We can all agree that the only possible gift to bring to a dinner party is a bottle of wine. Anything short of that just won’t cut it. How about a bottle of Jack Daniels? Only if you are rocking leather chaps, dirt under your nails, and an uncontrollable beard. A six pack of Zima? You missed by a decade.
Face it – your friends are now sophisticated enough to have a place worthy of a dinner party, so they’ve probably left their sloppy evenings in the past. You should too and join everyone into maturity. To that end, let’s get drunk on wine.
Wine Suggestions:
$ White – Kim Crawford Sauvignon Blanc
We’re going international with this selection, to New Zealand. New Zealand offers world class Sauvignon Blanc, and some find that this is the purest form of Suavignon Blanc. As I mentioned before, Suavignon Blanc is a great selection for lighter food, so you can pair your New Zealand Sauvignon Blanc with the salad course. I’m sure that everyone else brought Napa Cap to the shindig, so everyone can drink that with the main course.
$ Red – Greg Norman Shiraz
Australia is making wines at a never-seen-before pace, and its annual wine production now compares to Italy and France. And some of it is actually good! Just kidding – Australia is renowned for its Shiraz (Australian for Syrah), with a flavor profile of luscious stone fruits and big body.
$$ White – Perrier Jouet Grand Brut Champagne
You might notice the strategy with my white wine selections for the dinner party is to have my wines consumed early in the meal. By bringing Champagne, everyone at the party will be consuming your Champagne as an appertif. You have unofficially served as the master of ceremonies, kicking things off with a great bottle of Champagne while regaling everyone of your jaunt through north France in your teens, picking grapes for the great Champagne houses by day and seducing widowed Champagne house owners by night. Or you can say that you thought that this bottle of Perrier Jouet looked cool because of all the pretty flowers on it.
$$ red – Ruffino Riserva Ducale Oro Chianti
Chianti is an Italian wine made from Sangiovese grapes. It pairs well with many foods and again, you get to appear continental. You can even make references to that summer you spent in the Tuscan countryside, picking grapes and making olive oil. But I digress. You typically should avoid the traditional chianti bottles in the straw basket – Italian men don’t wear handlebar moustaches anymore so you can buy modern Chianti.
Monday, May 25, 2009
Monday, May 18, 2009
Wine Occasion: Sunday Brunch
Sunday brunch is quite possibly the best time for friends to get together for a drink. This event will happen at friend’s house (or your place, if you happen to draw the short end of the stick), and expecctastions and formality are thrown out the window. Every country seems to have their own take on the beverage of choice for Sunday brunch – Bellinis in Italy, Mimosas in France, Bloody Maries in the US. Since I’ve never seen a Bloody Mary recipe incorporate wine (Thank Heaven!) so we’ll have a more international flavor here.
Wine Suggestions:
$ White – Candoni Prosecco Brut Sparkling Wine
Bellinis are made by combining Prosecco (an Italian sparking wine made from prosecco grapes in Veneto, close to Conegliano and Valdobbiadene) with peach puree. This is the drink of Venice, invented at Harry’s Bar by Giuseppe Cipriani and enjoyed by responsible drinkers like Ernest Hemingway, Sinclair Lewis and Orson Welles.
Bellinis are a great wake-me-up after a Saturday bender or a great refresher before a long hike / bike ride. The key thing here is that they’re easy to make (granted you have access to peach puree) and clean up is a cinch. A winning combo for a lazy Sunday brunch.
$ Red – Clos du Bois Rosé
Rosé is another great Sunday brunch wine – it’s a lightly pressed red wine that is chilled. You’ll often get the fruitiness of a red wine but the sharpness and coolness of a white wine. Since brunch is the combination of breakfast and lunch, wouldn’t it follow logically that a combination wine would be a perfect match?
$$ White – Chalk Hill Russian River Valley Sauvignon Blanc
Sauvignon Blanc is a great brunch wine because it doesn’t overpower food and typically pairs with lighter fare. Unless you’re having heart-wrenching brunch of sloppy joes or steak and eggs, a crisp glass of Sauvignon Blanc should be a delightful selection.
$$ Red – Macrostie Carneros Pinot Noir
The great thing about Pinot Noir is it pairs well with many foods and fits in many different situations. Because many Pinots drink lightly, it would be a perfect fit for a light Sunday afternoon brunch. Mainly, it won’t leave you feeling like you just had a full meal after two glasses of it.
Wine Suggestions:
$ White – Candoni Prosecco Brut Sparkling Wine
Bellinis are made by combining Prosecco (an Italian sparking wine made from prosecco grapes in Veneto, close to Conegliano and Valdobbiadene) with peach puree. This is the drink of Venice, invented at Harry’s Bar by Giuseppe Cipriani and enjoyed by responsible drinkers like Ernest Hemingway, Sinclair Lewis and Orson Welles.
Bellinis are a great wake-me-up after a Saturday bender or a great refresher before a long hike / bike ride. The key thing here is that they’re easy to make (granted you have access to peach puree) and clean up is a cinch. A winning combo for a lazy Sunday brunch.
$ Red – Clos du Bois Rosé
Rosé is another great Sunday brunch wine – it’s a lightly pressed red wine that is chilled. You’ll often get the fruitiness of a red wine but the sharpness and coolness of a white wine. Since brunch is the combination of breakfast and lunch, wouldn’t it follow logically that a combination wine would be a perfect match?
$$ White – Chalk Hill Russian River Valley Sauvignon Blanc
Sauvignon Blanc is a great brunch wine because it doesn’t overpower food and typically pairs with lighter fare. Unless you’re having heart-wrenching brunch of sloppy joes or steak and eggs, a crisp glass of Sauvignon Blanc should be a delightful selection.
$$ Red – Macrostie Carneros Pinot Noir
The great thing about Pinot Noir is it pairs well with many foods and fits in many different situations. Because many Pinots drink lightly, it would be a perfect fit for a light Sunday afternoon brunch. Mainly, it won’t leave you feeling like you just had a full meal after two glasses of it.
Saturday, May 9, 2009
Wine Occasion: Super Bowl Party
Why shouldn’t you bring wine to a Super Bowl party? The Super Bowl is no longer a football event, but a social event. For half the people who watch the Super Bowl, this will be the only game during the football season they “watch”. It’s a safe assumption that not everyone is there for the game. So yes, the Super Bowl is a great format for wine.
If there is barbeque happening at this Super Bowl party, let’s make the assumption that we are talking about a barbeque party where they are drowning the ribs in either a vinegar or tomato based sauce. (Sorry to leave you out Texas.) Spicy or flavorful foods are often best paired with fruity white wines. And when I say fruity, I don’t mean effeminate either.
So what to bring? Something light. Or something heavy. Here are some suggestions.
Wine Suggestions:
$ White – Martin Codax Albariño Rias Baixas
In Spain, the region of Rias Baixas is known for a great white wine called Albariño (the grape varietal is also called Albariño). This wine has a great crisp flavor and it goes great with barbeque or strongly flavored foods (of which I’m sure there will be plenty). Since it’s your only football game of the year, you might as well try something new for wine also! Note: this might be difficult to find at a Safeway or Trader Joe’s…
$ Red – Qupe Central Coast Syrah
Football is an American game. I couldn’t well not include an American wine selection for a Super Bowl party, could I?
$$ White – Trimbach Reisling “Clos Sainte Hune”
On a personal note, I got to meet Humbert Trimbach a couple of years ago, and he is a prince of a man. His winery in Alsace, France, began in 1622, and has been creating wonderful wines for over four centuries. Alsatian Reisling is different from German Reisling in that it isn’t as sweet, but it has the great body and viscous flavors embodied by the Reisling grape. A magnificent pairing with barbeque or flavor foods, your friends will want to drink this on other Sundays as well. Note: this might be difficult to find at a Safeway or Trader Joe’s…
$$ Red – Kenwood Jack London Cabernet
See my note above about Qupe. It’s meat and it’s football. Smells like America to me. Remember, true patriots drink Napa Cab…
If there is barbeque happening at this Super Bowl party, let’s make the assumption that we are talking about a barbeque party where they are drowning the ribs in either a vinegar or tomato based sauce. (Sorry to leave you out Texas.) Spicy or flavorful foods are often best paired with fruity white wines. And when I say fruity, I don’t mean effeminate either.
So what to bring? Something light. Or something heavy. Here are some suggestions.
Wine Suggestions:
$ White – Martin Codax Albariño Rias Baixas
In Spain, the region of Rias Baixas is known for a great white wine called Albariño (the grape varietal is also called Albariño). This wine has a great crisp flavor and it goes great with barbeque or strongly flavored foods (of which I’m sure there will be plenty). Since it’s your only football game of the year, you might as well try something new for wine also! Note: this might be difficult to find at a Safeway or Trader Joe’s…
$ Red – Qupe Central Coast Syrah
Football is an American game. I couldn’t well not include an American wine selection for a Super Bowl party, could I?
$$ White – Trimbach Reisling “Clos Sainte Hune”
On a personal note, I got to meet Humbert Trimbach a couple of years ago, and he is a prince of a man. His winery in Alsace, France, began in 1622, and has been creating wonderful wines for over four centuries. Alsatian Reisling is different from German Reisling in that it isn’t as sweet, but it has the great body and viscous flavors embodied by the Reisling grape. A magnificent pairing with barbeque or flavor foods, your friends will want to drink this on other Sundays as well. Note: this might be difficult to find at a Safeway or Trader Joe’s…
$$ Red – Kenwood Jack London Cabernet
See my note above about Qupe. It’s meat and it’s football. Smells like America to me. Remember, true patriots drink Napa Cab…
Tuesday, May 5, 2009
Wine Occasion: Anti-war Protest After Party / Anti-Bush Party / Any Party in San Francisco
We San Franciscans know how to throw a party. When there is a political, social, or economic issue, we rally and rush to the streets to protest. Then we head to the closest loft for a party to lament the current actions by the US government / NATO / Walmart. Of course, even anti-warmongers get hungry and thirsty, and what better way to support the cause then to bring some wine?
You must recognize, however, that your wine can’t come from a heartless mega-corporation that funds the machine. So target something that will reflect the belief systems of your fellow modern-day hippies. Don’t panic, it’s organic!
One big push in winemaking today is to be organic and biodynamic. No industrial strength pesticides that run-off into the Pacific Ocean and poison the tuna you’re eating tonight. No chemical fertilizers that were invented in a laboratory at UC Davis. Just good ole fashioned compost and fertilizer, al naturale. All of the following wine suggestions are certified organic (for the certifiable).
Wine Suggestions:
$ White – Benziger Chardonnay
$ Red – Bonterra Zinfandel
$$ White – Beringer Private Reserve Chardonnay
$$ Red – Robert Mondavi Pinot Noir
You must recognize, however, that your wine can’t come from a heartless mega-corporation that funds the machine. So target something that will reflect the belief systems of your fellow modern-day hippies. Don’t panic, it’s organic!
One big push in winemaking today is to be organic and biodynamic. No industrial strength pesticides that run-off into the Pacific Ocean and poison the tuna you’re eating tonight. No chemical fertilizers that were invented in a laboratory at UC Davis. Just good ole fashioned compost and fertilizer, al naturale. All of the following wine suggestions are certified organic (for the certifiable).
Wine Suggestions:
$ White – Benziger Chardonnay
$ Red – Bonterra Zinfandel
$$ White – Beringer Private Reserve Chardonnay
$$ Red – Robert Mondavi Pinot Noir
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
