JPPENS

Warmer days are coming and with it comes the call for some new found "refreshing" sipping beverage and the marketing world has blasted ahead to meet that call. The domestic wine industry (winemakers in this country) are attempting to compete with the huge beverage business and are working to keep themselves in the game.  Hard teas, seltzers, beers, wines and spirits are being packaged in just about anything that will hold and protect the liquid! Mini squeezables (frozen slushies), slim cans and short boxes that can easily be placed in coolers or over ice are taking over the packaging world.  They make it easy to "pack in and pack out" and most are lower in alcohol (except Spirits) so they can be easily enjoyed for hours on summer outings.    The beverage market has always been extremely competitive within their ranks and the marketing venues have managed to confuse and mislead many consumers as the shelves are flushed with brightly colored and bold font beverage hol

  Most of us in this country... pay our taxes work hard are good neighbors realize the power of our Democracy have never been investigated have never needed to be investigated sincerely care about others treasure our integrity respect each other are not afraid of our own thinking are not fearful of the truth don't have a team of lawyers don't lie their way into power don't ask for "loyalty" don't make promises we don't intend to keep don't rely on "hush" money to look good don't steal what we don't earn So how come "most of us" can't turn this mess around? "Most of us" would never elect a person like this to anything much less as a leader of this Country When "most of us" remain quiet people like this continue to fill our air I still believe that "most of us" are good honest people in the USA and our Democracy is dependent on "most of us".

 unless it is a ROSE-AY!!!! I know the Northeast is still in deep winter mode so keep enjoying those rich deep red wines but here in the Southeast Spring has sprung and that means it is time to begin to think about those chilled, fruity, crisp, dry and refreshing light red or dark pink wines to sip through the coming warm days. Because these wines are made from red grapes they tend to be more fruity and light because they only sit with the grape skins for a few hours instead of many days. The most common grapes used are grenache, pinot noir, syrah and sangiovese but others can be used as well.  These grapes most often make dry wines while White Zinfandel that is made with red zinfandel grapes tends to be sweeter. Rose wines can go the full spectrum from very very sweet to absolutely bone dry.  The style of wine and the winemaker who makes it determines the place on the spectrum.  For sure Rose wines have become much more popular. Just check out the "Rose" section at your loca