5 Women in Wine On Their Current Crush for the Unofficial Start of Summer
May is Women’s Health Month and, this year, National Wine Day landed on Memorial Day—the unofficial kickoff of summer. So we rolled it into one + asked 5 women we know and trust in the wine industry for their Hello, Summer wine picks.
If you didn’t know, National Wine Day is celebrated annually on May 25 as an unofficial holiday where wine lovers celebrate the history and culture of wine, and—yes—use it as a good excuse to crack open some bottles to share. With it falling on Memorial Day this year, we asked Jes Rich, Dominique DeVito, Elissa Feist, Lila Holland + Christy Counts what they’re crushing this holiday weekend.
JES RICH — Owner, Sage Wine & Spirits
Skin contact/orange: Pierre & Antonin Petit Sauvage Orange ($20)
“For me, it’s this Pierre & Antonin Petit Sauvage Orange (2025.) Made from a disease resistant cross called Souvignier Gris, this is a skin-contact wine from the south of France. Pierre & Antonin specializes in hybrids that thrive without much intervention in the vineyard, thus leaving a lighter environmental footprint. The winemaking is equally hands-off, using only wild yeast.
Aromas of flowers and citrus abound, while on the palate the wine shows notes of apricot. There’s discernible tannic structure that balances the weight and roundness of the mouthfeel. Pair this with a salad, strong cheeses, mild fish, or spicy cuisine.”
- Jes Rich is the owner of Sage Wine & Spirits in Ballston Spa.
DOMINIQUE DE VITO - Wine Educator, Exit 9 Wine & Liquor
Rosé: Bieler Père & Fils Rosé ($15)
“Rosé is one of the most food-friendly wines and one of my favorites is this classic from Bieler Père & Fils Sabine. It's crafted in Aix-en-Provence in southern France—the true home of rosé—from a blend of Grenache, Syrah, Cinsault, and some Cabernet Sauvignon, Rolle, and Counoise grapes grown at higher altitudes and fermented and aged in stainless steel. Like the best of dinner companions, it has everything to offer at the table, from its lovely luminous pink color to its nose and palate of everything from ripe white peach to cherry interwoven with rose petal and orange blossom and signature Provençal herbal notes, all with a balanced and bright acidity and a lingering finish that leaves you wanting more. In sum, it’s dry and crisp and it has all those lovely red fruit and floral notes that can transport you to a sunny beachside café in France in just one sip."
I love the stories behind the wines I find particularly yummy, and this one doesn’t disappoint. The father, Philippe, was struggling in the mid-1990s to bring attention to his wine, before rosé was popular, and his son, Charles, who was living in the US, was called in to help. Gregarious and creative, Charles got busy finding fans. He made friends with vintner Joel Gott, who began selling cases of the Bielers' rosé from his shop. Word spread about how well the dry pink wine paired with food, and the market started to take off in restaurants and retail making it a lead contender in the rosé category.”
- Dominique DeVito was an owner of Hudson-Chatham Winery in Ghent, NY, and is now a Manager and Wine Educator at Exit 9 Wine & Liquor Warehouse in Clifton Park.
ELISSA FEIST — TROY WINE CO.
Chilled red: “West! West! West!” 2024 ($32)
“I chose Usonia “West! West!! West!!!” 2024 from the Finger Lakes, N.Y. which is made with Chancellor, Cayuga White, Verdelet, Diamond grapes (all hybrids.) For lovers of Lambrusco, this is a sparkling red wine reminiscent of tart cranberries, red cherries, raspberries, and wild herbs. Juicy but dry, with electric energy and a fizzy texture that makes it so refreshing.
The future of American wine is hybrid grapes. Hybrids are bred to survive the realities of our increasingly erratic climate and require far fewer chemical inputs than European species grapes. For years, they were dismissed as “less serious,” but Usonia is one of the producers proving that hybrids can make great wines. Great wine doesn’t always have to be luxurious. We love a complex, flavorful wine that’s playful + easy to drink!
So get this bottle very cold, and drink it outside on a warm night with friends. We love this at a backyard cookout with hot dogs, cheeseburgers, grilled mushrooms, and shishito peppers. We also want to drink it with pork dumplings, fried chicken, tomato and burrata salad, and mozz sticks with melba sauce. From fatty and salty to fermented and spicy, this wine is incredible with a wide variety of dishes!”
- Elissa Feist is the manager of Troy Wine Co.., Clark House Hospitality, Troy, N.Y.
LILA HOLLAND, wine consultant + importer
Sparking rosé: Ori Marani Laora (Georgia Republic) ($36)
“My longtime love for Georgian wine got a little boost from the time I spent there earlier this month, so I'm recommending a bottle from one of my favorite Georgian producers. Ori Marani means "Two Wineries" - Bastien is an oenologist from Champagne, and Nino was born and raised in Georgia. Together, they combine the knowledge and traditions of two winemaking cultures. Laora is a traditional-method sparkling rosé made partially in old French oak barrels and partially in Georgian qvevri. For me, wine is about connection, and I love how this unique wine marries Georgian flavors and aromas to the style and feel of Champagne.”
*In the Hudson Valley, Laora is stocked at Grapefruit Wines in Hudson and Little Sister Wine Shop in Poughkeepsie.
— Lila Holland is a Hudson Valley wine consultant, sommelier, and founding partner of importing label Carnelia. For Lila, every day is Wine Day!
CHRISTY COUNTS - Neverstill Wines
Wine pick: Neverstill Cab Franc Rosé, 2025 ($25)
“I am crushing hard on our new 2025 rosé which we just released last in mid May! Made from cabernet franc grapes sourced from Lahoma Vineyards on the southwest side of Seneca Lake. The site sits at a high elevation above the shale line on the western side of the lake, known for producing expressive, aromatic wines. The grapes were direct pressed upon arrival at the winery with no skin contact to preserve a pale hue and delicate structure, and fermented in stainless steel at cool temperatures using Vin 13 yeast, emphasizing aromatic lift and purity of fruit. So, for me, this is the most beautiful blend with crisp wild strawberry and intoxicating floral cherry blossom-aromatics that make my head go straight to summer. I am waiting feverishly to sip this poolside with a giant bowl of local strawberries!
This rosé reveals rose petals layered with peony, cherry blossom, and hibiscus, lifted by ripe wild strawberry and raspberry on the palate, and a touch of rose water. It lingers with a long, elegant, floral finish.”
- Christy Counts is the founder of Neverstill Wines, a Finger Lakes winery with a tasting room in Hudson, N.Y.
Read our full tastemaker interview with Christy here.