Drink Up, Chow Down

  The Tokaj wine region is best known for its world-class dessert wines - but that's only half the story. Led by Furmint, Tokaj's dry wines are quickly gaining recognition and respect beyond Hungary's borders. I had the pleasure of tasting a dry Furmint recently: the classy Oremus Tokaji Dry Mandolas 2016. The historic Oremus vineyard has been under Vega Sicilia (swoon!) ownership since 1993 and has been producing a high-quality oak-aged dry wine from the Furmint grape. I thought this wine was a spectacularly elegant and easy sipper. On the nose, you'll find notes of vanilla, apple, white flowers and even a bit of brioche and wet pebbles. On the palate, it's a clean, zesty wine with a rich, round and surprisingly long finish. It has oodles of bright acidity and mouthwatering hints of citrus and stone fruit. Dream pairing: peel-and-eat lemon butter shrimp. Or a scallop risotto. Or a rich piece of goat cheese. Or all of the above. What's yours? Grab ...

See ya mimosa? Bye bye bellini? Meet your favorite new bubbly cocktail, the Summer Kir. Sip sip hooray! You'll need:  Sparkling wine Cherry almond simple syrup A Champagne coupe For the bubbles, I prefer the mouthwatering Nino Franco Rustico NV Prosecco . It's fresh and elegant with light peach, citrus and honeysuckle notes and a wonderful creamy quality. It finishes tight and clean and it's one of my sparkling go-tos. Founded in 1919, Nino Franco is one of the oldest estates in Valdobbiadene, and they have definitely perfected their prosecco over the last 100 years. (I used Root 23 Cherry Almond simple syrup in this recipe.) Pour a generous splash of the simple syrup into your glass, then top slowly with the wine. Garnish with a cherry or an orange slice. Repeat every day until winter... Cheers!