Wally's Shopping Guide For a Delicious Summer
Make this your most delicious summer ever, with the help of our guide to the best drinks and foods of the season. Just ask our experts: memorable summers begin with the essentials. Great drinks. Crave-worthy snacks. Special bottles. It's a recipe for good times all summer long. To kick off the season, we've curated a shopping guide with our favorite top-shelf picks in all the essential summer categories, recommended by the experts at Wally's.
1.) Light and Fresh Sips
The refreshing wines you'll keep coming back to, whether it's while you're poolside or snacking on charcuterie.
2018 Mount Eden Chardonnay Wolff Vineyard
$22 | 221617
"The 2018 Chardonnay Wolff Vineyard from Edna Valley is pure, energetic and fresh this vintage. The nose is lovely, loaded with floral perfume and ripe citrus fruits. The palate is silky and expansive with a shimmering mineral character and a long, pure finish." - 94 points, Wine Advocate
2019 Ink Grade Sauvignon Blanc
$65 | 226702
"This wine will be a pillar for California Sauvignon Blanc. The hallmark tropical components are elevated with the structure of minerality that comes from soils at Ink Grade. The 2019 Sauvignon Blanc has retained an herbal and mineral note with a backdrop of lemongrass and slate. These aromatics are balanced by tropical notes that create a wine of texture and complexity." - Winemaker notes.
NV Ruinart Blanc De Blancs
$130 | 026665
"A toasty blanc de blanc with an aromatic overtone of smoke and lemon peel notes accenting flavors of poached apricot, brioche, passion fruit coulis and fresh thyme. Fine and creamy in texture, with a racy finish. Best after 2022." - 93 points, Wine Spectator.
2.) Barbecue Ready Bottles
The juiciest, most tender cuts deserve to be served with beautiful red wines, like these great picks.
2021 Daou Cabernet Sauvignon
$25 | 228220
"Deep ruby, it has pure aromas of cassis, prosciutto, sage, thyme and pencil shavings with a classy frame of new oak spice. Medium-bodied, refreshing and supple, it offers generous, mineral-laced fruits and a long finish. This is easy to drink!" - 93 points, Wine Advocate.
2018 Drew GSM Field Blend Mendocino Ridge
$70 | 228210
"This quietly impressive wine wraps superfine tannins around deep, haunting flavors that range from ginger-spice cookies to cooked blueberries, new leather and dark chocolate. It's big in terms of flavor impact, but the wine itself is just medium to full bodied, and offers a silky, polished texture that's hard to resist. Best from 2024." - 95 points, Wine Enthusiast.
2018 Shafer Relentless Syrah/Petite Sirah
$100 | 226047
"A blend of 94% Syrah and 6% Petite Sirah, the 2018 Relentless looks to be just about sensational, offering a dense purple color as well as rich, loaded notes of blackberries, currants, smoked meats, peppery spice, and violets. Reminding me of a great Cornas on steroids with its gamy, exotic character paired with beautiful richness, it has fabulous purity, ripe, polished tannins, and a great finish. This will undoubtedly be a great vintage for this cuvée, and my money is on it being one of the best yet." - 98 points, Jeb Dunnuck.
3.) Stock the Bar
Mix it up in your favorite Paloma recipe, or serve it straight on the rocks — you'll always be prepared with these summer staples.
Viva XXXII Joven Tequila
$40 | 171735
"Our modern sipping Joven is an estate grow 100% blue agave Blanco, meticulously blended with our 3-year-old Extra Añejo. Our distiller performs a 4-stage cold filtration process using active carbons and cellulose fibers in order to eliminate fatty acids and impurities. The result is a crystal clear and flawless product." - Producer notes
Redemption High Rye Bourbon Single Barrel
$45 | 151769
"Master Blender Alan Kennedy selects the finest barrels to be part of Redemption’s Single Barrel Program. Each one acquires a distinct flavor based on its aging location and temperature. Some have more traditional bourbon notes while others feature a softer palate. They’re bottled at 105 poof and non-chill filtered." - Producer notes
Avion Reserva 44 Anejo Tequila
$200 | 151680
"Avión Reserva 44 Extra Añejo Tequila has a deep aroma of roasted agave, along with scents of vanilla and light citrus, particularly lemon zest. The nose gives way to flavors of dried fruits, cinnamon and eucalyptus on the palate, which leads to an extremely long and rich finish." - Producer notes
4.) Savory Snacks
Salty, snackable, and delectable, these are the perfect additions for picnics or summer adventures.
Fine Cheese Co Olive Oil & Sea Salt Crackers
$8 | 227729
Clif Family BBQ Walnuts & Smoked Almonds
$11 | 206350
5.) Sweet Treats
Don't leave your sweet tooth hanging — these decadent treats are just the delicious bite you need.
Fruition Madagascar Sambirano 74%
$12 | 214708
Rabitos Royale 8pc White Chocolate Fig Bon Bons
$27 | 218568
6.) Enviable Gifts
Say thanks, celebrate, or just send a memorable treat to friends and family.
NV Veuve Clicquot Refrigerator Gift Box
$90 | 228087
Ciao Italy Basket
$175 | 228560