THE POUR

Remember when rosé was considered passé? Not anymore. Rosé wines have undergone a big transformation in the image of the public. This isn't your old Aunt Alice's rosé – that sweet, awful stuff. Today, they're wonderful, beautifully balanced wines.

Rosé wines now run the table from ultra-sweet to bone dry. And most do not cost very much either. Rosé wines still seem to suffer from seasonal neglect, but more people are now discovering just how enjoyable they can be year-round, especially in the Midwest, where we can always use a bright winter pick-me-up.

You don’t have to wait for Cinco de Mayo or National Margarita Day (February 22) to celebrate in true margarita fashion.

While margarita-making is the obvious choice for celebrating May 5th and the anniversary of the Mexican Army’s victory over the French, this quintessential Mexican drink is too good to leave to only a couple occasions per year. And there are many options beyond the traditional margarita recipe.

A Word About Tequila

One of the reasons margaritas are so good is that this cocktail is built on simplicity, good ingredients, and balance. To authentically enjoy a margarita, one must appreciate tequila – a distilled spirit made from the blue agave plant in the Mexican city of and near Tequila (yes, it’s a place).

There are 200 types of agaves found in Mexico, and they are classified much like fine wines. Tequila that is labeled 100% de Agave can only be bottled in Mexico. It refers to being made from the blue agave plant and does not have added sugars. Mix to refers to tequila that is made with blue agave plus non-agave sugars such as sugar cane. These are usually simply labeled Tequila.

You know it’s almost autumn in Minnesota – not by the changing colors of leaves or kids returning to school – but by the Minnesota State Fair excitement building all over. There are animals, the rides, the games, and don't forget the people-watching. There really is something for everybody, especially when it comes to food.

The Great Minnesota Get-Together runs from August 22-September 2, and let's face it: for many of us, it's just a ten-day window to eat and drink fun stuff that wouldn’t feel quite right any other time of year. So, to get your juices flowing, we'll give you five fun food and wine (or beer) pairings that are uniquely Minnesota at our great State Fair.

Pro Tip: Take your foodie adventure to the next level by using the State Fair Food Finder, where you can filter by category and keywords to craft your own personalized menu for the Fair.

Party planning is fun, but it also requires some math. Whether it’s a graduation party, a sports viewing, a wedding reception, or a big weekend hangout, you want to have the right amount of alcohol available for the number of people in attendance. We've got the answers - but it helps to first consider a handful of key questions.

• Did you invite light, average, or heavy drinkers?
• How many adults over the age of 21 will be drinking?
• How much money are you willing to spend?
• Will you have only beer, only wine, only spirits, or a combination of everything?
• Will someone be bartending, or will it be self-serve?

Pro Tip: Don’t forget non-alcoholic beverages for your underage and non-drinking guests. And don't skimp on the food, either. Plan to have at least a few finger foods or snacks to munch on.

It’s no secret that Minnesota has grown to produce lots of craft beer — and we’re getting attention around the nation because of it. But let’s not leave out a growing scene that has roots all around our fine state: Minnesota wineries.

You may think that the north Midwestern climate is too cold and often too humid to grow grapes like the world-renowned vines in dry, arid climates like Italy, France, California, and Argentina. Though our colder climate is harsh for many grape varieties, thanks to the research and perseverance of the University of Minnesota, we are ripe for a few cold-hardy hybrid grape varieties. That includes one of the state’s most important grapes: Frontenac.

But are they any good? We say the best way to find out is to drink Minnesota-grown wines for yourself and see what you enjoy. There are a surprising number of wineries across our state to choose from. Work your way through Haskell’s custom-made ultimate list of Minnesota wineries, and you’ll find many unexpected varieties based in scenic locations around our beautiful state.

We could write every day about Minnesota craft beers and never lose things to talk about. Why? Because so many are well-crafted, rooted in tradition – and, most importantly, great to drink.

Here’s our "hot list" of Minnesota’s best brews, some of our favorites, and some of the top-sellers around our state. The final decision is up to you, since everyone’s tastes differ and there is no right or wrong answer when it comes to what hops make you happy. But you could definitely have a lot of fun exploring these options, either from A to Z (okay, our list ends at W), or one end of the state to the other! Cheers!

It’s time to up your Mojito-making skills. The classic Cuban highball cocktail is a summer favorite for a reason. It's refreshing and it's pretty simple to make. You don't need to tell your guests that part, but there are a few tips we'd like to share to help you impress your friends and let you kick back with these easy Mojito recipes.

There are four main Mojito ingredients to keep in mind when creating this magic. It's all about quality ingredients from the start.

What You Need to Know About the 4 Key Mojito Ingredients

Summer in Minnesota is pure magic. If you haven’t already been hanging at the lake, taking weekend trips up to the cabin, or throwing grill-out parties in the backyard, you will be for Independence Day – and so much more.

Whether your 4th of July plans involve a summer barbecue, lazy pool lounging, yard games or just simply hanging out with family and friends, these 4th of July cocktails are sure to spark your perfect blend of American pride and joy.

Patriotic Mojito Cocktail

You’ve celebrated Independence Day many times, but you’ve never enjoyed it with this kind of 4th of July cocktail. Give the Patriotic Mojito a spin and you might have found yourself a new annual tradition that combines the sweet joy of summer and the tasty excitement of the holiday.

It may sound like the name of your spunky aunt, but it’s actually delicious wine (or two). Syrah and Shiraz are full of flavor and best enjoyed when you get to know them a little bit.

You may have heard of Syrah and Shiraz, but what exactly are they, and how are they different?

An Introduction to the Syrah/Shiraz Grape

Just like other grape varietals, such as Pinot Grigio and Pinot Gris, Syrah and Shiraz are the same grape but have slightly different names because they make for different wines. (Remember terroir?)

Syrah is the name of the grapes and corresponding wines coming from France, so this is an Old World wine. Sometimes Syrah is produced in places besides France. However, in Australia – and a few other places considered by the wine community to be New World, like South Africa, Argentina, and the United States – it’s called Shiraz.

The Syrah/Shiraz grape carries flavors of jammy fruits like blackberry, black cherry, blueberry, and boysenberry.

(Ever heard of Petite Sirah? That’s an entirely different grape and different wines.)

Whether during the dead of our harsh winter or on one of our sunny summer days, Minnesotans look forward to enjoying themselves with the best Minnesota beers.

And that’s pretty easy to do. At recent count, there were more than 150 craft breweries in Minnesota alone! The nationwide Brewers Association has rated Minnesota brewers (like Surly and Summit) among the best craft brewers in the United States. Beer made in Minnesota is on tap in hundreds of bars and restaurants, and it’s distributed around the Midwest and the country – some even around the world. This is clear: not only does our state make a lot of beer in a lot of places, but we also have some pretty damn good brews that other states would be jealous of.

So with all those massive numbers of options, how do discerning Midwesterners pick the best Minnesota beers? We polled our favorite people – you – and collected some of our favorite responses and best recommendations.