*** I received this wine as a sample. ***

Friday was both wonderful and difficult all at the same time.  The first Friday of every month is one of my busiest, but it was particularly hard to focus last week because of the Fourth of July holiday in the middle.  It was a tease having a mid-week day off, only to have to come back to busy workdays.  By early afternoon, though, the rush was over and my coworkers started escaping the building early.  While I wasn’t that lucky, by the time 5pm rolled around, I was ready to shut down for the weekend.

Even though DC was experiencing a record-breaking heat wave, I decided to go to the metro station that required a slightly longer walk outside just so I could walk past the Capitol building.  Few things make me happier than that view on a Friday afternoon.  By the time I walked in the condo door, though, I was hot and ready to collapse on the couch with a cold glass of wine.

The Happy Bitch (website) is made with Chardonnay and Pinot Noir grapes.  On the nose, there were limes and strawberries, mixed with a hint of raspberries.  On the mouth, there were limes, candied strawberries, and raspberries.  The wine was off-dry with good acidity and bit of bubbles.

One of the interesting things about Happy Bitch wines is they’re the result of a partnership between Debbie Gioquindo, who wine bloggers may know as Hudson Valley Wine Goddess (blog) and author Keryl Pesce (website).  These two wine-loving women set out to create a wine to make people happy, and they certainly did that.

My happiness while drinking this wine, however, goes beyond the usual excitement of finding a Rosé that I actually enjoy and beyond the fact that I opened it on a Friday night with a relaxing weekend ahead of me.  My happiness with this wine occurred the moment I took the bottle out of it’s shipping package.  As I was looking at the label, I realized it was made at Sisterhood Winery in Washingtonville, NY, which is a couple of towns away from where I grew up.  Washingtonville High School was my high school’s main football rival.  While I haven’t lived in that area of the country for almost 15 years, it’s where I spent my childhood and teenage life.  So, unexpectedly trying this wine became a different type of personal experience, and tasting a delicious wine that hails from the same little area of the world as I do…well, the local success story makes me one Happy Bitch.

Is this worth a glass after work? Definitely!  If you see this wine in the store, grab it; you won’t be disappointed. At $14 (and definitely at the sale price of $11), this is a Rosé you should add to your summer wine repertoire.  And guys, don’t let the name scare you away, as it’s a Rosé that even the most masculine of you will enjoy.  That said, it will be a great addition to one of my Wine Ladies get togethers, so I see myself purchasing a bottle in the not-to-distant future.  All in all, it’s the perfect wine for grabbing before going on a picnic or heading up to the roof deck because it’s light, simple, and refreshing during this summer heat.  The wine is food-friendly, but will also is very enjoyable on it’s own…the type of wine that really is meant for sipping, sitting, and chatting the evening away.

Question of the Day:  Do you feel pride when you see successes coming from the area you grew up, even if you don’t live there anymore?

P.S. As you can tell by my lack of pictures, my evening with this wine didn’t go as planned.  I was so excited to open it up and try it that I didn’t realize my memory card was not in the camera while I was taking pictures.  So, while I was sure that got a few great shots from the ones I peaked at as they flashed on the screen, it wasn’t until after I finished the bottle (yes, I drank the whole bottle in one night) and had cleaned up for the evening (which included throwing it away) that I realized none of pictures had been saved. I will add one of my photographs, along with the thoughts of the Wine Ladies, after our next gathering.  Until then, the stock photo will have to do.

Suggested Retail Price: $14
Received as a sample.
Overall: 4 Corks