(123RF photo)

One of the joys of summer is spending time with family and friends. You can kick back and catch up, perhaps while sipping a refreshing drink or sharing a meal outdoors.

If you plan to serve wine or beer, here are some summertime suggestions from Stephen Bordl, product coordinator for the Nova Scotia Liquor Corporation.

Sipping and relaxing

Want to sip a glass of wine or a cold beer while chillaxing on the deck?

• White wines: Sauvignon Blanc, Pinot Grigio, Chenin Blanc. Red wines: Gamay, Tempranillo. Rosé wines.
• Beers: Lighter-style beers. Flavoured beers, such as those with lime and other citrus flavours.
• Mix it up: Sparkling wine with orange juice. Tropical drinks, such as margaritas. Coolers.

Backyard barbecues

Barbecues and beers can go well together. Lighter-style beers can go with almost any food. Flavoured beers can work well too. If you have big burgers with big heavy sauces, you also can go with dark beers.

Wine drinkers have lots of choices, too.

• Burgers and steaks: Cabernet, Shiraz, Malbec, Tempranillo, Zinfandel.
• Pork: Gamay, Pinot Noir, rosés.
• Chicken: To match a sweeter-style barbecue sauce, a sweeter-style German Riesling.
• Light salads: Pinot Grigio, Sauvignon Blanc.

Seafood celebrations

Whether you are entertaining guests from here or away, it is a good time for lobster boils and other seafood celebrations. White wines from Nova Scotia, such as Tidal Bay, can work really well with seafood from the province.

More matches

• Lobster and Chardonnay.
• Mussels and Sauvignon Blanc or Chenin Blanc.
• Scallop-and-shrimp shish kebabs with Australian or Californian Sauvignon Blancs, particularly ones that have a little more oak in them — often the oak works really well with the smokiness of the grill.

More info: www.mynslc.com.