|
I have fallen in love with a hunk. My husband would be pleased to hear this but this hunk is a wedge of cheese. Specifically the aged kind called Gouda from Holland. But before you roll your eyes and yawn over the boring personality of typical American gouda, know this… the Dutch original is always better. Read more: Delicious cheese review: Two Sisters Isabella Gouda I think Merlot bashing has finally come to an end. Post Sideways, Pinot fever still continues but Merlot can rest easy now and get down to the business of wooing people again. So wineries like Napa Cellars — who continued to produce magnificently non-wimpy Merlots throughout the silly “hater” period– can bask in the kudos they deserve. Read more: The little wine that could: Napa Cellars 2009 Merlot Napa Valley If you live anywhere near San Francisco or will be lucky enough to be traveling there the weekend of March 24 – 25th, you owe it to yourself to check out the Rhone Rangers’ two day wine event. This organization exists to educate wine drinkers about the joys of grapes grown originally in France’s Rhone Valley that now have developed their own American personality. It’s one of the best tastings of its kind. Read more: Freakin’ amazing wine event in San Francisco: Rhone Rangers 2012 Oberon’s winemaker Tony Coltrin grew up in Napa Valley, which makes him ideal to create a Cabernet Sauvignon crafted from many different vineyards around the area. He sources grapes from all over the valley, from the esteemed Howell Mountain wine district to Stag’s Leap (two seriously high dollar appellations) in order to find the best flavors for Oberon’s blend. Read more: Wine review: Oberon 2009 Cabernet Sauvignon Napa Valley Since March 17th approacheth, ’tis time to sport the Irish brogue and learn a wee bit about the best Irish brews available on these Yankee shores. Tis true that the best Guinness drought is the freshest, sent o’er the local pub after brewing in Dublin but that doesn’t mean we Americans are starved for options. Here’s a list of some brilliant links for beer lovers of all levels to celebrate the impending Irish holiday. Slainte! Read more: Happy St. Patty’s Day: Irish Beer 101 The 2010 vintage in Sonoma County was super cool. And I don’t mean it wore awesome shades and sported the latest fashions — but cold like in France’s Bordeaux region. The heat index just didn’t quite get high enough to ripen grapes to the point of super fruitiness with floral aromatics (like Dry Creek Vineyards’ 2007 SB). So if you like New Zealand style Sauv Blancs (like me) then you’re in heaven with the 2010 wines (read more about Sauvignon Blanc, including how to pronounce it). And you’ll also have something to look forward to in the 2011 vintage, which had similar weather in Sonoma County. Read more: Wine review: Dry Creek Vineyards 2010 Sauvignon Blanc Dry Creek Valley Most black bean soups start with dried beans, but in this one I use canned. Why? It’s easier and faster. And almost as cheap. Just be sure to wash them to remove the salt which can throw off your soup flavors. This recipe is also designed to be the main course with a simple salad as a side dish. Read more: Recipe for quick success: Spicy Black Bean Soup (low fat) In my opinion, Rosa Regale is the quintessential romantic wine and chicks seriously dig it — a sweet, rich dessert sparkler from the Piedmont region of Italy. It’s an absolutely perfect sparkling wine for a wedding, served with a decadent wedding cake, or to accompany berry-laden tarts… even ice cream sprinkled with raspberries. Read more: Sweet sparkling wine review: Banfi Rosa Regale Brachetto d’Acqui Beer geeks cringe when anyone reaches for a Budweiser, Miller Lite, Coors or Corona. But often the lost souls who consume these — let’s face it — tasteless brews don’t really know where to turn. With this in mind, the Tampa Tribune’s Jeff Houck recently interviewed TaylorEason.com’s beer writer, Robb Larson, to find out the best craft “bridge” brews for drinkers of Budweiser, Bud Light, Miller Lite, Corona Extra and Coors Light. Some choices might surprise you. Read more: Replacement craft beers for Budweiser, Miller, Coors and Corona 
Thanks to Al Gore and the miracle of the internet, I can, from the slothful comfort of my couch, order shoes, clothes, guns and, of course, pharmaceuticals that will firm, tighten or enlarge various body parts. A friendly (and invariably hot) UPS guy will bring these much-desired items straight to my door with a Playgirl-worthy smile that leaves me wondering what else Brown can do for me. And now, with alcohol regulations relaxing in states across the country, the Men in Brown can also bring me my most-loved vice: Wine. You can choose from flash sales wine sites, winery wine clubs, companies that sell club memberships or cases, and internet retailers. It’s a diverse bag of opportunities, one you will want to open and inspect carefully. Read more: Finding your perfect match online: Wine clubs, retailers and winery websites |
|
|
|
|
You talk back