I have to be honest here. After a fabulous, and full, holiday weekend I’m kinda drained. And as I sit here typing this, looking out the window onto a beautiful sunny summer day, I can’t help but think about things non-work related, like sitting in my back yard, glass of something tasty and cold in hand, with nothing but the sound of chirping birds to keep my head occupied. And this lack of concentration is what’s inspired me to tell you about that something tasty and cold that will be in my glass later today.

The Substance Pinot Gris will be filling my cup after work today. Why this wine and not any of the plethora of others I have to choose from? This wine hits some critical marks that make it perfect for me. Firstly, it’s crisp, it’s bright, it isn’t too heavy or cloying, it’s simply refreshing. Secondly, it will move perfectly with me from my time idling in my adirondack chair to when I finally slide into the kitchen to make dinner, and then again as I sit down to eat. This wine has just enough body to be a great food wine with anything from seafood to pork, and it does so with grace. This Pinot Gris isn’t flamboyant and overly vibrant, it’s demure and easy to enjoy with out putting much thought into it!

From the Yakima Valley in Washington, this Pinot Gris has lovely aromas of apple, pear, melon, and citrus. The palate mirrors those aromas with notes of almond and a stony minerality. It’s round and balanced and just what I want to drink when I don’t want to think about much. This is back yard wine that’s also a putter in the kitchen wine and an easy drink with dinner wine too! What it’s not, is expensive, at $15.75 a bottle it’s truly a bargain considering all it can do. So come down to Dedalus and pick up a couple bottles of this stuff and have your own leisurely (aka lazy) evening at home.