
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From top to bottom, here’s what’s in (and on) my beverage fridge this summer.
On top: All the cocktail necessities
One of the many (many) cool things about this fridge is that it basically doubles as a gorgeous piece of furniture. One that perfectly fits my office decor, might I add. I’m using it as my office mini bar, so I wanted to include some things on top that I would actually use to make my favourite summer cocktails! And some pretty things that make me smile, of course.
What are my favourite summer cocktails, you ask?
SO many. But to name a few: I love myself a margarita, martini, spritz (of any and all kinds), French 75, and of course the Calgary classic: a loaded spicy Caesar. I’ll be posting my recipe this summer, but I included a premade Caesar mix in this list!
liquor and liqueurs
Epsolón Tequila Reposado - such a great tequila for margs
Sheringham Seaside Gin - an awesome Canadian dry gin (from Vancouver Island) that’s just perfect for a dirty gin martini or tomatini!
Dolin Dry Vermouth - you neeeed a dry vermouth on hand for the perfect martini, and this is my go-to!
Park Distillery Flora and Fauna Gin - another Canadian one (from Banff!) - I absolutely love this floral gin for a French 75 or G&T, and it was so so good in my boozy St. Germain Gin Spritz!
Caravella Limoncello for a limoncello spritz
St. Germain Elderflower Liqueur for a St. Germain spritz
Aperol for the best of the best: APEROL SPRITZ!
the other stuff
Anthropologie cocktail glasses - I like these more for cocktails than wine, but they’re so pretttyyyy.
Book: Rebel School of Wine by Tyler Balliet - this very quickly became my favourite wine book, and the COLOURS THOUGH. Highly recommend this for anyone looking to learn more about wine!
Book: Happy Hour Snacks by Bec Vrana Dickinson - I mean, how could I not buy this book!
Top shelf: Bubbles on bubbles
In case you haven’t caught on yet, I’m a bit bubble-obsessed. There’s seriously nothing like a cold glass of bubs on a hot day. And when you pair them with food? OH BOY. I stocked up on a few of faves, and there are some epic pairings coming your way!
Paltrinieri Solco Lambrusco - such a fantastic dry Lambrusco, and super reasonably priced! You’re going to LOVE the pairing for this one.
Cave de Lugny Cremant de Bourgogne Brut Rose - a Champagne alternative that I keep coming back to. The quality is insane, the colour is stunning, and it won’t break the bank! I recently paired this one with my Strawberry Bruschetta Whipped Boursin, and I am not joking when I say stop what you’re doing and go make it now.
Umberto Cesari Liano Prosecco DOC - this one was new to me, but an absolute treat. It’s high quality and everything you would expect from Prosecco (fruity, floral, easy drinking), plus it has a super cute label! It’s the yellow and white striped one - just perfect from a Limoncello spritz ;)
Summerhill Pyramid Winery Cipes Brut - a long time favourite of mine. This is a Canadian sparkling wine made from mostly Riesling and straight up screams summer. I just paired it with my Honey Butter Hot Corn Dip, and it was insane.
Piper Hiedsieck Essentiel Blanc de Blancs - of course I need to have at least one true Champagne on hand - and this is gooood one. It was a wedding gift, and she’s going to be a treat! And if you’re reading this and happen to be the one who bought it for us, please please let me know! It didn’t come with a card so it’s a lovely little mystery! We’re planning to pop it real soon, and the pairing is worthy. So stay tuned ;)
Second shelf: Local craft everything
Canadian craft beer is everything. And I might be biased, but Calgary’s selection and quality is unmatched! The hubs and I are always trying new options, but here’s what we stocked up on this time! Most of from Calgary, plus a few awesome ones from BC. I also included a craft caesar mix from Canmore, because I’m all about a good ol’ savoury summer Caes!
Vacay Brew Co. ‘El Hefe’ Hopped Hefeweizen (Calgary AB)
Eighty-Eight Brewing Co. Hi-Fi Haze IPA (Calgary AB) - love everything about this hazy and this brewery.
Superflux Beer Company ‘Happyness’ IPA (Vancouver BC)
Cabin Brewing Company ‘Super Saturation’ Hazy Pale Ale (Calgary AB) - one of our long-time favourites. We always have a few cans of this one on hand!
88 x Cabin ‘Love in Stereo’ Hazy DIPA (Calgary AB) - I WISH this one was still available. It was a collab between two of my favourite Calgary breweries and was so so good. Please bring it back!
Superflux Beer Company ‘Cottontail’ IPA (Vancouver BC)
Dead frog Brewery ‘Watermelon Warhead’ Imperial Sour (Langley BC)
Parkway Craft Caesar Mix (Canmore, AB)
Third shelf: Rosé for DAYS
Is it even summer if we’re not drinking rosé?
Jacob Toft ‘Josephine’ Rosé - this one is special. We picked it up on our Cali RV trip earlier this year! We had a tasting experience at the super cool Jacob Toft Winery in Paso Robles, and I was shocked and so happy to find out that the rosé I loved so much was named Josephine! If you’re new here, that’s my daughter’s name, so of course we bought a bottle! I’m also in love with the label (the one with the succulent). We plan on opening this one in August for Josie’s 1st birthday! (AH).
Bollicella Rosato Frizzante (Pet Nat) - I have yet to try this one, but I was very easily convinced to buy it from one of my favourite wine stores in Calgary. I can’t wait to pop it! And the recipe I have planned for it will blow you away.
Benjamin Bridge Nova 7 - I have TWO wines from this iconic Nova Scotian winery on this list, and for good reason! I absolutely love their wine, and I love that they’re spreading the word about Nova Scotian wine. Yes, Nova Scotia on the east coast of Canada is an awesome little wine region. And they make some pretty freaking amazing rosé, bubbles, and whites! Nova 7 is a unique gem. It’s a rosé frizzante (light bubbles), with a noticeable sweet and salty thing going on that really makes it stand out. I’m super PROUD of the recipe I have planned for this one, so stay tuned!
Benjamin Bridge Wildrock Sauvignon Blanc - Another by Benjamin Bridge! Not a rosé, but I wanted to put it next to it's friend in the fridge :) I haven’t tried this one yet, but was told it tastes like a creamsicle. Sold.
‘The Beach’ by Whispering Angel Rosé - Always a go-to. Affordable, delicious, perfectly pink. Love it.
Fourth shelf: A variety of gems
Quails Gate Field and Flight Chardonnay - A Canadian/US hybrid Chardonnay that I can’t wait to try!
Thistledown ‘The Cunning Plan’ Shiraz - Picked this one up from Costco and have been saving it for the grill! Steak and shiraz yes plzzz
Gilvesy Varadi Furmint - This one deserves a standing ovation. I’m posting the pairing this week, and all I have to say is GET READY.
Lightning Rock Pinot Noir - I love love love Lightning Rock - a Canadian winery in the Okanagan that produces some awesome wines! I have yet to try this one, but their Chenin Blanc Pet Nat was insanely good with last year’s Brie Brûlée!
ONES Sparkling Red (non-alcoholic) - gotta include at least one NA one, right?! This is another Canadian one that I’ve heard awesome things about! Postpartum Steph is still not super keen on non-alcoholic wines (I tried too many while pregnant, and… I want the real stuff). BUT I am going to pop this baby this summer and I’ll let you know my thoughts when I do!
Fifth Shelf: Some faves, some new. All gems.
Henry of Pelham Baco Noir Old Vines - I used to do a lot of private wine tastings, and this was one I went back to over and over. Another Canadian gem (from Ontario) that I like to describe as the blueberry pie that no one wants to share. That might sound weird, but just try it and you’ll get it.
Flor Innata Verdejo - Another one I haven’t tried yet, but I love the label and I love Verdejo! I think i’ll make my super loved Artichoke Asiago dip again when I open this one up :)
Fledge & Co. Veld Versnit - this one’s new to me as well, but I had a little taste with my Coravin because I couldn’t wait. And now I can’t wait to drink an actual glass and create the recipe I have planned for it! A South African red blend (mostly Cinsault) that could not be more perfect for summer.
Olim Bauda Gavi del Comune di Gavi - can’t stop raving about this one. I recently paired it with my Tomato Pesto Confit Burrata, and believe me when I say as long as it’s available, I will always have a bottle of this stuff on hand.
Andreas Bender Pinot Noir - I’ll forever love this German Pinot. It’s such a crowd-pleaser, so easy drinking, pairs amazingly with food, and is just the best kind of bottle to have on hand. I paired it with my Stuffed Mushroom Pinwheels last year - SO GOOD.
Bottom Shelf: Soda, kombucha, & bubs (of course)
I love me a bubbly bevy, and that doesn’t always mean wine or beer! I’m currently really into Poppi Sodas and Happy Belly Kombucha, and I’ll always love my Bubly. The new orange cream flavour though… so so good in a spritz!
This haul won’t last all summer, so stay tuned for my re-stock! Cheers and thank you for being here!
xx
Steph