Picnics may be synonymous to some with ants, sunburns, and of course Yogi Bear. The ones I’m talking about are the more romantic ones, with a serene view, light gourmet cuisine, and the right wine. One thing that I will get out of the way is: Please do not go to a public park and try to have a wine picnic. Technically it’s illegal to have alcohol in a public park. Try to find another venue where you can enjoy your wine without fear of prosecution.

 

             Now, picnics of this caliber are usually to be kept lighter in my opinion. It is ultimately up to you, but something that is prepared to complement your choice in wine will probably be a better situation for you than an entire meal. First, think of your choices for spring wine: Rose’, sparkling rose’, sparkling white, sauvignon blanc, or something interesting like a pinot blanc would be delightful! In the end, you should drink what you enjoy.

 

             If you choose any of the above wines for your picnic, please remember that you should take the necessary steps to ensure that you can serve that wine at the proper temperature. Serving temperature can’t really be compromised, and you don’t want to ruin the occasion because the wine is too warm. Invest in some blue ice and a good wine bag. These are available through Winestock, and can keep your wine at juuust the right temperature.

              Wine suggestions:

 

           When you head out on your journey, put some thought into having something that you don’t normally have at home. A tasty little treat will make the experience that much more memorable. Here’s a couple of ideas for your wine picnic:

 

             Sparkling Rose’: Fresh fruit does well with a rose that is not too dry. It can complement it wonderfully, and I recommend using fruit that has a pleasant consistency and flavor. Melon goes great with rose’! When selecting your rose’, I suggest going to a wine store rather than a super store of any kind. The reason is, that you may ask the shop owner or employee on advice for selecting a rose’ like I suggested here. Our friend, Dawn from Wine By Numbers in Waipio has suggested a great sparkling rose’ for your wine picnic. Bigaro, makes a wonderful Moscato/Brachetto blend. It is a slightly sweet, sparkling rose’ from Italy. Wine By Numbers has it for sale at: $19.95 per bottle. Be sure to visit her in the Ka Uka Center between Fastlube and Seattle’s Best Coffee. Ph: 671-1120

 

          

             Sparkling white: Sparkling wines are always fun, and they can match with many things. Strawberries and lightly sweet desserts will go well with this pick. This month, Jill from SWAM in Waimalu has offered this find: Canella Bellini, makes a sparkling peach wine. It’s fruity and sweet, all for $15.99 a bottle. This is a regular item at SWAM, and people always come in and ask for it. Visit SWAM in the Waimalu Shopping Center (Safeway side near Starbuck’s). Ph: 487-7926.

 

 

           Dry White: Another nice wine for picnics is a Pinot Grigio. This is an Italian wine that lends itself well to appetizer snacks like shrimp or tomatoes and mozzarella. Wendy, from Fujioka’s Wine Times in Mililani, has informed me that their pick for this article is: Donato, Pinot Grigio. A great dry white, this has the terroir of Italy in each bottle. The price is great as well for $13.99 per bottle. Visit Fujioka’s in Mililani behind the Mililani First Hawaiian Bank. Ph: 625-8020.

            

                 Before you head out on your picnic, use the following check list to make sure you didn’t forget anything essential.

 

· Wine bag

· Ice-artificial or otherwise

· Food

· Glasses-Plastic cups will suffice for an outdoor setting, unless you can safely pack real ones.

· Water

· Corkscrew

· Comfortable blanket.

 

                                                    Good luck to all on your wine picnics!