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Memorial Day weekend marks the unofficial start to summer — a time to head to beach, relax at the pool, finish up the spring yard work, and fire up the grill.

When it comes to wine, the holiday has always reminded me of Thanksgiving. If you’re having people over, your best bet is to open a variety of bottles — some reds (chill ‘em!), some whites, some rosés — and let people enjoy whatever they want.

And don’t forget the beer!

Earlier this week, Eric Asimov urged us to throw away the traditional rules of summertime drinking. In 2010, the Wine Curmudgeon marked the holiday by writing about how much he enjoys rosé. Last year, James Laube wisely suggested opening up some off-dry Riesling, as it’s “a great go-to wine for those occasions where you have a smorgasbord of food.”

So what will you be having? Let us know in the comments!

Franscioni comes from a long line of California farmers — his family has farmed for over 100 years. Gary went to Cal Poly to pursue a degree in agribusiness, and took over his family’s business upon graduation, managing over 200 acres of crops in the Salinas Valley.

In 1996, after recognizing the potential for wine grapes in the Santa Lucia Highlands, Franscioni planted a 50-acre vineyard — named after his wife, Rosella — to Pinot Noir, Chardonnay, and Syrah. The next year, he teamed up with well-known grape grower Gary Pisoni to plant “Garys’ Vineyard.” Both vineyards provide fruit to some of California’s top producers, like Siduri and Copain.

Farming grapes wasn’t enough for Franscioni, so in 2001, he decided to launch a wine label. The project — ROAR Wines — brought on Adam Lee of Siduri/Novy and quickly gained a stellar reputation.

Today, the wines at ROAR are crafted by Ed Kurtzman, the winemaker behind Freeman and Sandler, in consultation with Adam Lee. (Together, Kurtzman and Franscioni own August West Wine, along with grape grower Howard Graham.)

Check out our interview with Gary Franscioni below the fold.

What is your general winemaking philosophy?

I’m a grower, so my winemaking approach is very rooted in the vineyard. Our vineyards are meticulous, we review every vine every 12 days and spend a great deal of time ensuring that we have the highest quality fruit a given vintage can give us.

What’s open in your kitchen right now?

ROAR Viognier. We made so little that I actually had to allocate myself. But I love it, and hope to make more in the future.

Who are your favorite winemakers in history, through personal account, or their wines?

The three that really stand out for me are John Alban (Alban Vineyards), Adam Lee (Siduri, Novy),  and Ed Kurtzman (ROAR, August West, Sandler). All three are great winemakers and great friends.

What new winemakers are you most excited about, and why?

I just got done taking a stress test, so I’m trying not to get too excited right now. There are a lot of great, impassioned, and inspiring young winemakers making their mark. Let’s start off with Jeff Pisoni.

How do you spend your days off?

When I get them, they are spent with family — either playing, watching, or talking about sports. Right now, I’m all about the SF Giants.

Gary Franscioni and Ed Kurtzman.

What’s the best wine you’ve ever tasted? The most interesting?

The best I’ve had is Grenache, of which the most interesting are from Chateauneuf-du-Pape, Château de Beaucastel and Domaine du Pegau.

What’s the oldest bottle in your cellar? The most expensive?

The oldest is an ‘82 Lafite. The most expensive is a magnum of 2001 Batard Montrachet that was given to me by Howard Graham, my partner in August West wines.

If you had to pick one red and one white to drink for the next month with every dinner, what would you choose?

I don’t think I could do that. But for the sake of your question, I’ll give a varietal response. I’d go with Pinot Noir and Chardonnay.

What’s your biggest challenge as a winemaker?

The biggest challenge is also our biggest inspiration, and that’s how to make a better wine each year – how to perfect everything from pruning and shoot thinning to timing of harvest, fermentation protocols and barrel selection for every bottle we make.

What’s your favorite wine region in the world — other than your own?

Hand’s down its Italy’s Piedmont region. Their vineyards are pristine, just immaculate – they’re practically art. They come the closest to reflecting my own vine by vine approach. I respect their farming and I love their Barolos.

Is beer ever better than wine?

During harvest, with pizza. At a ballgame, with a dog. Otherwise, it’s wine for me.

What would people be surprised to know about you?

Everyone thinks I’m really quiet. I’m not.

If you weren’t making wine for a living, what would you be doing?

Without a doubt I’d be farming. I have to work with the earth. I have to have my hands in dirt. I’m a third generation farmer, it’s in the blood.

How do you define success?

I think Confucius said it best: “Choose a job you love, and you’ll never have to work a day in your life.”

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In the Purely Domestic Wine Report (the new publication from Doug Wilder), an excellent piece on  old-vine vineyards in Sonoma County and the Historic Vineyard Society.

On the blog for Maison Ilan, a great post from Ray Walker on the rewards of cellaring Burgundy.

From Cloudwine, a fascinating series of short interviews with Jean-Louis Chave. (H/T: Eric Asimov.)

Looking for a history lesson on one of the most influential men in wine? Wine Spectator published an article about the “Prince of Vines” in Bordeaux. It’s a great read!

The debate over alcohol levels continues. Check out W. Blake Gray’s take on the “balance backlash.” Where do you weigh in?

In the Wall Street Journal Europe, Will Lyons profiles filmmaker Jonathan Nossiter, who just released “Mondovino: The Series,,” an extended version of the original documentary.

It’s rosé season and if you’re searching for an interesting bottle, there’s a nice review here. Take their advice and try the Arnot Roberts rosé. It’s stunning.

In the Wall Street Journal, Lettie Teague highlights two New York restaurants that have “put together [wine] lists that aren’t encyclopedic and yet still manage to offer plenty of interesting choices that match the menu as well.”

Over on 1WineDude, an interesting piece on the wines of Beechworth, “which represents a side of Ozzie wine that few Americans ever get to see.”

The Associated Press tackles the challenge of “trail-ready” wine options.

In Part 1, published Monday, we discussed how Peter fell in love with wine and why he decided to start importing and retailing. In Part 2, published yesterday, Peter explained how he finds new producers and offered his thoughts on France’s 2011 harvest. In Part 3, Peter talked about his favorite wines and offered some advice for those who are looking to get acquainted with European wines.

In our 4^th and final video, Peter talks about “honesty” in wines and winemaking, as well as the issue of counterfeit wines.

Enormous thanks to Lisa Mathias, our videographer.

Photo courtesy of Purple Pages

Today is the 3rd annual global celebration of the Chardonnay grape! Grab a bottle (blanc de blancs works too!) and talk about it on your favorite social media site.

Speaking of social media, in WebProNews, Shawn Hess breaks down a recent survey on the online presence of wineries and concludes “that social media is having a dramatic impact on wine drinkers.”

But are consumers too busy to think about wine? The head of one research firm, The Source, thinks so, saying most wine is bought “quickly” and “emotionally.”

One way for time-strapped consumers to get a good deal: seek out private label wines. Bill St. John goes behind the labels of such new-age negociants as Cameron Hughes and 90+ Cellars in the Chicago Tribune.

Is “wine on tap” a more sustainable, drinkable alternative? Marlena John, a macroeconomics graduate student, argues that “[e]conomically, kegging wine makes sense.”

In Wine Spectator, Tim Fish provides an “Insider’s Guide to Sonoma,” with suggestions for dining and winery visits.

While in Sonoma, maybe you can stop in and see Terroirist favorite Jamie Kutch, the subject of this fantastic profile in Entrepreneur.

And make sure to seek out some Cobb Wines from the extreme Sonoma Coast, one of which Ed McCarthy annoints “California’s greatest Pinot Noir.”

“This old fellow with the amazing stories of royal patronage, and helping fend off scurvy on sea voyages before the use of limes, is picking up a few new tricks.” John Maher describes Fondillón, a unique sweet wine from Spain.

Can the shape of a Champagne bottle actually slow down oxygen exchange and produce a better, more age-worthy wine? Bollinger seems to think so, as it unveils a new, old (originally from 1846) bottle for its entire line.

Meanwhile, can something so unmistakably French as Champagne be the “Best of British”? Um, no. Jancis Robinson, among others, takes issue with some dodgy marketing of Lanson in the run-up to the Summer Olympics.

The wines of Southern France may not be the best of British either, but Dave McIntyre argues in the Washington Post that they are “tremendous in quality and value” and gives all of us some summer homework.

Congratulations to the winners of the 2012 Born Digital Wine Awards! According to the site, “The aim of the awards is to give value to writers, photographers and videographers who are successful at creating wine content online.” The photo essays are especially worth your time!

And bravo to the newest recipients of the Master Sommelier Diploma! Only four people made it this year, including Sabato Sagaria of Aspen’s Little Nell Hotel, Thomas Price of The Metropolitan Grill in Seattle, Dennis Kelly of the legendary French Laundry, and Roland Micu of San Francisco’s COI.

Finally, for something completely different, here is a guide to…the wine regions in “Game of Thrones”?

In Part 1, published Monday, we discussed how Peter fell in love with wine and why he decided to start importing and retailing. In Part 2, published yesterday, Peter explained how he finds new producers and offered his thoughts on France’s 2011 harvest.

In Part 3, Peter talks about his favorite wines and offers some advice for those who are looking to get acquainted with European wines.

Enormous thanks to Lisa Mathias, our videographer.

“When a group of Italian vintners came through” Portland, Katherine Cole “snagged three of Piedmont’s most interesting producers to ask them some questions about their craft as part of [her] ongoing quest to discover what makes their wines so appealing.”

On a trip to Australia, Joe Roberts concludes that petrol notes in Riesling are not a fault.

Is Chardonnay automatically is better than Sauvignon Blanc? Steve Heimoff thinks so, but he has “enough self-examinative doubt to wonder.”

Mike Veseth thinks that “‘great wines, great values’ may soon be within Chilean wine’s grasp.”

Over on the VinTank blog, Paul Mabray explains what it’s like to be a “5th Column Company” in the wine industry.

According to Financial Times’ investment columnist John Authers, investors will briefly move into wine if the Eurozone collapses.

On Tuesday, Decanter announced the results of its 2012 World Wine Awards.

“With its higher elevations, cool climate and good viticulture opportunities, Idaho’s untapped potential is unbelievable.” So contends Andrew Browne, the CEO of Seattle-based Precept Wine, which just purchased Idaho’s oldest and largest producer, Ste. Chapelle Winery.

“Some of my friends have no use for rosé. I feel sorry for them, even though that means more of the pink stuff for me.” So proclaims Bill Ward.

This week, Treasury Wine Estates started “rolling out a new addition to the Beringer brand –White Zinfandel Moscato.”

In the second part of our series, Peter explains how he finds new producers and offers his thoughts on France’s 2011 harvest. Enormous thanks to Lisa Mathias, our videographer.

This summer, try a Guinness.

“For too long, seasonal drinking has been considered a matter of color: reds for the cold; rosés and whites for the heat. Similar rules hold with beer.” In the New York Times, Eric Asimov rewrites the rules of summertime drinking.

According to Tim Ferguson, New York restaurateur Paul Grieco has fallen for New Zealand Riesling.

In the Financial Times, Jancis Robinson profiles Nicolas Potel’s “Collection Bellenum,” which promises “a treasure trove for Burgundy lovers without a well-stocked cellar of their own.”

Bank Atcharawan, the legendary manager of Lotus of Siam in Las Vegas, announces his departure on Facebook.

In Palate Press, W. Blake Gray details an accidental discussion with eight Santa Barbara County winemakers “about that perennial favorite topic in California, alcohol level.”

Jeff Siegel details “five of the most annoying [wine] facts that really aren’t.”

In the Atlanta Journal Constitution, Gil Kulers profiles Jacob Gragg of Aria, the city’s newest Advanced Sommelier.

From the New York Times travel section, “36 Hours in Napa Valley.”

Wine Spectator shares all James Molesworth’s scores from his 2011 Bordeaux barrel tastings.

“Wine industry economics in California have changed dramatically in the last year… as more wine producers realize the marketplace for grapes and wine in bulk won’t be large enough to keep pace with sales of finished wine.” In the North Bay Business Journal, a look at the various strategies California’s growers and vintners will employ to combat the wine grape shortage.

Decanter has announced the launch of DecanterChina.com, a new Chinese language website.

So I recently got together with Peter Weygandt to learn how he fell in love with wine, why he decided to start importing and retailing, and what excites him.

Enormous thanks to Lisa Mathias, our videographer. (If you’re interested in food, Lisa also serves as Foodspotting’s DC Ambassador.)