The best wines for delightful outdoor drinking
There’s nothing better than outdoor drinking when warm days start blooming early at the end of winter. The first day of spring is March 19 this year, but face it, we all get itchy to hang out on the patio as soon as happy yellow daffodils break through the ground. And patio hanging calls for easy drinking wines.
These four wines bring fun, sweet refreshment to every sunny day. Some are bubbly, some are fruity and some are so sipable you'll want to spend all the lovely days on your patio.
To make it easy on you, we packed all of these wines in a delightful little bundle we like to call "Patio Pleasers." And it's not just full of wine. We added a stainless-steel cup to keep your drink cold, a jar of Duplin Gourmet Muscadine Pepper Jelly to add to your charcuterie platter and a cute garden flag that says it all: "We make pour decisions."
Grab one of these bottles and get to chillaxing in the sun.
How to taste wine like a Duplin pro
See. Swirl. Sniff. Sip. Savor. Use this 5-step system for each wine on the tasting sheet included in your kit. Here's how.
See: First, hold a glass of wine up to a light and look at the color. It will allude to the variety of grapes used and what the wine will taste like. Is it Scuppernong? Nobel? Carlos? Another? Color also indicates flavor. A bright, saturated hue often means a more intense flavor. See if you can guess the grape and flavor before you sip.
Swirl: Consider the wine's body next. Swirl the wine in your glass to determine if it is light or heavy. You're looking for the viscous streaks running down the side of the glass after you swirl. They're called "legs." Sweeter wines will leave streaks to cling or move slowly. That means a heavier body.
Sniff: After you swirl, really dip your nose into the glass and inhale the aroma, which wine pros call the "bouquet" or "nose." Pausing to experience the bouquet heightens your senses and anticipation of the first sip. Think about what you are smelling. Is it fruity? What kind of fruit? Berries? Ripe banana? Musky honeydew melon? Pure grape? Are you getting floral notes like honeysuckle or gardenia? See if you pick up unexpected smells like pine or fall leaves. Describe the bouquet and discuss it.
Sip: Take a sip slightly larger than normal and hold the wine in your mouth for 3-5 seconds. Let the wine coat the tongue and the inside of your mouth. Wine releases more flavors as it warms on your taste buds. Before swallowing, purse your lips and breathe in gently, allowing the air to travel across the wine in your mouth to get the full flavor profile.
Do the flavors you're experiencing match the wine's nose? When and where are you tasting those flavors? Are you getting, say, banana bread on the first sip and then astringency or acidity at the end, which is called "the finish." Where do flavors hit you? On the tongue? On the side of your mouth.
Think back to the wine's body. Compare the texture of different wines, how they feel in your mouth. Light as water or heavier, like the texture of sweet iced tea? If you're sampling a sparkling wine, do the bubbles feel fine or medium in size. Compare your experience to the wine's description and see if it matches.
Savor: As you continue sipping, note how the sensation is slightly different from what you experienced when the wine was resting in your mouth on the first sip. This is the point when you taste and feel the wine's finish. As you continue tasting, note how the wine pairs with the Duplin Gourmet crackers and Muscadine Pineapple Habenero dip. See which wine you like best with those snacks and others you may be enjoying during your at-home or virtual tasting. Cheers!
Now, let's begin your wine tasting!
Orange Blossom
A wine to welcome Florida to the Duplin family as we celebrate the opening of our new location in Panama City Beach. Inspired by the place where warm, orange blossom breezes blow and summer never ends. Refreshingly juicy citrus notes and light marmalade sweetness sparkle in this finely carbonated wine.
Sweet Lily
Made with the Doreen Muscadine grape, lightly bubbly Sweet Lily is lighter and more refreshing than many sweet wines. Invigorating is a good way to describe this white's lively yet light fruity flavor. Note the fresh, fruity aroma. Drop a few frozen blueberries pr blackberry in a glass of Sweet Lily for an extra-special treat.
Sangria Rosé
Fruity, mellow and just sweet enough, with a hint of citrus, Sangria Rosé is refreshing poured into a pitcher full of frozen strawberries. Pair it with late summer/early fall dishes such as steamed shrimp, chilled oysters, grilled salmon, butternut squash soup and spicy barbecue chicken sandwiches.
Sweet Caroline
The ruby-hued sweetest of our sweet wines blends Pink Catawba and Niagara grapes for a velvety start and floral finish. The essence of Southern hospitality, Sweet Caroline is the wine for lingering after dinner. Try it with a slice of our Chef Tabatha’s Famous Cheesecake.
Muscadine Pepper Jelly
Perfectly peppered with just the right amount of heat. Muscadine Pepper Jelly is the perfect condiment for easy entertaining with these helpful recipes!
