Yes We Can

1 Dame Beverage Co. Donna spritz

Donna, an entirely Canadian but extremely Italian spritz from Dame Beverage Co., is packed with bittersweet blood orange and bright bubbles. While the regular version clocks in at five per cent ABV, this nearly non-alcoholic one packs in all the flavour with none of the hangover. <0.5% ABV, damebeverage.com
Picnic pairing: An Italian panini

2 Good Sunday Light vodka soda

Good Sunday Light’s line of vodka sodas are low in sugar, calories and alcohol and made with real fruit juice. We like the watermelon-­lime best—it’s like a vodka soda for the run-club crowd. 3% ABV, drinkgoodsunday.com
Picnic pairing: Greek salad

3 Darling red sangria

Darling is on its way to cornering the day-­drinking market—their canned mimosas already have a cult following. The brand’s new red sangria fortifies Ontario-made red wine with strawberries, blackberries, blueberries and citrus. Sip a can in the sun or pour a bunch into a pitcher for a thirsty crowd. 4% ABV, darlingmimosa.com
Picnic pairing: A jamon sandwich

4 Sunday Funday mimosa

Containing only 90 calories and one gram of sugar, Sunday Funday’s canned take on the quintessential brunch beverage is a bright, fresh low-octane drink that’s more orange seltzer than classic mimosa. 4% ABV, drinksundayfunday.com
Picnic pairing: A cheese board

5 Wilda cucumber and lime spritzer

A co-fermented blend of fresh-pressed cucumber juice, lime two ways (zest, juice) and honey makes up this mead-inspired spritzy sipper. Bonus: Wilda estimates that each can supports the pollination of 185,000 wildflowers. 3.5% ABV, drinkwilda.com
Picnic pairing: Pepperoni pizza with hot honey drizzle

6 Collective Arts white sangria spritz

Collective Arts’ white sangria spritz leans on local wine, Winona peaches, ripe mangoes and a swirl of lime for a fruity kick. It gives summer in Capri vibes (even if you’re in Christie Pits). 4% ABV, collectiveartscreativity.com
Picnic pairing: Fish tacos

7 Mascot Brewery Yard Lime seltzer

Mascot Brewery’s Yard Lime seltzer is an easy, breezy, beachy drink that combines fresh-squeezed pink guava juice, zesty lime and a splash of vodka. It’s a local alternative to tropical macro-seltzers and tastes like summer in the Caribbean by way of Centennial Park. 4% ABV, mascotbrewery.com
Picnic pairing: Jerk chicken

8 Stock and Row Lime Crush

Stock and Row’s tart and punchy Lime Crush starts with a base of Ontario apples, then gets a big squeeze of key lime concentrate to make a tangy sparkling cider. Think of it as a cross between a cider, a sour beer and a margarita. 4.5% ABV, stockandrow.com
Picnic pairing: Guac and chips

9 So and So vodka, sorrel and soda

One of the best sips for hot summer days is a cool glass of sorrel, a refreshing hibiscus-based drink. This PEC-made cocktail steeps organic sorrel with ginger, cloves, cardamom, star anise, cinnamon, orange zest and sugar cane—plus just enough vodka to make things interesting. 4.5% ABV, drinksoandso.com
Picnic pairing: Doubles or a spicy beef patty

10 Tag vodka soda

The classic dive bar vodka soda is elevated with good-quality Tag vodka (from Oakville’s Maverick Distillery), organic cane syrup for some subtle sweetness, and flavour combos like mango-ginger and wild cherry with yuzu. 4.5% ABV, maverickdirect.ca
Picnic pairing: Salted peanuts