What are the dog days of summer? If you thought they were the hottest days of the season when we all just lie around like hot dogs, you would only be half right. In fact, “dog days” is astrological: the Ancient Romans marked the beginning of the period when Sirius appears in the sky right before the sun as dies caniculares, or “days of the dog star,” which eventually became “dog days.” The Ancient Romans also brought us plenty of vino, so cool off in these dog days of summer (July 3-August 11) with our recs below.
Refresh and Unwind with 15 Cool Summer Cocktails: ‘Nuff said. Gabrielle Nicole Pharms has all the spritzes, punches, mules, and more for your hot summer afternoon.
Everything You Need to Know about Gewürztraminer: First of all, here’s how you say it: gev-OORTZ-tra-meener. Beyond that, let Brian Freedman convince you why it’s the next white wine you should fill up your glass with this summer.
Can You Master the Basics of Wine on YouTube? Wall Street Journal’s Lettie Teague scoured YouTube’s content for helpful and legit wine videos so you don’t have to.
4 Countries Where South American Sparkling Wine Shines: We can’t get enough of sparkling wine. Did you know South America makes excellent bubbles? Jesica Vargas gives us the best regions and wineries to look for.
Scandinavian Seafood Party: Inspired by Europe’s outdoor seafood parties, Lou Seibert Pappas has recipes and wine pairings for what will be the most popular party you throw this summer.
Everything You Need to Know about Malbec: Brian Freedman delves into Argentina’s most important red grape: why should you drink it, how much does it cost, what does it taste like, and more.
The Ultimate Guide to Biking in Sonoma County: This comprehensive guide to everything biking in Sonoma County lists bike shops, biking personalities, bike routes, and everything in between—including, of course, vineyards and wineries to stop by!
Discovering the Wines of Nizza DOCG: Have you tried a Nizza wine yet? If you’re scratching your head about what it even is, don’t let this stunning Barbera wine pass you by. Charles Scicolone gives several bottles to try.
Season 6 Premiere: Summer Reading and Wine Pairings from Book + Bottle’s Terra Dunham: Whether you’re looking for a poolside read or a historical fiction to dig into this summer, The Zest Podcast has four great recommendations from the owner of combination bookstore/wine bar Book + Bottle (which…sounds like an amazing locale!).
