WINE STUDY 2011

Finally after many months of sabbatical, we began our wine study once again. Between my being ill and snow, holidays and coordinating every one's schedules we are back on track and loving it once again. We met on this past Saturday & had a wonderful selection to taste. Champagne, White Burgundy, Pinot Noir & a blended red wine from California. I will report on these during the coming weekend. All were enjoyed with lovely compliments from appetizers to salad to main course & finally dessert which is pictured in the slide show below. Dessert's do not always have to be yummy, gooey & fattening. This selection was luscious, delicious and very, very satisfying. A perfect way to end the evening! Check back this weekend to see my thoughts!

Borders Expected To Declare Chapter 11 Bankruptcy « CBS Pittsburgh

Borders Expected To Declare Chapter 11 Bankruptcy « CBS Pittsburgh

Melini...my favorite Chianti

Melini Chianti 2008 was a birthday gift to me. It was the perfect accompaniment for a vegetable lasagna and fine green salad with balsamic dressing. There is nothing finer than a great meal with a pleasing wine to be it's companion. The wine was an intense ruby red color. It's fragrance was full of raspberries and spices with a hint of floral. And once it hit your palate it was wonderfully full of the richness of a full bodied dry wine which made you think of fruit and a touch of almond.
It is from the Tuscan region of Italy. A place I yearn to visit. Not only to see my roots of ancestry but to learn of the vine and witness for myself the old vintages. This Chianti was bolder and more balanced than other Chianti's I have had in the past. It has broadened my thinking on Chianti's. Yes, 2008 must have been a very good year for Melini wine making. So on my shopping trip to the wine store Melini is on my list to be a staple on my wine rack. Being Italian and making lots of Italian meals this is just the wine to serve, whether dining alone or with others.

Salute' .....

Super Bowl ...................

SUPER BOWL SCORE 31-25...PACKERS ARE CHAMPS (for this year)

Thank you Pittsburgh Steelers for taking us once more to the Super Bowl!!!! It was a fun ride!!!!! It still is an honor to have such an awesome football team!!!!! Your still the best in our eyes & spirit!

GO PITTSBURGH STEELERS !!!!!

Benedictine at it's finest!

I recently was invited to dinner at my friends father's home and went searching in my liquor cabinet for possibly finding a bottle of something I could take along. The only item in there without the seal cracked was this bottle of B&B. I have hung on to it for the last 8 years never opening it as it was a very large bottle and very expensive (top shelf liquor) and I did not wish to open only for me to have a glass of brandy by the fire. I had bought this bottle as a gift for the man I had been dating at the time. He had been my first love from high school, we dated for well over 2 years and had thought of marriage. But then he dumped me and we both moved on. 30 years later we reconnected and spent another year and a half in each others company....and I dumped him. (graciously of course) Any how he was the man who introduced me to the pleasures of B&B. It is refreshing and relaxing at the same time. A wonderful drink for after dinner. But I of course still prefer my red wine. B&B goes down nicely as a shot....but this is not the kind of lady I wish to be, although I have done my # of B&B shots. Drinking B&B out of a beautiful crystal brandy snifter is a classic moment and a time in my life I will always remember. Well back the the OLD bottle of B&B in my cabinet......So I decided to give this to my friend's father, hoping all the while he would appreciate it as much as I know other B&B drinkers do. It was a hit! It was the right choice. He was so joyful at receiving this, he handled the bottle as if it were a precious thing to behold. It made my heart smile and be full of joy for making someone this happy over a bottle which I had for 8 years. I know now it went to it's rightful owner. I wish him many happy moments as he savors the fruit from the vine in the bottle.
While dating Mark he educated me on how the cognac was made. I will try to remember now what he said to me and share that with you.
B&B is a French spiced liquor and fine cognac. Benedictine is a herbal liquor made by monks from as far back as 1510. It is composed of 27 herbs and spices. (B&B is great over French vanilla ice cream) In 1930 they started bottling the B&B, a mixture of Benedictine and Cognac together. The history of B&B Cognac Liqueur dates back to the early 1930's at New York City's famous "21" club. During Prohibition, a creative bartender was inspired to combine Benedictine Liqueur with French cognac brandy. The drink became such a popular call that the makers of Benedictine decided to bottle these special ingredients together. When the distinctive presence of cognac is accompanied by the subtle hints of honey, herbs and spices in Benedictine Liqueur, the flavor is a delicate marriage of the best of both worlds. Every bottle of Bénédictine has the initials D.O.M. on the label. Mistakenly thought by some to refer to "Dominican Order of Monks" it actually stands for "Deo Optimo Maximo"; "For our best, greatest God".
If your looking for a smooth, slow drink to romance your special someone for Valentine's Day I would recommend having some on hand along with some special brandy snifter's and settle down after an evening out or meal at home in front of the fireplace and snuggle & sip. But may I also recommend .....just one glass! Save the rest of the bottle for some more romantic times!
You may ask if this is a wine blog then why am I writing about cognac.....well cognac is made from grapes by double distilling the white wines and making it to harsh to be a fine wine.

SO NOW EVEN A BAD WINE CAN BE GOOD ???

I have seen it all! Your key to telling wine's future!(is what they say) Mature young wines instantly know how they will develop over the next 1 to 10 years. When dipped into wine, the patented alloy tip of the Clef du Vin (wine key) replicates the aging process, softening tannins and improving taste. Tested over 10 years by scientists and sommeliers, this wine taste enhancer has received praise throughout the world, and is endorsed by the Wine Enthusiast Magazine testing panel. Brushed steel. I really need to have a more clear understanding of this gadget. Just when I thought I had seen it all then comes along this in my searching. This amazing tool actually emulates the ageing process in your glass of wine, 1 year for every second you hold it in your wine glass. A must have for all serious wine collectors and winemakers. REALLY????? I am left speechless today.......
Cheers !

WINE & SPICE and EVERYTHING NICE !!!

Wine & spice and everything nice! That's what great wines are made of! Spicy in reference to a wine can mean anything from peppery to cinnamon. When I first started sitting in on wine tastings or even a dinner with my friend Paul several years back, I was totally clueless as to what they were talking about. All I knew was I totally enjoyed the wines he had chosen to share with us. And I learned much. I must say until a few months ago when studying more on my own and with a few close friends when drinking I have finally trained my nose to pinpoint that peppery smell everyone was talking about. Now I even taste it immediately. It is amazing how we can train our noses and palates to pick up the scents and tastes. If you would like to start training your senses might I suggest you try this. Upon opening a bottle of your wine at hand gather some spices from your pantry. I am sure you have some cooking spices on hand, perhaps not, if not then you will have to stretch your imagination a bit further and try to remember the smells of the certain spices. Line up 6 wine glasses in front of you.....no you are not going to drink 6 glasses of wine! You are going to then add a small spoonful of each spice into a different glass. Swirl, sniff & smell just as you would a glass of wine. Put into your memory bank the smell of each spice and associate it somewhat with a food you have consumed made with these. Do this exercise a few times and before you know it you will be able to pick up the aromas when given a glass of wine. Doing this with a few great friends can be great enjoyment and conversation when entertaining.
Salute'

RESVERATROL....HEART HEALTHY

SHOWN IS ONLY 1 SUPPLIER OF RESVERATROL...THERE ARE MANY OUT THERE
This blog relates to both my health blog and wine blog today so I am publishing it in both...guess it is just a lazy Sunday morning for me....

Red wine and something in it called resveratrol may be good for you. It is found in the skins of red grapes. For a long time red wine has been thought to be heart healthy if taken in moderation. The alcohol and certain substances in red wine called antioxidants may help prevent heart disease by increasing levels of good cholesterol and protecting against artery damage. Too much alcohol consumed can have damaging effects on your health. Still according to the Mayo Clinic doctors agree that something in red wine appears to help your heart. Researchers believe it is the flavonoids or resveratrol which is responsible for this and have heart healthy benefits for you. Antioxidants aren't the only benefiting factor in red wine for your body. It is also the alcohol content.


How is red wine heart healthy? Some studies show that red wine has even more heart health benefits than other types of alcohol while some other studies show that red wine is no better than beer, liquor or white wine. They still have not found that red wine is superior to any of these.


The studies supporting the red wine theory suggest the antioxidants called poylphenols will help protect the lining of the blood vessels of your heart. These antioxidants come in 2 forms flavonoids and nonflavonoids.

• flavonoids....found in oranges, apple, grape juice, onions, tea & cocoa. Red wine has higher amounts than beer or other alcohol.


• nonflavonoids...these appear to keep the arteries from blocking with fatty deposits. Studies though have only been done on mice...not humans. Resveratrol is the nonflavonoid which has drawn the most attention to the scientists.

Resveratrol might be the key ingredient in red wine which helps prevent damage to blood vessels , reduces bad cholesterol and prevents blood clots.

Resveratrol in red wine comes from the skin of the grapes used t o make the wine. Because red wine is fermented with the skin of the grapes longer than white wine this is the reason for higher content of resveratrol in the red as opposed to the white. You could of course eat grapes or drink red or purple grape juice but the content in red wine is higher because of the fermentation process. Blueberries, cranberries and peanuts also contain resveratrol.

How does alcohol affect your heart? Or benefit it?

• raises the good cholesterol levels


• reduces formation of blood clots


• helps prevent artery damage caused by bad cholesterol

Neither the American Heart Association or the National Heart Lung & Blood Institute recommend that you start drinking to prevent heart disease. Alcohol can be addictive and can cause other health issues. Drinking too much increases the risk of high blood pressure, liver damage, obesity, certain cancers, accidents and other problems. Even small amounts can cause heart failure in some people who have unnoticed health issues.

If you already drink red wine please do so in moderation. Moderate drinking is defined as 2 drinks a day for men and 1 drink a day for women. A drink is defined as 12 ounces of beer, 5 ounces of wine or 1.5 ounces of 80 proof distilled alcohol. The limit for men is higher because men are generally weigh more than women and have more of an enzyme which processes alcohol than women.

CHILEAN WINE

Chilean Wines....The Chilean wine industry aims to be the #1 producer of sustainable and diverse premium wines from the New World by the year 2020. Four outstanding Chilean wines made it to the most recent Wine Spectator Top 100 wines of the year 2010.

Concho Y Toro Marqués de Casa Concha Cabernet Sauvignon 2007 from Puente Alto (Maipo Valley)

Veramonte Pinot Noir 2008 from Casablancq

De Martino Legado Syrah 2007 from the Choapa Valley

Agrícola la Viña Polkura Syrah 2008 from the Marchihue sector of the Colchagua Valley

Chile has a wonderful climate for growing grapes. Chile's climate varies from the heat of the arid, rocky, mountainous desert to the north and the icy, cold, Antarctic expanse in the south. Chile's vineyards flourish in the warm, fertile valleys that are positioned between the two areas. Many of the grapes that were believed to be Merlot have recently been determined to be Carmenère, which is a scarcely planted variety of Bordeaux.

WHO IS A WINE SNOB?

Recently one of my friends made reference to me being a "wine snob". Of course this person does not drink at all. (perhaps she is the snob?). Maybe I should not call her my friend. Here is my opinion of a "wine snob" and a "wine enthusiast". I call myself a "wine enthusiast". In my own words a wine snob is someone who goes to a party or to someone's home and expects the wine of their choice to be on hand for the event. When given other options they will drink sparkling water instead. They have tunnel vision as to trying something new. They hold a price tag (high) on a wine. They might even push their wine on their friends until their friends get fed up and do not wish to hang with them any more. A "wine enthusiast" in my opinion is someone who takes an avid interest in how that wonderfully tasting wine got from the vine to the glass. They wish to know the grapes names and the vines. The location and the year. They take their time when purchasing a wine, when pouring and then when drinking. They swirl it in the glass to get the aromas to come alive. They sniff to take in all the wonderful scents and they enjoy the guessing of what they find. We sip to allow that luscious fruit drift in our mouths and bring alive what we have smelled. And we drink and thoroughly enjoy the whole experience. I too can put on my little black dress and red high heels and enjoy a fabulous glass of wine, does that make me a snob? No, it just makes me a wine lover enjoying a glass of wine in fine clothes.But I must say I do most of my wine drinking in my pajamas, in my sweat suit or in my blue jeans and t shirt. With or without friends and snobbery is not a part of it. I must also say I love uncorking a great tasting bottle of wine but most wine I consume at home comes in a box.....but I do use a glass! So if any of you wish to call me a wine snob that is fine, but don't allow yourself to portray being a snob in doing so.
Salute'

VIEWERS THIS MORNING.........

United States 67

Slovenia 12

Denmark 6

United Kingdom 3

Canada 2

Saudi Arabia 2

Singapore 2

Germany 1

France 1

Namibia 1 VIEWERS THIS MORNING !!!

Vine History

I have recently learned that all vines belong to the genus (family line) Vitis. During the Tertiary Period climatic changes caused the genus to change and split into numerous different species. The 2 most important are vinifera and labrusca. 99.9% of today's wines are made from the Vitis vinifera vine, a vine native to Europe and Asia. Chardonnay, Cabernat sauvignon, merlot, riesling, zinfandel and sauvignon blanc are all from this vine. Vitis Labrusca is the native vine of Canada and New England. The concord grape is the best known from this vine genus. Wines are still made from this species in upper New York State.
Old vines.....great wines....good times ! so much depends on the quality of the glass of wine you have with dinner or for relaxing.....we need to appreciate the history of the vine.

7 DEADLY ZINS

Schulenburg's vines, grubby with GREED,
Embrace Lodi's soil, to drink and to feed.
Oh Lord, forgive me my zin.
Secure in it's strength, weathered with PRIDE,
Standing like soldiers, the forest of Snyde.
Oh Lord, forgive me my zin.
Hearts filled with LUST, ole Maley's trees.
Court Lodi's sun, and flirt with it's breeze.
Oh Lord, forgive me my zin.
Good Bishofberger did raise some GLUTTONOUS beast,
Vines fattened like turkeys before Thanksgiving feast.
Oh Lord, forgive me my zin.
With the tilt of the glass, I commit seven zins,
Oh Lord, with your help... I'll do it again.
Indulge!

This is one of my all time favorite wines! Made from the old vines......This Zin was created by 2 brothers who decided to blend together the fruit of Lodi's finest vineyards. In the end 7 vineyards were picked superior to the rest and chosen for this wine....the brothers came up with this unique name relating to their Catholic upbringing and teachings of the 7 deadly sins. 7 old vine zins make up this outstanding wine. Try it you will be very satisfied I am sure. I owe this experience to my friend Paul who introduced me to many fine tasting wines several years ago.
Sweet plums and peppery notes and flavors of peppery, raspberry, blueberry with a touch of cinnamon delight your palate. With soft and silky tannins to make this a most pleasing wine for any occasion.
This is just 1 of the fine wines created by Michael~David Winery
read about more of their wonderful vine at the link provided!
Salute'

Tastingroom.com

I stumbled upon this unique site the other day called Tasting Room. Here you can order tasting sets of 4 or 6 tiny bottles allowing you to sample wines before you purchase the larger bottles. You pick a wine sampler, have it shipped to your home to try and then you can make your mind up about a future purchase. It is your own "wine flight" brought direct to your door so you can have your very own private taste within the walls of your home. Then you can purchase the larger bottles of those you wish to have in your wine collection. Their top six samplers are:

1. Napa Valley Wines I----hand selected reds and whites from Napa
   
2. Six Pinot Noirs---six pinots, six regions, one flight
   
3. Hidden Gems---the best of smaller wineries
   
4. A Tour of The Wine Road---treasures of Sonoma Valley
   
5. Red Essentials---classic California wines
   
6. A Tour of California---six varietals from six wineries

T.A.S.T.E. Technology™ -- which stands for “Total Anaerobic Sample Transfer Environment.”

Using T.A.S.T.E. Technology, the wine in the big bottles is transferred directly into mini bottles in a sealed, zero-oxygen chamber. A state-of-the-art production facility was built in Northern California, in the heart of the wine country, expressly for this purpose. There’s nothing like it anywhere in the world.1 normal size bottle yields 15 samples. 1 gets tasted and if it passes the taste test then the other 14 get packaged for selling.

Visit them today & pick a sampling for your home!

WHITE WINE....a wine I forget to blog about

glass white wine pino noir grape,pinot grigio grape










I know I ramble on & on about red wine all the time. So I mustn't forget to keep updated on some whites. Let's talk about pinot gris versus pinot grigio. They actually are the same white grape but share the same name. In Italy & California it is known as pinot grigio and in Oregon & France it is pinot gris.Other regions in the world also use the names interchangeably. The pinot grigio grape is actually a mutation of the grape varietal pinot noir, which is in fact red. Pino Blanc is not the same and pinot grigio or pino gris....it is a further mutation of the same grape. So....we are drinking mutations? Does not sound so good! But it does taste soooooo good! I have learned that most pinot grigio wines are created in Italy. The Italian version is dry, not sweet and you might taste the mineral content in it. Californian versions will have a lemony taste, be a bit richer in taste but you will still have the mineral traces. French pinot gris are more fruity & flowery than the Italian versions. They will taste peachy or melony but still have the mineral aroma about them. Some experts believe the pinot noir grape will make the finest wine in the world. It grows best in cool climates and is a difficult grape to grow and make into wine. Since it is such a hard grape to grow possibly this is how the mutations came about. This is something I will need to further learn about and research.
I love looking at the pictures of the grape varieties. It takes me back to being a child and sitting on Poppa Donne's lap under his grape arbor and leaning my head on his huge chest, my long hair blowing in the breeze across my tiny face and gazing up at the huge deep purple grapes hanging from the vines above my head and feeling so safe as I listened to Poppa's talk of his days on the farm when he was a young boy in Italy. I had a happy childhood....it is a good memory I hold dear to my heart and glad to have had. Yes....life should always be so sweet!
Cheers!

Rosa Regale...Rose Wine

Rosa Regale - Be Enchanted:

Another Valentine's Day Choice! Rosa Regale a dry, softly sweet sparkling wine which would go very well with chocolate. This wine is from Italy's Piedmont region. Floral...sweet....sparkling.....a bit of everything most ladies hope for on Valentine's day...."all in 1 bottle !" Go to their website and read how this wine came about! Pair it with some Godiva Chocolate and "WOW"! This wine is perfect for the celebration of a special occasion for even the occasional wine drinker who chooses just a sip or 2 of bubbly to celebrate!...Not a wine I would care to have on hand always....but for the right time to pull a bottle off the shelf...this one would be special.
So guys...(and ladies, too) when planning your special day to share with your special someone on February 14......(which is right around the corner) this is just another choice to have in mind......set the scene.....candles, rose petals, chocolate & a wine of your choice in nice crystal stemware...add a bubble bath and I will leave the rest up to you to finish the picture with your imagination....
Salute!

WINE & CHOCOLATE...2 of my favorite things!

Red wine & chocolate! Great combination! But did you know that chocolate can be great with the right whites also? Actually in my readings lately I learned that "certain" types of chocolate are best with "certain" types of wines. I had always been under the assumption that dark chocolate and red wine were best together. i will give you some examples I have found and am hoping to try soon. Perhaps our normal wine tasting will turn into a one time "Wine & Chocolate Taste" . I am going to suggest this to the ladies and see their thoughts on this. I will be now referring to Lindt chocolates, but other brands of your choice are just as worthy. Lindt has a bar EXCELLENCE which is 70 % cocoa goes great with MERLOT.
There 85 % cocoa is wonderfully paired with a
ZINFANDEL (perhaps a red). The EXCELLENCE "A touch of sea salt bar" is great with a RIESLING. And they have a CHILI bar which is told to be grand with PORT. Visit their website on the link provided above and see all the wonderful chocolates you can pair up with your favorite wines.

CHOCOLATE AND WINE TASTING PARTY
Go to the above link and see just how to throw a party!



CHOCOLATE WINE Chocovine
I found the link above for the Chocolate Wine on the right. This is definitely something I am hoping I can find at the store!
Above are just some fine Valentine gift ideas for the man who has no idea what to do...."chocolate is a great way to a woman's heart"...and a bit of "wine" ....oh my!

ORLEAN' HILL MERLOT

Gorgeous label! Fine detailing! Organically grown grapes! No sulfites detectable! (for those who poo-poo sulfites) Vegan friendly! USDA ORGANIC labeling certification! Then why did this wine leave me disappointed? Just not my "glass of wine". Dear sweet Lola, who is the daughter to me I never had, brought this for us to share a glass on my birthday. I have over the last 10 years adopted her, Nate her husband and their 3 beautiful children into my life and they have been more than family to me they have been great friends. At 32 years of age they are so mature for their age, but perhaps you would call them an "old soul". So Sunday after a long day of breakfast being cooked & served to me (& gifts showered upon me), going to my sons in the afternoon & having him cook for me a superb luncheon ( in his card he wrote "to the most beautiful Mom in the world" ) & taking me to visit an ill friend, another friend bringing me gorgeous yellow tulips wrapped in red tissue, then finally arriving home and Lola bringing presents "galore", a snack of cheese, humus, salami & crackers along with 2 great deserts it was indeed a wonderful birthday which is still not over yet! I have 2 more lunch dates with girlfriends to celebrate some more this week and a dinner with Gaynor perhaps one evening if the week does not go too quickly! Or if I do not run out of energy! God certainly has been good to me this birthday of 2011! I have the best son & the best friends in the whole universe! Thanks everyone for letting me know just how special I am to all of you!
So now to the reason I write this blog......WINE! I got 2 glasses out to pour us a glass of the Orlean' Hill Merlot. I will give you my honest opinion...mine may not be yours....so please remember this as reading. In the glass it had lovely dark maroon coloring, smell was pleasing, it went down smoothly...but....upon finishing the sip it was the most powerful peppery taste in a wine I have ever had on my palate. After a few sips and your palate was conditioned to this it was drinkable, this is not a bad wine, just one too powerfully peppery for my taste. The label sure was pretty though. Almost like a very handsome man you may see and be attractive to and then once you get to know his heart you have no desire to be near him again. Or a pretty lady who is mean and hateful on the inside or in fact bitchy all the time. These leave a bad impression on you. So now I will tell you how they describe this wine themselves and perhaps you may want to get a bottle & try for yourselves. A blend of about half Santa Maria Merlot with Mendocino Merlot and Cabernet, this wine has the richest feel of any Orleans Hill wine. Santa Maria brings the power and Mendocino the style. A bit of french oak exposure rounds out the mouth and feel-- again styling a wine that should please the multitude of Merlot drinkers looking for a bolder medium bodied red with pleasant cherry fruit notes covering the whole palate

California, Sulfite Free, Organic (a copy)

Perhaps is was the "wooden, oaken" taste in my mouth I did not like....I suppose that could be better than a bad vinegar taste in a bad wine. This was not a "bad" wine...just not one I enjoy...nor did Lola. But...that is what wine exploring (tasting) is all about, finding the differences in all sorts of wines and being able to recognize more and more what your palate chooses. Once again I will say...just like picking a mate or date! Pay attention, learn and then enjoy!

I am now a year older. Will I be a year wiser? I do know as I age I enjoy reflecting back on what I have learned and accomplished. Then I look forward...but not too far forward because I do not want to miss today!

SALUTE! till tomorrow!

HANG TIME.......................

Hang time..........The longer the hang time the greater the fruit's depth and complexity-perfectly ripe grapes produce superior, long-aging wines. On the other hand, if the hang time is too long, the grapes will become overripe, which will affect both flavor and aroma of the finished wine. If it takes a grape 120 days to ripen normally and it has been an extra hot year and they ripen in 110 days or it has been a really cold summer and they ripen in 130 days.....would there be a difference in the taste of the grape? Certainly! Long ripening allows for the tannins, not only the sugars to maximize in strength, thus affecting the taste of the grape which will in turn affect the taste of your wine. Perfectly ripe...not over ripe, grapes will make a superior tasting wine.
There are many factors which go into a great tasting grape, which will in turn help give you a great tasting wine....climate, sun, stress, temperature fluctuations, frost, wind and soil...to name a few. None of these ever stay the same so the winemaker needs to constantly be on their toes as to what the precious vine may need or not need at any given time.
So the next time you raise your glass to toast someone or some occasion, don't forget to cheer on the growers of the fruit in your cup.
Cheers!

PRICES FROZE IN PENNSYLVANIA

2011 may bring higher prices in Pennsylvania Wine and Spirit Stores. This of course will affect the cost of drinks when you may wish to buy a round for your table the next time you are out. A great friend told me about this recently so I did some research and found out that the Pennsylvania State Liquor Control Board plans to raise the price of most wine and liquor sold in its state----between 35 cents and $1.15 per bottle----beginning sometime this month. The increase is SUPPOSED to help pay for the rising cost of transportation and storage in the state. This will indeed not just affect you when shopping for that bottle or 2 to bring home but also when you are out and in a restaurant. So for the time being there are no sales promotions going on in the local wine and spirit stores locally here in PA. Let's just hope they settle on an increase which is at the lower end of the price scale so when dining out we don't end up paying for the increase in our restaurant tab. If restaurants are serving hundreds of bottles of wine per week their money will need to be made up somewhere, and we hope it will not be in the food prices. No one will win there...not even the people who choose not to drink at the restaurant. We will start to see prices on the menu's rise quickly.....and eating at home will become more common for many once again...which is a good thing sometimes, but still that bottle of wine you bring home for dinner will cost you more if the state raises the cost.

As the Holiday Season ends

Well as the holiday season comes to an end it is time once again to start thinking about getting our wine study group gathered together. Hopefully in the next couple weeks I will have something new to tell you we learned as a group. I have tried to hold your interest these last several weeks on topics I have found interesting for myself. As time goes by I find myself yearning for a ride to Boardman to the wine & beer store I so love to stock up on some beers and wines. New Year's Eve I spent with a friend celebrating German's New Year at a quaint neighboring town just outside of Zelienople, PA. The name of the town is Harmony, it is not very large at all. They celebrated the German New Years which was at 6PM our time. So early in the afternoon we set out for a very nice ride on the country back roads. The weather that particular day was extremely warm and lovely for Pittsburgh weather. After browsing several of the shops in town (one in particular will be selling my recently published book and some of my hand made purses, perfumes and soaps) we went to The Harmony Inn Restaurant where we sat outdoors in the "beer garden" and enjoyed a beer next to the outdoor fireplace. It was such a beautiful day! People were everywhere in the streets congregating, children running and having fun. I got a bratwurst sandwich and we sat in the car (since we had prime parking) and ate & drank while we watched the ball drop @ 6pm and said "Happy New Year"! We returned home after 7pm and opened a bottle of Lindeman's Framboise Lambic (raspberry).Long before hops were common in most beers, various fruits and vegetables were used to season beers. The acidity of Lambic beers blends perfectly with raspberries. Magnificent aroma, delicate palate of rasp.berries with undertones of fruity acidity; elegant, sparkling clean taste. Style—Raspberry Lambic. Color—Rose.
Serving Suggestions

Chocolate desserts (especially chocolate decadence), fresh raspberries, ice cream with a raspberry demi-glaze sauce, créme caramel, baked Alaska, Olympia oysters, caviar. Serve in flute-shaped Lambic glasses at 45 degrees.
If you love berries you really need to try a Lambic...it was a pleasing change from wine, but wine is my ultimate favorite. But for a German New Year....I could not think of any other way to end the evening but with a favorite someone, a fire in the fireplace and a relaxing drink as we reminisced about 2010 & talked of hopes for 2011.
Cheers!

Rex-Goliath Shiraz Wine came to dinner

Rex-Goliath.....this was the New Year's Day wine Gaynor brought to dinner. I have just this morning read the back of the bottle (as I was way to busy yesterday preparing dinner and analyzing what I was drinking.) In a moment I will share my findings with you. But on the back of the bottle I have just read the "Legend of Rex-Goliath". At the turn of the century, HRM (His Royal Majesty) Rex Goliath was a treasured circus attraction. He weighed in @ 47 lbs. Rex was billed as the worlds largest rooster.
HRM Rex-Goliath winery of Woodbridge, California have given a tribute to Rex with their wines. Just like Rex, their wines have a larger than life personality. They also have big fruit forward flavors which are sure to please. Their direct quote is " Peppery and plummy, our wine is a demonstration of why the world has gone ga-ga over Shiraz."
Well needless to say if you have been following my blog since the beginning of its birth you will know Shiraz from Australia is my fav. WELL.....Australia you have a run for your money here! I am learning more and more with each sip of wine I take that Americans do know quite a bit about wine making. The color was a rich, deep burgundy which actually matched the fluffy robe I was wearing. The aroma was rich with goodness of what my nose tells me Shiraz should be. Upon the swirl legs were slow to come but upon their entrance they were thin and even around the glass...this I knew would have it be nice and dry (as I like) in my mouth. I tasted oak, pepper and berries. The wine was soft in your mouth not harsh and bitey. Tannins were low. All in all the bottle went down very well before, during and after dinner. (Yes I shared it!) Our dinner was a pork loin marinated in black pepper. Served with sauerkraut which cooked 5 hours in the crock pot with half an apple to take away the bitterness and when the loin was put in the oven to roast I added the kraut to the side of the same pan and cooked along with the roast. Cheddar cheese mashed potatoes were the side dish and appetizers were just veggies & dips with pretzels & foccacia crackers. Yummy, yummy....yummy! We ate, drank, ate & drank.....I have 2 slices and some kraut left for today and actually can't wait till dinner time so maybe it will be my lunch. However I do not have any of Rex left to enjoy...but I will in the future be purchasing a couple bottles for my wine collection. REX-GOLIATH
go to the link I have provided and see for yourself just how amazingly priced this wine is! It just goes to show that although an expensive wine might be quite tasteful and pleasurable you can get the same quality or perhaps even better in this bottle. Looks and pricey, classy is not always what it is cut out to be....remember this men (and women) when not only picking your wines but when picking your mate or partner or even a date. Just because a lady (or man) might like fancy, impressive items and have you shower her (him) with them...take a brief moment to actually look around you and see if perhaps someone just a bit simpler (or should I say...does not require all the frills in life....who knows how to have plain old fashioned fun and be happy with that), go for the entire package....not just for an attraction but for the one who not only satisfies your likings but also your wallet. With the money you save on expensive wines .....who knows...you might be able to take and extra vacation or 2 ! (sorry...I just went on rambling a bit....that's the writer in me....just sometimes can't stop these fingers!)

PINK PANTHER WINE

If you know me well...or even if you only know me from on the web, you know that the Pink Panther is my all time "favorite" cartoon. I could sit and watch his reruns for hours.
My cell phone rings to the tune of Henry Mancini's Pink Panther, when I had an ebay store my auctions were greeted by music and templates of the Pink Panther.Pink has always been my favorite color. The Panther visits my website from time to time Gabbriella's Closet
Now I welcome him to my blog. I have found this wine online and even though I do not like light reds I would love to try this, just for the sake of having the bottle for keeps.

The Pink Panther
Grand Vin de Bordeaux… Rosé!

The Pink Panther wine has the elegance of that of a GRAND VIN DE BORDEAUX ROSÉ, composed of 60% Merlot and 40% Cabernet

Merlot

Giving full bodied moderately tannic wines, this variety adds softness, richness and body when mixed with Cabernet Sauvignon. Ripening early, it gives smooth, deeply coloured, high alcoholic and low acidic wines

Cabernet Sauvignon

Giving tannins with blackcurrant aromas, this variety ripens late and is deeply coloured with a low alcohol percentage

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You can find the Pink Panther in different European countries: France, Spain, Netherlands, Danemark, Portugal ! In France in the month of August: Cora France.

New Years Champagne!

How many bubbles are in a champagne bottle? Researchers have found around 56 million. Don't ask me how they came up with that information but I am sure a few bottles of champagne were involved and the outcome was a scientific theory. The bubbles only appear once the bottle is opened. The bubble itself is a thin film of liquid filled with gas. Coke has large bubbles, champagne has tiny bubbles. Some believe the more bubbles...the better the champagne. I have never noticed this. Add a bit of orange juice and make a mimosa and you never will tell the cost of your champagne. Bubble size in champagne comes from the length of time is is aged in the cellar and he temperature. The cooler, the smaller.
The first important step in serving champagne is chilling it. The bottles used for champagne are thicker that other wine bottles so this will require longer chilling times. The fastest way to chill is in a bucket of ice and water for 20 to 40 minutes. It is not difficult to open a bottle of champagne, but it is different than a bottle of still wine. Many are afraid of this task. Each bottle is under 6 atmospheres of pressure. The same as a truck tire. If you open the bottle incorrectly you run the risk of damage or bodily harm. The cork will fly off at tremendous speed with a mind of its own. Fun, but it can hurt someone.
To safely and correctly open a bottle of champagne:

• break and remove the foil, not the wire cage
• place your thumb on top of the cork to keep it from flying
• with your free hand unscrew the wire and loosen the cage...do not take completely off
• twist the cork in one direction and the bottle in the opposite
• fill each glass with about 2 inches of champagne then go around and top off
• wait until your guest have only 1 sip left then top off again, this way they will enjoy a fresh glass and appreciate it more.
  

Champagne glasses bring out the etiquette in people. Have you ever watched a group socializing and all of a sudden a bottle of champagne and fancy glasses arrive and everyone stands up at their best posture and speak in a softer, sexier tone of voice. Pay attention next time and you may see what I mean. Champagne glasses came to be in the seventeenth century. The basic shape came from the cone shaped glasses resembling animal horns from the 1300 and 1500 in Venice. As serendipity would have it the art of glass making was reaching its peak just as champagne making was beginning.
In my opinion champagne was not meant to be drank the whole evening, but to be as a toast for a special occasion. I have found a drink which for the beer lover who loves to drink from a bottle....this drink is great to have on hand any time of year, especially for the lady who really does not drink but would love a refreshing carbonated drink......VERDI....the Italian "sparkly" check out their website. You can get a case of this at the beer distributor in the US. It is a spumante which is sure to please at all times of year. The great thing a beer drinker may love about this spumante is it comes in smaller bottles, approx 6 oz, and you can drink straight from the bottle and still have your bubbly for the New Year!
I will be opening a bottle of J. Roget Champagne which Gaynor gave me at my "book launch" party in June. If my friend who will be celebrating New Years with me and I do not drink it all on New Years Eve it then will be used in "mimosas" the next morning with breakfast!
Mimosa Recipe (EASY!)

• Champagne (1 bottle)
• Orange Juice (1 carton)

Preparation:

Fill half of a champagne flute with chilled champagne and top off with chilled orange juice, gently stir. For added flare, slice up a strawberry to decorate the rim of each flute. Enjoy!

Gift Ideas

Christmas gift suggestions:
To your enemy, forgiveness.
To an opponent, tolerance.
To a friend, your heart.
To a customer, service.
To all, charity.
To every child, a good example.
To yourself, respect. ~Oren Arnold

Goal reached before year end!

"1000" views since October 24th !!!!!

18 MORE!

ONLY 18 MORE VIEWS TO HIT "1000" WHICH WAS MY GOAL FROM OCTOBER 24 thru DECEMBER 31 !

Chardonnay

Known as the worlds favorite white wine. It is America's # 1 white wine varietal. Climbing the ladders of one of the best dry white wines around. The Chardonnay vine is a low maintenance vine which will undergo many climatic changes and still produce well. Chardonnay's have a buttery, oak undertone with fruity flavors to be desired. Aplle, pear, citrus, melon & tropicals all rolled into one. It leaves your palate refreshed and wanting more! Chardonnay serves well with chicken, pork, salads, seafoods and add a cream sauce to your main dish and your in heaven! Jacobs Creek wine is one of my favorites, add a bit of brie and sliced apples & this could be a fantastic meal in itself!
I prefer red....but this white will do wonderfully for me!

A Wide Variety to Choose From....

Different grape varieties are plentiful! I have always loved fruits, but since beginning this study in wine I find myself actually admiring each grape singularly. I had never noticed the depths of color or shadings of the colors in all my 58 years on this earth. I just would plop the luscious fruits in my mouth and enjoy. But now I find myself analyzing the structure of the grapes and thinking. (Of course when I point this out to some of my friends, I know they are thinking I have gone off the deep end!) My friends just look at me and smile. That is of course not the case of the friends who share this common interest of mine to learn about the fruit from the vine to the glass. I have decided to do a bit each day on each different type of grape in the wine making. I have learned there are some 24,000 varieties of wine grapes which Ampelographers believe these represent about 5,000 truly different varieties. Most varieties I have learned have numerous names depending upon the area they are grown. Of the 5,000 varieties only 150 are planted commercially and of the 150 varieties there are only 9 varieties considered classics.
WHITE GRAPES:

• CHARDONNAY
• CHENIN BLANC
• RIESLING
• SAUVIGNON BLANC
• SEMILLION

RED GRAPES:

• CABERNAT SAUVIGNON
• MERLOT
• PINOT NOIR
• SYRAH

Tomorrow or later today I will begin the study starting with the whites....In the mean time I will go have a nice bowl of red grapes with my granola this morning.
Chow!