I'm going simple ... being here in Northern Cali I'm going for

La Crema Rose of Pinot Noir - chilled with some San Joaquin Gold cheese.

Greg ... you got me thinking ... a rose or white isn't the only thing possible, something bubbly would be nice too.

- Domaine Carneros Brut http://www.snooth.com/wine/domaine-carneros-brut-05/
- Freixenet Cordon Negro Cava Brut http://www.snooth.com/wine/freixenet-cordon-negro-cava-brut-6/

Not over the top and not pricey but definitely refreshing. :-)

A nice... wait for it .... Prosecco!

Cheap and delicious. My Favorite: http://www.snooth.com/wine/col-vetoraz-prosecco-di-valdobbiadene-brut/

But now that I'm thinking of bubbles how about something lowish alcohol and with just a spritz. The worlds greatest Tapas

and fried seafood wine

is

Txacoli!

http://www.snooth.com/wines/txacoli/

So now in addition to dreaming about younger I've got sunny Spain and tapas on my mind!

Delicioso!

Nice query, Miss Sappington!

If this is before dinner, how about a feather-light manzanilla or only slightly fuller fino sherry (Greg, you got me going with your Spanish theme!)? For the manzanilla, actually a subset of fino, either Domecq Sanlúcar de Barrameda, Gaspar Florido Sanlúcar de Barrameda or Herederos de Argüeso Sanlúcar de Barrameda San Léon. All nutty, but with some salty, ham-like and even floral flavors in the mix to enhance appetite. For the fino, how about either Pérez Barquero Montilla-Moriles Gran Barquero (not technically a sherry I suppose, since it's from Montilla), or Sandeman Don Fino Jerez. Nutty again, but with herbs and citrus. If dinner's going to be tapas, could continue into the meal with these....

If with larger meats or cheese that'll be dinner I'm in the mood for a syrah from the Rhone (Jaboulet Hermitage La Chapelle is always reliable) or, if from California either a Neyers syrah, or a pinot noir from Rochioli (Russian River Valley) or Au Bon Climat (Santa Barbara), just to see how these winemakers are doing these days. Inconsistent, I know, but moods are.

If after dinner? More finickyness as I'm thinking a nice, sweet demi-sec bottle of sparkling wine, to keep things light. A Schramsberg Cremant Demi-Sec sounds good, keeping to a California context.

What are you reading?

Good book! Try the sherry sometime. Also easy to keep on hand for such occasions... ;-)

I'll be trying to work my way through the cases of Rose that I made this year. Cab Franc with about 24 hours of skin contact and about a liter of Viognier lies thrown in after fermentation. I hope can work my way through it in one summer.

If I'm alone, it's brachetto. Or maybe muscadet or a dry Hungarian white, provided the weather warms up.

For me, French wines tend to be good wines to read with. Their powerdy finishes seem to get more and more interesting as the glasses and pages go by. But in general I trend toward huge spicy cabs, as you can see in all my ratings above 4 stars: http://www.snooth.com/my-wines/solomania9/wine/1/0/0/125/100/8/10/date+desc/

Elsewhere we've been discussing matching wines to foods. Shall we take a look here at styles of wine and other forms of alcohol for different types of reading matter?

A choice was made above of pink champagne for Gabriel Garcia Marquez--not bad for his magical realism (though I wonder if the bubbles will last through 100 Years of Solitude). Also from South America, perhaps Ports or Madeiras for Paul Coelho?

Just glancing at the table next to me, besides the Coelho I'd guess Irish whisky with James Joyce is a no-brainer. California cabs or chardonnays for Steinbeck? Bourbon and some tasty cocktails for Raymond Chandler? French and Spanish reds, gin martinis and rummy daiquiris for Hemingway? What with Ian McEwan? Or James Ellroy, or Annie Proulx or...? What with non-fiction? Any ideas??

And what wines for which movies (of course, Vesper Martinis for a Bond flick)? Or what for which computer games? Would be interesting to hear what people might think and desire in these contexts... ;-)

Sounds like a good idea. Even here in NYC we've got us a scorcher!

I'll take the Riesling, and make sure it's well chilled today!

I'd say a light easy CA pinot noir, or just about any rose` you can find. Cotes de Provence perhaps? Toad Hollow makes a great pinot noir rose`. Also, rieslings are great for sipping in the sun! Crisp, fruity and great chilled.