Now THAT looks refreshing. Photo via Reuters.

Summer is great for certain things — Grease-style lovin’, for instance — but it’s not great for red wine. The tannins, higher alcohol, and fuller body of many red wines tends to relegate them to cold-weather-only status. But you don’t have to cut out an entire category of wine just because the AC is on. There are a number of reds that will help you get a buzz even while you’re sweatier than a French dockworker.

Channeling the immortal words of Hansel from the epic Zoolander: Beaujolais is so hot right now. Beaujolais, a rather large region south of the delicious Pinot Noir- and Chardonnay-growing areas of Burgundy, primarily grows the thin-skinned grape called Gamay. Fortunately for brokesters, this situation does also make for relatively inexpensive drinking. Even the very best examples are terrific bargains, though prices have crept up in recent years, and they’re all best served chilled. (more…)

Your mom deserves something nice. But not $160 nice.

Mother’s Day is coming up, which can only mean one thing: apprehension. You don’t have to worry, however, because alcohol helps. Were you a high-roller son or daughter, or just looking to buy mom’s love to to make up for yet another year of lowered expectations, I have the perfect “splurge” wine that will make her disappointments evaporate in a sparkling shower of bubbles. But, more realistically, if you actually have a relationship with your mother and you’d like to make her a home-cooked, affordable Sunday brunch, I have a wonderful and economical sparkler to pick up by the case that you can drink on its own or as a Mimosa or Bellini. Basically, we’re here to show you what the fancy, rich people buy their mothers, and the almost-as-good, way-cheaper brokester version you can get away with. (more…)

Fishing for wine suggestions for your taco? Via QuitWineing.

Cinco de Mayo is not normally a holiday I associate with wine, especially because my only point of reference is ridiculous college and work parties where Corona and Tecate — and handles of cheap tequila — are the norm. But now that I am a “professional,” my idea of a good time is not tasting my tacos twice. This means tequila is out. Although I just moved to Brooklyn, this nacional holiday is celebrated the same here as it is in my native California, with parties featuring carne asada, pollo asado, salsa, guacamole, beans, tortillas, onions, cilantro, lime juice and spice, spice, spice. Washing down those flavors with a big, red wine like an Australian Shiraz would be like washing down Sriracha with Tabasco. So, I would go for a white wine, preferably a clean, crisp one. But you’re probably broke as hell.

But because you’re reading Brokelyn, you likely don’t have the resources to go into a wine shop and rely on their best pick for your cinco de drinko pairing. That’s why our budget wine swap is here: I’ll recommend two white wines, one at a splurge price point and the other at a budget price point. Don’t worry: at no point will I ever recommend a terrible wine, even if it is $3 at Trader Joe’s. (more…)