Thursday, April 29, 2010

Chandon Riche

I have a friend of mine who me on to this many years ago,this is a sparkling wine from California. The chandon company is originally from France,when they decided to come over to Napa Valley California. They use and still practice today méthode traditionnelle. Which is the closest thing we can get to the true french method for making champangne. This particular sparkling wine uses pinot meunier, pinot noir, and chardonnaywith a touch of muscat. The flavor is like a soft honey fruit, with a touch a peach behind it. This goes well with a Tex-mex dish, or with some fresh fruit, or you can even make my favorite:

Chandon Nouveau Riche:


Ingredients for 1 cocktail
2 oz cucumber simple syrup (see recipe below)
2 thin cucumber ribbons
1 thin slice of orange
1 thin slice of lime
2 mint leaves
Ice cubes
Chandon Extra-Dry Riche

Instructions for cucumber simple syrup
Cut one whole English cucumber into ¼-inch slices. In a saucepan, combine cucumber, 2 cups of water and two cups of white sugar. Bring to a boil and cook on low heat for 8 minutes, stirring to dissolve the sugar. Let stand and come to room temperature before refrigerating. Cool in the refrigerator for 4-5 hours or overnight for best results. After proper refrigeration, remove the cucumber with a slotted spoon and use the syrup as desired. Syrup will keep refrigerated for up to one month.

Instructions for cocktail
In a highball glass, combine cucumber simple syrup, cucumber ribbons, orange slice and mint leaves. Squeeze juice from lime slice and discard rind. Fill the glass almost to the rim with ice cubes. Top with Chandon Extra-Dry Riche. Stir and serve.

Suggested glassware: Highball glass

Give it a try it runs about $14-20 depending on where you shop.

Wednesday, April 28, 2010

Imperia Vodka


This hopefully will become the Grey Goose of the vodka world soon. Imperia vodka is a Russian vodka started in 1894, made by a company called Russian Standard. It is 40% and 80 proof, and is distilled eight times. It is a very smooth vodka, with a smooth grain flavor. This in my opinion is better then Croc, Grey Goose, Skyy, and Belvidere vodka.

Tuesday, April 27, 2010

Bookers Bourbon


This by far is my most beloved bourbon. This particular bourbon started in 1922 by Booker Noe, when he first started bottling it straight from the barrel. This is an uncut unfiltered bourbon, which is normally bottled at 121 to 127 proof and aged between six and eight years. It has a rich deep-amber color with a big oak, smoky, vanilla flavor to it. It has won a gold medal award several times for bourbon taste testing. It's always made from small batches, so each bottle is numbered. This is a one of a kind, and it will always be my favorite.

Wednesday, April 21, 2010

Flor de Caña Rum

Ah the good old Rum, as Johnny Depp once put it in Pirates of the Caribbean: "Why is the rum always gone?" This isn't a rum from the Caribbean, however this rum is worth mentioning. Flor de Caña started in 1890 in Chichiglapa, Nicaragua. Flor de Caña uses the finest natural ingredients and a unique slow aged method. It has also been distilled five times.

While most rum's aren't known for being 'slow aged,' this brand uses that unique method which can be found by the age listed on that bottle. This rum comes off zesty, sweet and spicy to the nose. It also has a soft, warm and buttery finish. You can make many drinks with this rum like a Sambatini, a water ship down, or my favorite drink ever... a Grand Mojitio. It typically runs about $15, which in my opinion isn't bad for what you get.

Tuesday, April 20, 2010

Grand Marnier Liqueur


Grand Mariner liquor is a fun drink to have during the spring/summertime. It was created in 1880 by Alexandre Marnier-Lapostolle, made with 40% alcohol (or 80 proof). It has distinct orange flavors, and made with a blend of true cognacs. It is considered to be a digestif, hich help you break down our meals after you eat. But as we mostly use it for is to make a top shelf margarita, sadly this is not the only thing that this can be used for. A good old Cosmopolitan, Sidecar,Dirty Harry or even Grand Mimosa just to name a few more. This is a well rounded fun liqueur, which comes in a various of sizes from a mini to a 1.5 liter. But the one i se the most fr this is actually their 375ml. which will run you about $20-24 depending on where you shop.

Monday, April 19, 2010

Grgich wine

Grgich winery is in Rutherford Ca. which is by far one of the most beautiful parts outside of Napa California. Mike Grgich is the owner and still the main operator of his winery at 86 yrs old. who started out by making his wine for Robert Mondovi. Grgich's winery is 100% Biodynamic, they were certified in 1997, which basically means 1) It considers the Earth a living organism. 2) It uses biodynamic preparations as formative forces rather then quantitative substances. 3) It uses the astronomic calendar, detailing the alignment of the planets, to work in rhythm with Nature and larger cosmic forces. 4) It recognizes man’s integral role as part of the larger farm “organism”. They also are organic as well so not only do they use no pestisides or hemicides to keep the bugs away they treat the soil as if it were a small child.

This is why as a wine lover I have respect for them, and i can understand why there wines may be a little morethan the rest, they are actually doing something, to help the grapes, and even us since we are drinking the wine. As it stands to this day my favorite wine of there's is there Fumé Blanc, which is the same thing as Sauvignon blanc, No there is no Fume blanc grape, don't let people fool you. Everyone can thank Robert Mondovi for that. He couldn't sell his Sauvignon blanc wine so he changed the name and "poof" they sell like hotcakes to this day.

As it stands a bottle of Grgich Fumé Blanc,will run you about $25, there Fumé Blanc has a very intersting flavor of citrus, grapefruit, crisp clean taste. which is great for this time of year, and goes really well with chicken, fish, and light pasta meals.

Friday, April 16, 2010

Rosa Regale

First off, I am going to say "YUM!" With that put aside, Rosa Regale is an Italian Sparking wine produced by Banfi . The owners of Banfi bought a mid 18 century winery known as Bruzzone, When they did they decided to name it Vigne Regali .This is where they now produce Rosa Regale Brachetto d'Acqui D.O.C.G( which is its full proper name.)

Rosa Regale is concidered a semi dry red sarking wine that has hints of rose pettles with a prominate flavor of raspbeeries to it. Goes really well with chocolate fondue, fresh fruit, chicken chow mein, pasta, seafood paella,Hawaiian pizza even, the list goes on with the thigs you could pair it with.
Rosa Regale comes in two sizes your typical 750ml which runs about $20 and the have a 187ml which runs about $6. This sparkling wine can be used any season its fun and enjoyable to have.

Thursday, April 15, 2010

Lindemans Framboise Lambic




OK, this by far is probably one of my favorite beers ever! This is a beer from Brussels, Belgium where they started brewing beers in 1811. The Lambic, is also known as a spontaneously fermented beer. In this region is known to be among the world’s rarest: they are the only beers fermented via wild, airborne yeast; no yeast is added by the brewers, which every beer has added.
The flavor of the beer is a raspberry, with a crisp finish to it. You can drink it by itself and enjoy it alone or you can also pair it with:
Chocolate desserts, Fresh raspberries, Or even Baked Alaska , I would serve it in flute-shaped glass( like in the picture) at 45 degree angle for less foam. For a 12oz bottle it typically runs about $6 or so. Give it a try, and let me know how you like it.

Wednesday, April 14, 2010

X- Rated Vodka







The X- Rated Vodka is one of my favorite spring/summer time drinks, its light refreshing, and truly marketed towards women.
This Vodka has been distilled seven times and is used in specially handcrafted french copper alambic stills( or Big copper pot stills ) The flavor of this Liquor is ultra-premium vodka, blood oranges, mango, and passion fruit. though it runs about anywhere from $ 25- 30 depending on where you shop. In my book if you want to enjoy a classy,yet fun drink try it.

Monday, April 12, 2010

Wine tidbits..



I am sue many of you know this but, I was amazed how many times I was asked this when I worked in the wine industry. The famous question of " how many glasses will i get from this wine?" well here is some interesting tidbits i came across my notes last night.

How much wine does one grapevine make?

*
One vine yields 18lbs of grapes
*
One vine makes six bottles of wine
*
One acre has 450 vines
*
One acre yields 4 tons of grapes
*and one bottles pours 5 glasses of wine.
That's of the 750 ml

Friday, April 9, 2010

Trago Tequila









Trago Silver Tequila



I know I am more of a wine person myself, however I can recognize a great tequila when I see one. One of my close friends turned me on to this particular brand a couple years ago, and I have been in love with it since. Though it is a little on the pricey side for tequila; in my book it’s worth it.

Trago Silver is crystal clear and smooth, with a clean agave taste. It has a slightly spicy, smoky flavor, with hints of pepper, citrus, mint and herbal aromas. Trago Silver is what I use for sipping, as well as a really good margarita (of course with a little Grand Marnier with it). Trago Tequila is produced at the Los Alambiques Distillery, which is located in Central Mexico. Los Alambiques is owned and operated by Felipe Camarena, son of the famous Don Felipe, who is known and revered throughout the world as "the Father of Tequila," well at least in my humble opinion.

Wednesday, April 7, 2010

Common Wines...

http://douglasgreen.files.wordpress.com/2009/01/red-white-wine-glass.jpg

Wednesday, April 7, 2010

Common Wines...

http://douglasgreen.files.wordpress.com/2009/01/red-white-wine-glass.jpg

Ok... So I am going to give you ten most common wines for each varietal of wine. What's a varietal? It describes wines made primarily from a single named grape variety, and which typically displays the name of that variety on the wine label.

So here are the ten most common red wines:
1. Cabernet Sauvignon: Can come from California, Australia, France, and other places.
2. Merlot: Can come from California, France, Washington, New York, Chile, and other places.
3. Pinot Noir: Can come from California, France, Oregon, and other places.
4. Syrah: can come from France, Argentina, New Zealand, California, and other places.
5. Zinfandel: can come from California, Croatia, Austria, Italy and other places.
6. Chianti: is from Italy
7. Beaujolais: is from France
8. Burgundy: is from France
9. Grenache: comes from Spain
10. Sangiovese: comes from Italy and the US

And Now for the White Wines
1. Chardonnay: can come from California, Australia, France and other places.
2. Sauvignon Blanc: can come from California, France, New Zealand, South Africa, and other places.
3. Riesling: can come from Germany, France, California, New York, Washington and other places.
4. Gewürztraminer: can come from France, California, Washington, Germany, and other places.
5. Pinot Grigio: can come from France, Italy, Oregon, California and other places
6. Chablis: can come from France, Italy, and California
7. Viognier: can come from France, California
8. Chenin Blanc: can come from France, South Africa
9. Muscat: can come from Cyprus, Hungry, France, Germany, Italy and a lot of other places
10. Sémillon: can come from France, South Africa

so there you have it pick one give it a try to see which you like and why... There are many more out there too.