9diDANTE vermouth cocktails– like an Alpine sip of summertime anytime!
I used to belong to the dry gin martini club where the role of vermouth was a rinse of the glass and a swift dump. Or just open the vermouth and wave it over the martini glass. Vermouth smelled nasty, and I couldn’t imagine tasting it alone, or wasting a good gin by mixing it with something else. That opinion has changed in recent years as I have discovered high quality vermouth– vermouth worthy of your palate alone and in your cocktail glass!
As they say for New Year’s, out with the old and in with the new!
Ventura Pier and Beach Christmas Day with the Channels Islands
Merry Christmas! And happy all the things! As Christmas/Hanukkah 2024 comes to a close, I’m finally relaxing by the Christmas tree with a glass of Port and some of Sue’s Christmas cookies! Here’s to a Merry Christmas and a happy Hanakkuh! Continue reading →
What’s the trick to pairing wine with dessert? The wine has to be sweeter than the dessert. Why is it important to have port in the house this season? Port, the rich fortified wine from Portugal, pairs perfectly with holiday desserts like Christmas cookies and chocolate! So unless you are doing a cheese course for dessert, you’re going to have a hard time finding a wine that goes with dinner and dessert. That Napa Cab that was so good with that steak or that Chardonnay that was so tasty with the cesar salad or the lobster bisque just is not going to taste so good with that sweet dessert– the wine gets bitter or tannic or just yucky while the wine doesn’t do the dessert any favors. That’s where dessert wines like port come in. What’s also great is that because of the sugars in the wine and the process they are made many dessert wines and ports will last for a month or more and still taste great making them a worthy investment — and an investment they can be which also makes for a special holiday host gift.
If you’re new to port, and want to learn more, or if you’re looking for a unique gift for a friend or a host,
Cabernet Sauvignon from Flora Springs, Frog’s Leap, Smith-Madrone, Sequoia Grove
What’s the most well-known red grape in the world? What is the grape that’s the blessed child of Cabernet Franc and Sauvignon Blanc? Why, it’s Cabernet Sauvignon of course! Originally from France, it’s now known and grown throughout the world. In the US, the most famous area, producing possibly the best and the best known wines, is northern California’s NAPA. Continue reading →
With so many holidays coming up, and with gatherings of friends and family, now is the time to splurge on special wines from around the world to enrich your holiday meals! December’s special occasions include:
Winter Solstice December 21 (and we’re celebrating my son’s 21st birthday and college graduation!)
Did you see that bright full moon this December? It’s shining on Meunier Day aka Moon-Yay Day! To celebrate Pinot Meunier Day today, we have a Champagne from Pinot Meunier specialists Vincent d’Astrée — it’s a blend of 80% Pinot Meunier and 20% Chardonnay that comes from the 1er cru of Pierry. Plus pairings!
Never heard of Pinot Meunier? It’s the least well know of the three grapes most commonly found in Champagne: Chardonnay, Pinot Noir, and Pinot Meunier. “Meunier” in French means “baker” or “miller”; the grape leaves have silver hairs that appear to be dusted in flour hence the name.
Who doesn’t love fondue? What a fun way to gather with friends on a cold wintry night– gabbing and dipping bread, potatoes, meat, and vegetables into warm gooey rich cheese?? Finger food and small bites in general lend themselves to these gatherings. And what better wine to pair with this celebratory moment than a sparkling wine? This holiday season, “Clink Different” with a sparkling wine from GERMANY! While German sparkling wine might not be on your Bingo card for 2024, it should be! Like Champagne from France and sparkling wines from around the world, bubbles from Germany are often made from Pinot Noir. This Brut style is dry and that goes well with food– and celebratory moments.
wine predator.............. gwendolyn alley 