Wine: Jumbo Time The Sauce

Producer: Jumbo Time

Varietal: 55% Pinot Noir, 25% Sauvignon Blanc, 11% Pinot Blanc, 9% Pinot Gris

Region: California

Weight: 750 mL

ABV: 11.5%

Notes: By nature, The Sauce is always a little bit of this, and a little bit of that (hence the name.) We blend different grapes and styles until we get to the light, refreshing red we’re looking to drink all Summer long.

The base of this wine is still our favorite California Pinot, grown by Pete Johnson of Hawkeye, in three different styles: carbonic maceration, rosé, and light red. We blended the resulting rosey red juice with Sauvignon Blanc, Pinot Blanc, and Pinot Gris, to give it a bit more punch.

This year’s Sauce is our kind of Summer red—it’s crowd-pleasing for the last minute barbecue you’re leaving work for, but it’s just as easily opened under the fan while you throw together a last minute meal for a movie-night in. The Sauce has hints of red currants and apricot pits. Balanced acidity, with tart white-cherry notes on the palate, it’s reminiscent of cranberry juice, but it also has some body, so you don’t feel like you’re just drinking juice!

Ice it down and try to drink it slowly!