Posts Tagged ‘Libations’
It’s very popular. What can I say? It’s the most popular wine imported into this country – it’s easily made, produced – and thus inexpensive.
It’s great for a wedding – especially when you have a bunch of indiscriminate drinkers. It gives them what they want – and it’s easy on the pocket book – a win-win in my book. Plus, it’s pairs well with chicken, fish and pasta – food that is very popular at weddings.
Pinot Grigio is the Italian counterpart to France’s Pinot Gris (can I mention those in the same sentence?). Sorry, if I committed a faux-pas. The popularity of Pinot Grigio has grown to such portions that Oregon and California have jumped onto the Grigio bandwagon – with California producing more Pinot Grigio than Chardonnay. Amazing!
While wine professionals poo-poo Pinot Grigio – there may be some notable bottlings.
Italian Northern Region of Trentino-Alto Adige
Italy – other regions
California
Happy planning!
In Greek Mythology, Pomegranate represents the bond of marriage and fertility. This would be a a great choice for a toast, as a signature drink for your cocktail hour or the Bride’s drink for the reception.
How awesome it would be if one of your colors was salmon? For a beach or brunch inspired wedding – perfect.
1 1/4 cups chilled fresh pomegranate juice (from 3 pomegranates)
1 1/2 ounces chilled Cointreau liqueur
1 chilled bottle (375 milliliters) Champagne
for garnish Pomegranate seeds
Directions:
In a pitcher, mix juice, liqueur, and Champagne. Pour into flutes, and garnish with pomegranate seeds.
A drink fit for the most perfect wedding!
Happy planning!
Thanks to Martha Stewart for the wonderful idea (as always).
Discerning Brides will love this luxury drink – Shaken not stirred.
In stores, Double Cross Vodka sells for $45.00-$50.00 per bottle.
It’s unique, it’s chic, and the bottle is very sleek. It might be just the inclusion to make your wedding memorable.
Check it out!
2 parts Double Cross Vodka
1 part Maraschino Liquor
1 part fresh lemon juice
Dash of Peychaud’s bitters
Directions: shaken over ice and strained up, served in a chilled martini glass.
I’m sure it looks very HOT in that chilled martini glass.
Thanks Dina!
Happy Shakin’
wineintro.com
Cabernet Sauvignon adopts it’s name from the widely used grape – known as the king of all red grapes – largely due to the fact that it can grow worldwide and thrive in a number of different climates. It also produces wines with a lot of character and diversity. Of course, the territory where it’s grown (terrior in France) gives Cabernet Sauvignon it’s unique flavor. The most popular regions (known for it’s taste) are in Bordeaux and California.
The Cabernet Sauvignon grape also plays principle and supporting roles in may of the red wines in Bordeaux – as well as many Napa Valley cult and classic wines. It’s thick skin gives wine a high solid to juice ratio – giving Cabernet Sauvignon it’s rich red color and high tannin content. Often, other grapes are needed to soften the tannins and taste – and is often blended with Cabernet Franc and Merlot (tune in next week for more information on Merlot).
The primary taste of Cabernet Sauvignon is black currant, with overtones of mint and blackberry.
Cab goes particularly well with beef, lamb and goose. It is also well paired with brie, cheddar and chocolate.
Yum!
You need to enjoy cab from a robust glass, so the glass will provide the most surface area for the aromas to be released. Don’t fill the glass full of wine – just a bit. This allows the wine to interact with the air – allowing it to gain it’s full flavor as it sits on the table.
Happy sipping!
Bordeaux is the wine producing capital in all the world. There are 10,000 chateaux (or producers) and over 13,000 growers. Together, they produce over 700 million bottles (900 million in good vintages) that range in quality from ordinary table ones to some of the most prestigious wines in the world.
85% of the wines produced in Bordeaux are red, with some notable sweet white wines (Chateau d’Yquem), dry white wines, rose and sparkling white wines (Cremant de Bordeaux). The grape varieties that make up the wine are as follows:
- Merlot (50%)
- Cabernet Sauvignon (26%)
- Cabernet Franc (10%)
- Semillon (8%)
- Sauvignon (4%)
A mix of these grapes produce full and medium bodied red and dry and sweet white wines.
Red Bordeaux is well paired with game such as Pheasant, grilled veal, beef and poultry such as grilled Turkey. It’s wonderful with Camembert, Brie, and Roquefort. The dry whites are great as an aperitif and is well paired with Seafood and Chicken. The Sweet wines are best with dessert.
The classification system is in flux and is very confusing. However, here are some of the more notable wines from the Bordeaux region (I think it’s always fun to post prestigious wines)
To taste just a glass….
Mazel Tov!
The wedding trends are tending towards the simplification. Couples’ are downsizing and are forgoing the traditions of a “typical” wedding reception.
Conforming is “out” and uniqueness is “in”. Couples’ are saying “what I want to do is…”.
Toasting is as strong as ever, but the formal champagne toast has gone by the wayside – to the same place that the bouquet and garter toss have gone. I don’t think this is necessarily a bad thing. The champagne toast is one place where you can save money. Formal toasts can be as little as $2.50/guest to as much as $6.50/guest or more – for champagne that’s not fit for human consumption. If you are purchasing your own alcohol, you certainly will get more choice and a better deal – but still money that may be better used elsewhere?
When champagne is passed, the majority of guests take 1 sip and it’s left on the table. At the end of the night, I see boat loads of champagne being tossed. In the age of open bars, couples’ are opting for choice – allowing their guests to give “best wishes” with what they have in their hand – presumably, something that they enjoy drinking.
For me, If I am going to spend the money, I would rather buy someone a drink that will actually be drunk.
Happy planning!
We’ve talked about some of the great white wines of Burgundies…
But the great red ones – made from the Pinot Noir grape are exquisite. While this delicious beauty should be saved for High Days and Holidays – I cannot imagine any higher day than a wedding!
Bugundy’s Cote d’Or region is home to some of the most loved and expensive Burgundies in the world. The cote d’Or is divided into the Cote de Nuits (red wine) and the Cote de Beaune (white wine) regions. A very small area on this hilly region has perfect rain and wind protection, the best sun exposure and drainage – and wines grown are classified as Grand-Cru. Wines grown in a less favorable area are classified as Premier Cru.
Wikipedia
Despite Burgundy’s expensive reputation (Domaine de la Romanée-Conti, Domaine Leroy, Henri Jayer, Emmanuel Rouget, Domaine Dugat-Py, Domaine Leflaive and Domaine Armand Rousseau), it is possible to get some great Premier Cru or Village wines for a semi-reasonable price. Look for the less known Villages in the region.
Marsannay – Domaine Bruno Clair
For Villages brands, check out the following Producers:
- Denis Bachelet
- Louis Jadot
- Philippe Rossignol
These wines are paired well with fish, fowl, white meats, and vegetables. Avoid heavy spicy foods as it will overpower the taste of the wine.
Happy planning!
I tasted 8 delicious wines at the wine tasting last week – and I thought I would share them with you.
2007 Stephen Vincent Crimson
Double Gold Medal – San Francisco International Wine competition
Deep dark crimson color, with lots of black fruit in the nose. Soft tannins round out rich flavors of licorice, blackberries, and cinnamon. It’s perfectly paired with Chicken, beef, lamb, duck, turkey and pasta.
2008 Stephen Vincent Chardonnay
A terrific value – the 2008 Chardonnay offers attractive melony, buttery citrus, and tropical fruit characteristics as well as a hint of minerality. Elegant, fresh and medium bodied, it tastes far better than its humble price suggests.
2007 Don Ramon Grenache/Tempranillo
Ruby dark garnet in color, with an effusive creamy cherry with flavors that turn more towards deeper, darker black cherry and raspberry on medium bodied framework. A subtle earthiness underneath the bright fruit adds some depth and complexity.
2007 Bastide Beauvert Cotes du Rhone Red
A beautiful ruby red wine. Very fragrant with aromas of red fruit (currant, strawberry and cherry) with hits of black pepper and cinnamon. Medium-bodied and silky in the mouth with mature, round tannins. Enjoy with meats , grilled vegetables or cheese.
La Cabotte Cotes du Rhone Blanc
This is a dry white wine with aromas of summer fruits, white peaches, apricots and a hint of spice. The wine is very well balanced and has a long finish.
La cabotte Cotes du Rhone Rouge
Produced from Grenache and Syrah, with a touch of Cinsault and Carignan, it has a ruby red violet color. It has a soft mouth feel and is very pleasant with its cherry and black currant notes. Enjoy this with pizza, pasta, and various meats and cheeses.
La Cabotte Cotes du Rhone Village
Deep red in color with a complex nose showing red fruits and terrior. The mouth is full and powerful with notes of black currant and blackberry with shades of spice and resin. The tannins are silky and mellow. A perfect complement to small game, grilled meats and lamb.
And my absolute fav – the sweet…
Bellevue Sauvignon Blanc
Pretty stone fruits, gooseberry and yellow floral notes are profuse in the aromas. Delicious notes of ripe fruits grace the palette with enough acidity to keep it lively and refreshing. Drink alone or with a wide range of fare. It’s perfect for a hot summer day, a picnic, or an elegant brunch.
Visit Paul’s Wine and Spirits. Visit Steve or anybody behind the desk. They know what they are talking about!
Happy drinking!
Have you ever noticed that white wine lasts a bit better than red wine? It’s partly due to the acidity of white wine. The acidity helps to preserve it’s original composition and freshness. The process by which white wine is fermented (cold fermentation) also helps to preserve the wine after it’s been opened.
On the other hand, it’s the tannins in the red wine that aids in preservation. A wine with a high tannins will last longer on the shelf than a wine lower in tannins. Just as a note, the amount of tannins do affect the taste.
Other factors such as oxygenation, fluctuation in temperatures, grape variety, and location where the grape is grown are all factors.
We order the wine for our clients – when they are purchasing their own. There have been many a day that we have loaded the car with a few bottles of opened wine. What do you do with those bottles? Pour them out? Put them in the refrigerator – and hope they are decent when you want to drink them?
Get a sucking devices, and a few stoppers for your bottles. Re-corking the wine, or just putting a stopper in – is not enough. You have to suck out the air to inhibit oxygenation – which is THE destroyer. Look for screwpull plastic or metal wine pumps with stoppers.
They can range in price between $10.00-$40.00 on Amazon.com or Williams Sonoma.
Alternatively, if you have enough wine left over, you can reuse empty Perrier bottles. Fill the bottles all the way to the top and cap tightly. Voila!
What do you do to preserved the wine after it’s been opened?
Happy planning!
Cote du-Rhone-Villages A work horse appellation of southern Rhone. Many wines can be gotten for under $25-30. Most are meant to be drunk between 2-3 years after bottling.
Cote du Rhone- The main work horse of Southern Rhone. Many bottles can be gotten for less than $20. A true value.
Hermitage is the undisputed king of northern Rhone, producing big, lush tannic reds from primarily Syrah grapes. Hermitage wines are capable of aging well and can be quite pricey.
From Top to bottom Right…
Alain Vogue Dotes du Rhone Les Peyrouses – 100% Syrah grapes from the northern Rhone region. This wine is purple in color and has an intense flavor of ripe cherries. This wine is great paired with grilled meat and veal. Less than $20.00
Feraud-Brunel Cotes du Rhone Villages – Medium bodied from the south. It has an exotic mix of crushed blueberry, boysenberry and blackberry fruits. Great with heartier dishes like grilled steak and roast pork. Less than $20.00
Delas Crozes-Hermitage Les Launes – From the north, this wine has a deep garnet red color. Made from a region with a lot of Syrah grapes, that are aromatic, rich and full bodied, this wine is best paired with game, grilled meats and rich foods. 2007 between $20-30.00
Domaine de Mourchon Cotes du Rhone-Villages – From the south, this wine is a deep dark wine with rich and concentrated notes of raspberry and blackberry fruits on a spicy background. This wine is wonderfully paired with red meat, game and cheese. Less than $20.00
Information from The Wine Examiner
Happy planning!
