Posted by: Catie McIntyre Walker in Wine on
Jun 23, 2011
Solstice, June 21, officially marks that summer is here! Aside from our share of rain, which can only make those Walla Walla Sweet Onions sweeter, summer means slow moving days of outdoor entertaining and lots of what I call, "porch sippin'."
So what is this "porch sippin'?" Walla Walla is known for its hot days and I am such a wimp when it comes to any degree that is over 80. Walla Walla can get up to the high 90's and over 100 degrees, but thank goodness there is deliverance from the inferno, so to speak.
There is nothing in the world like the cool summer evenings in the Walla Walla Valley and for me the evenings seem to make up for those scorching days. It seems to be the time when we come out of our homes and take in the cool breeze and watch the magical shades of red, purple and peach colors in the sky as the sun slowly melts into the earth. We are also blessed with long days of sunlight, which is one of the reasons why the wine grapes in our valley seem to thrive.
Porch sippin' can mean an evening with friends and neighbors or some quiet relaxation alone. The deck on the side of my house is laced with old collectible pots of colorful summer flowers and below the deck it is lined with rose bushes. I often sit in one of the outdoor rocking chairs and rock away aimlessly while waving to neighbors who are out for their evening walk. Now this is the time for a glass of wine.
