A concert, some fireworks and Dark Horse Pinot Grigio

We just finished up Fourth of July 2021….and oh how wonderful it was to start feeling back to normal!!!

We love a good July 4th celebration here in The Winey Household, and one of our favorite ways to spend Independence Day is listening to our world-renowned Cleveland Orchestra. The orchestra’s summer home is Blossom Music Center here in northeast Ohio. It’s music under the stars (there is a pavilion too) and as far as I am concerned the only way to listen correctly is to arrive with a picnic dinner, lawn chairs, blankets, bug spray and a bottle of wine. Or two.

Orchestra picnicking has become something of an art for orchestra fans, us included, over the years. When The Winey Kids were younger, the food of choice was KFC (extra crispy if you please). Our tastes have evolved over the years, (cheese, crackers, grilled shrimp, fruit) as has our supply list, which now includes special dinnerware and utensils, a wheeled cooler, a waterproof picnic blanket, unbreakable wine glasses and lawn stake drink holders. (If you take a close look at the slope of the hill you’ll see why these are necessary.)

Oh how we missed the orchestra at Blossom during the pandemic. It is simply a beautiful evening filled with world class music. We don’t just go on the 4th either. We’ve watched John Williams and Henry Mancini conduct their own music, we’ve heard Roger Daltrey and Brian Wilson sing with them and laughed along as they played the soundtracks live to Looney Tunes cartoons. That’s why, when the musicians took the stage and announced “We’re back!” we all rose to our feet and clapped and clapped and clapped.

Ok back to the picnic. And by the picnic I mean the wine we brought that night. In the heat of summer, you just can’t go wrong with a Pinot Grigio. For this outing the PG in question was a bottle of Dark Horse Pinot Grigio (13%, 2020, California). It’s an almost colorless wine – but the nose gets your attention right away with peaches and flowers. Sipping brings you the flavors of peach and some crisp minerals. It finishes with white flowers and a hint of peach.

This is such a refreshing wine – as well as a very easy sipping wine. (Hint: keep it as cold as you are able – the flavors really shine that way.) Sure, it’s tart, just as a Pinot Grigio should be, but it won’t dry you out. A deliciously light and flavorful wine that paired perfectly with Copeland, Souza and fireworks. If you like a zesty kick with a touch of stone fruit (peach) but not a strong citrusy sour taste to your white wine, you will love this.

Oh and did I mention that Dark Horse Pinot Grigio is so very affordable! I paid less than $10 and a quick search tells me it falls into that price range in lots of different areas.

Sweetness: dry Acidity: high Tannins: n/a Alcohol: medium Body: light

Cheers!!