June 21st. Summer Solstice. The longest day. I am in a sun-drenched haze and finding it hard to do anything but languish in the sun and breeze, admiring the flowers and fruits and veggies and this crispy delicious rosé by J de Villebois.

Summer has come a little early for me as the days were quick to heat up in New England and as I close the book on certain work and navigate new roads. I also said goodbye to my dear Nana last month, and that has stretched and toyed with time in ways I didn’t forecast. Lots of change. My world has gone a little quiet.

This isn’t a post for sorrow but one of celebration. Summer has arrived and the roses have added to the symphony of flowers. I spent a beautiful morning this past week at the Kelleher Rose Garden in the Back Bay/Fens neighborhood of Boston. A secret garden in the middle of the city. Over 200 varieties of roses holding court in their fenced in world, building blossom arches to rival the building skyscrapers. I considered doing a series on rose gardens yet are we all just drowning in content as it is? I can’t decide.

Solstice also marks strawberry season. My sister and I went to the farm and picked a ton under the growing morning sun. Sitting on the tractor on the way to the field I had a bit of a past life moment–I wouldn’t mind being in a farm family, or maybe a vineyard–was it a past life or fate yet to be seen in this life?

Speaking of fate, with such a lush haul of strawberries I knew I had to make a sponge cake, filled with Chantilly cream and the fresh berries. That cake I could eat everyday for the rest of my life hand to God. Simple and pure joy.

Which brings me to the wine. You need a fresh, lively wine for this sunny times. You can only do right by selecting a Sancerre and a rosé Sancerre is particularly delightful. This Loire Valley Sauvignon Blanc paired perfectly with a cheese board and most importantly, the strawberry Chantilly cake!

I am enjoying one more glass of it before I head over the Atlantic to Paris ce soir.

Happy Summer

xx B