Time to kick off your shoes and enjoy the outdoors. Picnics, barbeques, patio parties - all are great opportunities to enjoy good food and wine.

Around this time of year, though it's been warm down here for a good many months and will only get warmer, I start to think about lightening things up a little when it comes to my vino.

The Little Penguin's recent newsletter has some tips for doing just that:

With temperatures rising and grills firing up, people everywhere are raring to relax and enjoy the warm weather. the Little Penguin encourages you to maximize your summer enjoyment-even when snacking solo or dining with friends. The ultimate ambassador of fun offers up these helpful tips to complement the bold flavors of the Little Penguin wine.

• Chardonnay tastes great with fresh clams, scallops and other "catches of the day"
• Shiraz complements a thin crust pizza; add some pineapple and ham to make it a tropical delicacy!
• Pinot Noir pairs marvelously with a tender piece of salmon right off the grill
• Merlot works great with light Asian fare like California rolls or a sesame chicken salad.
• Cabernet Sauvignon matches perfectly with tender steak or homemade pasta salad
• Try the new Summer White with any of your favorite warm weather cuisines-from fresh fruit salad to hamburgers straight from the grill!