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Summer Kick Off

May 20, 2015

Start your summer celebrations off right with these suggestions from Paso Robles Wine Country!

Upcycle Your Corks

Is your patio lacking personality? Upcycle your corks into something useful and stylish like a patio chair, side table or other backyard decor! Not the crafting type? Sites like Etsy have plenty of ready-made wine cork furniture selections.

Rosé Season

Memorial Day Weekend is the unofficial start of summer, which means it’s the perfect time to share a bottle of refreshing Paso Robles Rosé. (Although, we’d argue that any weather is Rosé appropriate.)

 

Chill Out

Forgot to chill your wine before guests arrive? No worries! Here are few ways to chill wine in a pinch:

1. Ice Bucket: Perhaps the most obvious is to place your wine bottle in an ice bucket. Adding water to the bucket is another popular trick that results in a quicker chill time. But did you know that adding salt to the bucket further speeds up cooling time!

2. Freezer: Putting wine in the freezer will chill it quickly, but wrapping a wet towel around the bottle will speed up the process.

3. Glass by Glass: If you’re really short of time, pour your wine into individual glasses first, then place those in the fridge or freezer.

Stock up

Warmer weather means lots of outdoor parties and activities. Those summer get-togethers are a great excuse to stock up on recently released Whites and Rosés, plus other grill-friendly varieties like Cabernet Sauvignon and Zinfandel.

 

Bring a Cooler

Since you’ll be stocking up on favorite wines, you’ll need a safe place to keep them at your next tasting stops. Bring a cooler along! It’s a great place to keep wines cool, plus you can throw in some snacks and water bottles to stay hydrated.

 

Leave the Glass

Keep your bare feet safe, and swap out your usual glass or crystal wine glass for a summer ready alternative. Go Vino glasses or a stainless steel wine canteen is two great options.

Goodbye Mosquitos

Ward off pesky mosquitos by turning your empty wine bottles into Citronella Wine Bottle Candles!

Supplies:
1 empty and clean wine bottle
1 Tiki Torch wick refill (thick)
Citronella lamp oil
Metal washer same diameter as bottle opening
Funnel

Directions:
Pour the citronella oil into the wine bottle using a funnel. Feed the wick through the opening of the washer and place the longer side into the wine bottle, leaving about a 1/4-inch of the wick sticking out of the top. Light the wick, and enjoy your new candle!

This Memorial Day Weekend, don’t forget to raise your glass to all the brave men and women who have served our country. Cheers to them!