ARE YOU READY FOR SUMMERTIME ? We sure are ! There ’ s nothing like cooking and eating — and drinking — outdoors after being cooped up during the winter months .
In addition to the warmer weather , celebratory occasions abound this time of year . From Cinco de Mayo , Memorial Day and the Fourth of July ( we won ’ t mention Labor Day just yet !), we have plenty of reasons to gather together in the great outdoors .
And if you ’ re planning any barbecues , we ’ ve got some ideas to help make them a success . For instance , professional barbecue pitmaster ( and bourbon maker ) Carey Bringle provides some tactics to improve your grill skills on page 9 .
Does shopping for wine for a party — or in general — stress you out ? Not to worry , Ayca Reva , the lead winemaker for Chloe Wine Collection , has a few tips to help you navigate the wine aisle like a pro on page 13 .
For additional help on what wines to choose , check out our panel ’ s reviews of spring and summer wines on page 14 . And if you ’ re curious about why we decant some wines , expert Marnie Old has the answer on page 11 .
As always , we have plenty of seasonal cocktail recipes that you can batch when you ’ re entertaining . Specialty drinks can help personalize any event , plus they ’ re festive and fun ! If you ’ re looking for different brands to mix with , our reviewers taste and rate a selection of rums , tequilas and mezcals — see page 16 .
We also look at pairing wine with Indian cuisine on page 8 , which is not is difficult as it may seem . Chef Ajay Walia , owner of Saffron restaurants in California , offers some pairing suggestions for some of his popular Indian dishes . Walia also likes to pair specialty cocktails with the food , and shares the recipe for a drink that ’ s perfect for seafood .
We hope these tips and tricks that we ’ ve pulled together will help make this summer one of your best . Enjoy the season , and we ’ ll see you in the fall .
Cheers !
Melissa Dowling Editor
CELEBRATING THE SUMMER MONTHS
I WANT TO HEAR FROM YOU ! Email your comments to mdowling @ epgacceleration . com
BRAND ACCELERATION
Summer 2023 Vol . 4 No . 2
EDITOR Melissa Dowling 763-383-4442 mdowling @ epgacceleration . com
ASSOCIATE MANAGING ART DIRECTOR Nicole Siewert nsiewert @ epgacceleration . com
SALES AND TRAFFIC COORDINATOR Kurt Eisinger 763-383-4420 keisinger @ epgacceleration . com
CONTRIBUTING EDITORS Marnie Old , Jamie Stafford ,
Kyle Swartz
SR REGIONAL SALES MANAGER Mark Marcon 763-383-4456 mmarcon @ epgacceleration . com
NATIONAL ACCOUNTS DIRECTOR Debbie Rittenberg
763-383-4455 drittenberg @ epgacceleration . com
LIST RENTAL Joanne Juda-Prainito jjuda-prainito @ epgacceleration . com 763-383-4401
REPRINTS Bernadette Wohlman bwohlman @ epgacceleration . com 763-383-4464
Cheers @ Home ® is published by EPG Brand Acceleration
Editorial offices at 10405 6th Ave N , Suite 210 , Minneapolis , MN 55441
Tel : 763-383-4400 • Fax : 763-383-4499
CEO Marion Minor SR VP / AUDIENCE DEVELOPMENT Joanne Juda-Prainito
OPERATIONS DIRECTOR Bernadette Wohlman BEVERAGE GROUP VICE PRESIDENT Jeremy Nedelka
Cheers @ Home is published four times per year ( Spring , Summer , Fall , Winter ) by EPG Brand Acceleration ,
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Contents copyright © 2023 by EPG Brand Acceleration , 10405 6th Ave N , Suite 210 , Minneapolis 55441
Reproduction without the express written consent of the publisher is prohibited . EPG Brand Acceleration , publishes Cheers , Beverage Dynamics , StateWays , Wine & Spirits Industry Marketing , Handbook Advance , Liquor Handbook ,
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