Many of you know I recently started writing for “Pacific Northwest,” The Seattle Times’ Sunday magazine. You’ll be reading my take on Boxed Wines in this Sunday’s edition. But in the meantime, just in time for the weekend, here’s a link to my May 25 article, which featured 10 of my favorite summer-time wines along with a great grilling recipe by Portland cookbook author Diane Morgan. Her latest tome is entitled, “Grill Every Day: 125 Fast-Track Recipes for Weeknights on the Grill,” and the title says it all. Her Grill Every Day Spice Rub recipe is a must-have for summer, and year-round grilling.

San Juan Vineyards 2007 Afterglow is a new wine discovery that makes the perfect summer sipping wine for the patio, pool, or beach. Says owner Yvonne Swanberg, “So happy that you enjoyed the Afterglow. It is named in honor of Afterglow Beach here on San Juan Island and for the afterglow of our beautiful summer sunsets.

“It is a blend of 70% Madeleine Angevine and 30% Pinot Noir with just a splash of Merlot for color. The Pinot Noir is also from our estate vineyard. We could not put “estate grown” on the label due to the splash of Merlot.

“This is the first Pinot Noir harvested from our vineyard, harvested last year, which was a cool season.”

The only downside to this seductive summer wine? According to Yvonne, “It was only a small bottling. . .110 cases sold only in the tasting room.” So get up to the Islands and buy a case before it’s all sold out!