When I checked my email this morning, I was figuratively clobbered over the head by the vast amount of articles about Valentine's Day wines. That's what I get for having so many Google Alerts set up. For your enjoyment, I've created a list of the best articles pertaining to V-Day wines:
Ray Isle of Food + Wine magazine, one of my favorite wine writers, published an article today about wine and chocolate pairing, which is a notoriously difficult process. Contrary to popular belief, wine and chocolate isn’t the perfect pair--Ray gives some great tips on how to make it work.
Karen Page and Andrew Dornenburg of the Wall Street Journal and Washington Post provide this great article about food pairings and Valentine's Day wines. They also provide a link to Eat Something Sexy, a website maintained by a Cordon Bleu trained chef who specializes in food aphrodisiacs.
I may not be a fan of Charles Olken, but his love of brut Rosé sparklers endears him to me somewhat. His article about his wine picks for Valentine's Day gives some reviews of both domestic and imported sparkling wine.
Laurie Daniel of the San Jose Mercury News gives a great primer on Port, and her shopping suggestions for Valentine's Day.
The Napa Valley Register published a humorous article today about doing Valentine's Day on a budget in Napa (perhaps an oxymoron?), but the tips are universal.
Bill Daley of the Chicago Tribune and OC Register writes about dessert wines, which are truly underappreciated by American drinkers.
Happy Singles Awareness Day everyone. Go drink some wine.
Showing posts with label Dessert Wine. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Dessert Wine. Show all posts
Thursday, February 14, 2008
Thursday, February 7, 2008
Valentine's Day Approaches
One week until Valentine’s Day, and many people still haven’t picked out a gift for their significant other. Or, if you’re super single like me, what to send your other single friends to console them during this travesty of a holiday.
Anyway, forget the jewelry, boys, and toss that cologne, ladies, because wine is the best Valentine’s Day gift!
For your husband or wife
Save: A bottle of wine from the year you were married. A nice French bottle is a classic touch, though a bottle from your own area is always fun—wine is made in all 50 U.S. states, and in most regions of the world.
Splurge: A trip to wine country. Like I mentioned above, there are wineries in all the states of the Union. Some are harder to come by (in, say, Alaska), but most states have wine trails, and most countries have wine regions (even India and China, by the way). A day trip is a fun way to spend time together, and a weekend is an excellent way to relax.
Hotels located in or very near wineries are fun. Some suggestions:
Washington—Cave B Inn; Inn at Abeja
California (Santa Rosa)—Vintner’s Inn
Georgia—Chateau Elan
Remember—it still costs less than a tennis bracelet.
For your lover
Save: Reasonably priced sparkling wine. Inexpensive and sexy. I recommend Domaine Ste. Michelle Luxe (about $20).
Splurge: Expensive Champagne. Expensive and sexy. I recommend Billecart-Salmon Brut Rosé Champagne (about $90). Not only does it have an amazing flavor profile and minerality, it’s also pink.
For your new girlfriend or boyfriend
Save: There’s nothing cozier than a glass of port or sherry in front of a roaring fire. Encourage some snuggling with a bottle of Barnard Griffin 2005 Reserve Syrah Port ($16.99).
Splurge: Make your own wine together at a local crushpad or microwinery. Cleaner and easier than getting a puppy, and an excellent way to bond, crushpads are located in most parts of the U.S. Plus, if you break up, it’s easier to split cases of wine than share doggie custody.
Live in or near San Francisco? Try Crushpad.
For your single friends
Save: A bottle of Mad Housewife, Il Bastardo, or possibly R Winery's Bitch Grenache or Evil Cabernet Sauvignon. Remind them why it’s good to be single sometimes.
Splurge: Personalized bottles from Northwest Cellars in Seattle, WA. Don bottles with a particularly attractive picture of your group of friends, a photo of Matt Damon, or a reminder like “It’s better to go alone than badly accompanied.” The possibilities are endless.
Anyway, forget the jewelry, boys, and toss that cologne, ladies, because wine is the best Valentine’s Day gift!
For your husband or wife
Save: A bottle of wine from the year you were married. A nice French bottle is a classic touch, though a bottle from your own area is always fun—wine is made in all 50 U.S. states, and in most regions of the world.
Splurge: A trip to wine country. Like I mentioned above, there are wineries in all the states of the Union. Some are harder to come by (in, say, Alaska), but most states have wine trails, and most countries have wine regions (even India and China, by the way). A day trip is a fun way to spend time together, and a weekend is an excellent way to relax.
Hotels located in or very near wineries are fun. Some suggestions:
Washington—Cave B Inn; Inn at Abeja
California (Santa Rosa)—Vintner’s Inn
Georgia—Chateau Elan
Remember—it still costs less than a tennis bracelet.
For your lover
Save: Reasonably priced sparkling wine. Inexpensive and sexy. I recommend Domaine Ste. Michelle Luxe (about $20).
Splurge: Expensive Champagne. Expensive and sexy. I recommend Billecart-Salmon Brut Rosé Champagne (about $90). Not only does it have an amazing flavor profile and minerality, it’s also pink.
For your new girlfriend or boyfriend
Save: There’s nothing cozier than a glass of port or sherry in front of a roaring fire. Encourage some snuggling with a bottle of Barnard Griffin 2005 Reserve Syrah Port ($16.99).
Splurge: Make your own wine together at a local crushpad or microwinery. Cleaner and easier than getting a puppy, and an excellent way to bond, crushpads are located in most parts of the U.S. Plus, if you break up, it’s easier to split cases of wine than share doggie custody.
Live in or near San Francisco? Try Crushpad.
For your single friends
Save: A bottle of Mad Housewife, Il Bastardo, or possibly R Winery's Bitch Grenache or Evil Cabernet Sauvignon. Remind them why it’s good to be single sometimes.
Splurge: Personalized bottles from Northwest Cellars in Seattle, WA. Don bottles with a particularly attractive picture of your group of friends, a photo of Matt Damon, or a reminder like “It’s better to go alone than badly accompanied.” The possibilities are endless.
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