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What is a Corkle? A Corkle is a story or
series of stories where
wine plays the main
theme or character.
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Tuesday, January 31, 2012
A Midweek Valentine’s Day Love Affair
It’s January 31 and with all the hoopla going on
in Florida with the Republican primary, you’d think that I would want to focus on drinking to drown our political sorrows.
But that is not the case. I am looking forward; to a day when the GOP packs its bags and heads out to Nevada. Go west old
men!
I am also looking forward to Valentine’s
Day. It’s not something my husband and I “really” celebrate but the kids come home with their store-bought
Valentine’s and candies the teachers gave them. So we do a little something to make it special-er than the other days.
Since we’ve never been too into the
occasion, I’ve never fretted the day. But I know some people who fuss over it like it’s a royal coronation. Relax
and enjoy and take some advice from me: Romantic Midweek Valentine's Day Menu
Whatever you plan for Valentine’s Day,
just don’t let the day or the occasion get to you.
4:23 pm est
Friday, January 27, 2012
The Politics of Wine Pairing
I've moved onto the political arena with my latest posting:
Presidential Pairings
I'd also like to throw in my 2¢ (since I haven't any PAC money) and give you the low-down on the candidates that
have bowed out so far. They may come back to haunt us in some other form, like VP, Secretary of State or Chief of Staten
Island.
Michele Bachmann — Say what you say but Ms. Michele always conducted herself as a lady; I’m
sure her husband told her she had to. Ladies love sparkly things so I imagine Michele Bachman enjoying a flute full of Freixenet
Elyssia Pinot Noir Brut. This bubbly is called Pinot Noir but has about 15% Trepat, a native Spanish varietal, blended in.
Can’t you just picture her holding the champagne flute? By the stem of course after all she is a lady. The pink liquid
offering explosions of bubbly raspberry and strawberry flavors while she glides around the room discussing the anomaly the
forefathers created by allowing freedom of the press in the First Amendment.
Herman Cain — I really like Washington State wines. Those folks work wonders with grapes just like
Mr. Cain works wonders with the ladies. In his honor, I pair him with the 14 Hands Too Hot to Trot White. This wine is a blend
of Chardonnay, Pinot Gris and Viognier. Each variety was fermented separately, mostly in stainless steel to keep each grape’s
characteristics but a small portion was fermented in neutral barrels and aged on the lees to enhance mouth-feel. “Mouth-feel”
that’s what Herman’s been talking about, darling, “mouth-feel.”
Rick Perry — This guy is a toughie. His controversies are a little too
controversial for me: racial epitaphs, sexual orientations. I like easy stuff like extra-marital affairs or just general bone-headedness.
I think a lot of people are tired of Texas governors trying to take over the White House. Perhaps Mr. Perry should take a
page from Thomas Jefferson’s life and when his time as governor ends, he should turn to becoming a gentleman farmer
and viticulturist. He could grow Pinot Noir, perhaps that’s too feminine of a grape; or Pinot Gris, it doesn’t
actually know if it’s a white or dark grape hence the “gris”; or Zinfandel, maybe a little too racy of a
varietal. Wait, I got it. He can grow Blue Agave and make Tequila. That will help settle a few foreign trade issues, don’t
you think?
Next column: the wonders of
wine in the Obama White House.
2:15 pm est
Tuesday, January 17, 2012
Achieve Healthy Weight Loss and Still Enjoy A Glass (or Two) of Wine
When you run like I do for exercise, you don’t want
to be clopping along with extra weight. So I really try to watch what I eat and drink. I still like to enjoy
wine; as I have always said, it’s a complement to life. I handle wine like I do any food. I enjoy it in moderation.
One glass has around 125 calories. At two glasses, I’ve consumed 250 calories and enough alcohol for
one evening. The idea is to keep enjoying the wines you like while keeping your weight in check and your body in shape.
Wine and weight loss: It can be done. Just read on…I’m on a diet – Even calorie counters can enjoy wine with dinner
3:20 pm est
Tuesday, January 10, 2012
New Year, New Day, New Way to Entertain
Happy New Year! Hope it was fun and memorable. With 2012
well under way, I finally have a moment to jot down these thoughts and link you up to a few of my latest postings on Creative
Loafing and Yahoo!
They have to do with entertaining
for the New Year, whether eve or day. However, you can take the concepts and apply them to anytime you have guests over for
an evening gathering or a weekend brunch. And of course you can always enjoy a glass of wine or bubbly no matter what the
occasion.
What to serve when entertaining for New Year's Eve
Make New Year's Day brunch a snap
Take heart: one of my New Year’s Resolutions
is to be more up-to-date with my blogging, writing and posting so you will hear from me more often. Don’t
know if that’s good or bad but you can always let me know via twitter @ceceliaswines, e-mail me Cecelia@uncorkedwines.com or find me on Facebook. Here’s to 2012 and fulfilling our resolutions!
10:37 am est
Friday, December 16, 2011
Gift Ideas from Beer Budget to Champagne Tastes
Not only are we running out of time this holiday season,
we’re running out of money. Fear not, I have put together a little list of gift ideas to fit almost
any budget. From the under $10 to the over $50 (I don’t go much higher than that; it starts getting
too rich for my blood.)
Wine, spirits and beer on any budget
In addition to the lovely libations listed, you might also want to consider these
interesting gifts.
If you know someone that is a red wine snob, then you know someone
who has spilled red wine. The Wine Away Red Wine Stain Remover works wonders even though it’s only $9. Also removes
juice stains, blood and other unsightly and unmentionable spots.
For the wine person who has everything, how about wine in a chocolate bar? With more antioxidants than
50 glasses of red wine, the Resveratrol Winetime Bar also satisfies the health food nut on your gift list. Ten bar starter
pack is $29.90. Available in a variety of flavors through www.winetimebar.com.
Sottocenere cheese is a creamy, labor-intensive cow's milk cheese
made in Veneto in northern Italy. Aged in a coat of nutmeg, coriander, cinnamon, licorice, cloves, and fennel, the cheese
is laced with slivers of black truffle. It runs
$30.40 per pound but it will knock your recipient’s taste buds to the core. Available at Cru Cellars in Tampa.
Remember there’s no need to shop till you
drop. The most important thing to give at Christmas or any time of year is a smiling face, a helping hand,
a listening ear.
3:22 pm est
Friday, December 2, 2011
Starting New Traditions
I love traditions. I started starting traditions when my
kids were old enough to decorate gingerbread houses, one was about three and the other four and a half. Every
year we clear everything off the kitchen counters and mix up the sugar concoction that acts as the glue and start piecing
together our own version of the perfect gingerbread house. To date my favorite year for houses was when we decided to use
cut up Hershey bars into the squares; the squares where sugar-glued to the roof of the house to look like slate. Now
that’s a roof this hot cat can get into.
Another tradition I started was the Friday after Thanksgiving Neighbor Cocktail Gathering. You know
that Friday after Thanksgiving is a difficult one. You can’t find something to have for breakfast, if you’re even
hungry, because the fridge is packed to the hilt with leftovers. And you’re still reeling from all
the family dysfunction and maybe you even still have to finish cleaning up; hence the need for cocktails.
In addition to knowing that the day calls for cocktails, I also
know a good cocktail calls for a good spirit. When you read the link (A Holiday Cocktail Gathering is a Fun Tradition to Carry Through Each Year), you’ll see that I mention a few times that making a good cocktail is like making a good dish. You
need to start with good ingredients. Always go for quality spirits like the Russian Standard vodka. You don’t use moldy
tomatoes to make sauce or meat past its date to make burgers, why are you using vodka in a jug to make your cocktails?
Get a bottle of the Russian Standard and
see for yourself. In the meantime, read the link and enjoy the 23 days that are left in this holiday season.
12:41 pm est
Monday, November 21, 2011
Mionetto For a Fizzy Fun Holiday Season
As Thanksgiving nears and the holiday season begins in
full swing, it’s time to think about enjoyable wines that won’t break the bank. One such line
of delectable drinks is the “IL” line of frizzante and semi-frizzante wines from Mionetto. Bringing
us delicious Italian varietals at about $10 a bottle, Mionetto just may be all you need to celebrate the holiday season and
right into 2012.
Toast to the holiday party season with these inexpensive Mionetto sparkling wines
3:36 pm est
Friday, November 4, 2011
Unamerican Food for the Most American Holiday
It’s hard growing up the child of immigrants. I,
for one, always wished we could be “American” and just do things like everyone else. But looking back, I’m
glad my family was different. For one thing, I have all these funny, stupid stories of my childhood and for another it’s
actually nice to be different. Read on about one of my childhood memories having to do with Thanksgiving;
I also have stories about Christmas (boy, do I have stories about Christmas!) and Easter and etc.
An Unforgettable, Untraditional Idyllic Thanksgiving
2:39 pm edt
Tuesday, November 1, 2011
Nothing Dysfunctional Here
I had the pleasure of tasting two of Francis
Ford Coppola’s Diamond Collection wines recently: the Gold Label Chardonnay (around $12) and the Black Label Claret
(around $15). Wonderful wines and wonderful wines for the price – because there is a difference. You may think a wine
is wonderful until you find out the price. You may think a price is wonderful until you try the wine. In this case, you get
the best of both worlds. Read a little about the Claret in my Fabulous Finds section. Read a little about the Chardonnay and find out why I titled this posting “Nothing Dysfunctional
Here” by clicking the story link. Dysfunctional Family Holiday Meets Functional Wine Pairing
10:18 am edt
Monday, October 31, 2011
Beautiful Fall Days Call for Beautiful Wines
From now on you have no excuse; it’s time to enjoy
the great outdoors in Florida. The weather is incredible and the so is the wine. You just can’t go wrong with a wine
from the Frescobaldi Family of wines. How could you? They have thirty generations of time, heart, soul,
mind and spirit invested in the art of winemaking.
This fall turn to Frescobaldi. Read more about the Lucente Super Tuscan and the Nippozano Riserva Chianti Rufina
and see how Frescobaldi’s bold wines pair perfectly with the changing seasons.
4:16 pm edt
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