Welcome to another edition of Wine Down Wednesdays, our excuse to crack open a great bottle, throw together a snack, and share the good stuff with you from life on the water. We’re here to share wines that are fun, unfussy, and perfect for boat life. When the weather’s warm, the wine’s cold, and the porch (or the bow) is calling, we reach for something refreshing and a little celebratory.

This Week’s Pour: 2022 Tablas Creek, Patelin de Tablas Rosé

Blend: 73% Grenache, 15% Mourvèdre, 6% Counoise, 6% Syrah
Region: Paso Robles, California

This bottle tastes like a vacation at anchor. It’s Provençal in spirit, California in soul: dry, crisp, and bursting with wild strawberry, watermelon rind, pink citrus, and a whisper of herbs. The acidity is bright, the finish clean, and every sip feels like the start of a really good night.

We’ll let the winery take it from here:

“A pretty light peach color. On the nose, explosive aromatics of pink grapefruit, fresh nectarine, wild strawberry, and sweet mint. The mouth is electric with flavors of raspberry and cherry, vibrant acids, and a mouth-watering finish with notes of passion fruit and white tea.”

That balance of juicy fruit and bracing acidity is exactly why we love it. It’s crisp but not sharp, clean but not simple. A total crowd-pleaser that just gets better with food, and with a breeze.

The Pairing:

No cooking, no fuss. just cold, juicy watermelon, briny feta, and a drizzle of the good stuff. Thread it onto skewers or toss it in a bowl, either way, it’s got that salty-sweet combo that makes this rosé pop. The olive oil rounds it out with richness, and the whole thing screams summer.

Other Pairing Ideas:

Shrimp cocktail with citrus aioli
Niçoise salad (with good tinned fish if you’re boat-bound)
Prosciutto and melon
Grilled halloumi and peach

Dockside Notes:

This bottle checks all the boat life boxes: it chills fast, travels well, and shines with the kinds of snacks and simple dinners we throw together after a long day in the sun. It’s also organically farmed and produced by one of the most thoughtful wineries in California, so if you’re someone who cares about sustainability, this wine lets you sip with peace of mind.

Can’t find this exact bottle? Look for dry rosés based on Grenache and Mourvèdre, ideally from cooler pockets of California or Southern France. You’re after something pale, fresh, and full of lift.

Not every Wednesday needs wine, but when it does, this is what we’re pouring.

Catch you next time for another bottle, another bite, and more stories from the salty side.

Stay salty, stay sippin’.
— Max & Theresa