With Miami’s sweltering summers, June through August is best spent in air conditioning or in some sort of body of water – whether that be the in the chusmeria of South Beach, in your prima’s pool, or in a plastic kiddy tub filled with hose water in your frontyard (not the best option, but desperate times call for desperate measures).

I am lucky enough to skip the former since one of my favorite couples invited me and my hubby on their boat. For this momentus occasion – a maiden voyage for us on the S.S…still unnamed boat – I brought two bottles of wine to indulge in.

This first was a 2016 Chloe Rosé, which is from California’s Central Coast, and is a Pinot Noir-based blend. It’s pale pink in color and has a fruity, but dry light body. The grapes were night harvested at 22-23 degrees Brix and fermented at a cool temperature to maintain the expressive aromas and natural acidity of the wine. It was very refreshing for a day of fun in the sun. I bought it at Publix for about $15. It is easy sipping for a hot and humid day. I give it a 3/5.

The second bottle was Veuve Clicquot Yellow Label Brut, the winemaker’s symbol of the House since 1772. This French champagne is made up Pinot Noir, Meunier, and Chardonnay grape varieties. It is pale yellow in color and delightfuly bubbly (almost ticklish). It has a great balance of minerality and acidity paired with notes of citrus and peach. Veuve Clicquot recommends to drink it now through 2022. I like to buy it at Costco, where you get it at the bargain price of $43 (woot woot). We enjoyed it in the cutest tumblers I found on Amazon. I give it a 4.5/5.

Fueled by wine, we laughed at potential boat names (all too vulgar to post), caught up on each other’s lives, and soaked in the summer sun. The afternoon culminated with a manatee sighting! The adorable seacow couldn’t get enough of us – I just wish we had some lettuce to treat him with.

All in all, it was a deliciously refreshing day amongst friends and good wine.