Summertime Sipping

            After a full day of hot summer fun on Smith Mountain Lake, everyone looks forward to liquid refreshment that will not only cool the throat, but soothe the soul as well. So, what is the best choice?

            Each person has his or her own preference, but it is worth noting that certain styles of beer, wine and cocktails all fit the bill. Let’s begin by examining just what makes a beverage refreshing on a sweltering day. At the risk of stating the obvious, the drink needs to be cold to chill the imbiber down. Americans’ love of refrigerated beverages is well known, but we will steer clear of mass-marketed commercial beers and white zinfandel wine and focus on more interesting alternatives.

            Belgian white-style beers offer crisp refreshment when served ice cold with a lemon or orange wedge. These brews are crafted from a mixture of wheat and malted barley and usually weigh in with modest alcohol content in the 5-percent range. Strong alcohol does not enhance refreshment. These ales are crafted with seasonings such as coriander, star anise and orange peel and undergo a secondary fermentation resulting in a bit of hazy yeast left behind. The suspended yeast gives the brew a milky appearance, hence the moniker "white." A few popular examples available locally are Blue Moon Belgian White, Shock Top and Hoegaarden.

            Since red wine usually is served at room temperature, white wine is more suited for summertime consumption. Forget heavy, oak-laden Chardonnay and take a look at white wine from cool climate areas. Albariño from Spain’s Northwest Galicia region and Vinho Verde from adjacent northern Portugal are fresh and invigorating. The area’s cool growing season produces grapes with moderate sugar content, yielding wines with judicious alcohol content. The wines are crafted without any exposure to oak so that only pure citrus fruit and apple flavors dance on the palate. Sauvignon Blanc from New Zealand with its pink grapefruit and kiwi notes is another refreshing choice. These wines match swimmingly with seafood dishes and light summer salads.

            I became familiar with creative ways to beat the heat growing up in southern Georgia. My grandfather’s beverage of choice was iced tea sweetened with pineapple juice. He would also select a prime watermelon and chill it in the freezer until he was ready to serve it for our July Fourth barbecue.

            Today, watermelon-based cocktails can be quite soothing. The Midori Melon Ball Drop provides sweet watermelon flavors delivered in a cool green package. Midori is a green Japanese liqueur crafted from honeydew melon. To make this drink, pour 2 ounces Midori melon liqueur and 1 ounce citrus vodka into a tumbler filled with ice. Fill the glass with pineapple juice and garnish with a melon ball.

            Those who prefer a crisper drink with less sweetness should consider the classic gin and tonic. The juniper berry flavor in the gin is complimented nicely by the bitterness of the quinine in the tonic water. Dan Shervey, who enjoys summertime entertaining on his dock in The Waterfront, has concocted a variation of this classic that is a bit more tart. The Wisconsin native serves vodka and tonic spiked up with a bit of tangy cranberry juice. The cranberry juice marries nicely with the neutral flavors of the vodka, he said. Another plus is that his wife Joanne likes it.

            "The cranberry juice adds some tartness and makes the drink light and refreshing," Shervey said. " It is perfect for summer sipping on the dock."

Gordon Kendall has more than 20 years of experience in the wine business and is currently the wine, beer and sprits columnist for The Roanoke Times. He teaches wine classes and enjoys educating people on all things related to the industry. Kendall lives in Roanoke with his wife and assorted cats. If you have an idea for a future Spirits column, please email gmoney007@cox.net.