In my book, the summer season was made for living outdoors, especially here in the northern states like Michigan.  Naturally, barbecuing becomes a weekend occurrence and what’s a BBQ without a cool drink to hold in hand as the sun sets?  This past weekend as we grilled up kabobs, we settled down with a new pour of wine–CalNaturale‘s organic chardonnay for a taste-test courtesy of the company.

Not that I’m looking for an excuse to drink another glass of wine, but in addition to being made with certified organically-grown grapes, CalNaturale is made in Mendicino, Calif. and comes in eco-friendly packaging that allows the brand to use less than half the greenhouse gases, waste and energy of glass bottles in production and transportation.  On top of its eco cred, it’s a solid white wine staple, fresh, dry and just slightly fruity, which paired nicely with our grilled chicken and veggie combo.  And for the picnickers among us, you simply can’t beat the unbreakable package that’s ideal for toting to the park or lake and comes with a handy screw-on cap.

If white’s not your thing (I’m a sucker for a sweet drink), you can sip on the Cabernet Sauvignon varietal, which hit stores last summer.  Both are a good deal, priced at $6.99 for a 500 ml package and $12.99 for one liter.  You can pick up a package at Whole Foods or your local natural grocery.