One of my favorite year round roses that never disappoints is the Trinquevedel Rose from Tavel in the Rhone Valley, France. The nose shows aromas of red berry fruit and orange blossom and the medium bodied palate has notes of raspberry cream and vanilla with a mineral note. This is one of the 'catch all' options for food and wine versatility, perfect for the apero course. 

Vigneron Gautier Thevenet farms the Chardonnay for this Maconnais wine organically and all the grapes are hand harvested. Ripeness is always pushed with a later harvest date and the wine usually finishes fermentation with a couple grams of residual sugar. No oak is used on this Chardonnay. The result is a hedonistic, tropical fruit experience with a tasting profile sometimes more akin to Chenin Blanc than Chardonnay. The nose shows notes of honeyed apple fruit and the palate explodes with a tropical fruit cornucopia of pineapple and quince. This will pair well with the lobster course. 

The Bugey is one of the best-kept secrets of France. A geographical crossroads between Savoie and Jura, Burgundy, and Rhône. In La Cueille, one of seven high-altitude hamlets surrounding the historic medieval town of Poncin, Patrick and Catherine Bottex—recently joined by their son, Carl—farm the rocky limestone slopes above the Ain River. This lightly sparkling Gamay is a lovely rosé color, a true vin de plaisir. One sip and you’ll wonder where it’s been all your life. End result is a wine that's delightfully refreshing with bright fruit, crisp acidity, a beautiful deep pink hue, and a tantalizing touch of sweetness that will be lovely with the dessert.