drink more wine

I found a few wines I like. I am sure they are very pedestrian, the Yellowtail Shiraz and a local Merlot. But I like them, nonetheless.

But now my food budget is very restrictive, until I find a new job. Spending even $10 in a weekly bottle is out of reach. Phooey. But, I will come back to it soon.

I’ve read that drinking a daily glass of wine is good for you, especially for women. I think the red is supposed to be better for you. But I have never learned much about wine. I usually only cook with it. What do I need to do to accomplish this goal?

I want to identify a few bottles that I will like enough to try developing this habit. I also need to buy some wine glasses.

I did taste one I liked, at an art opening. I think it was a Merlot (or a Shiraz?) from Yellow Tail, an Australian winery. I will try a bottle of that, and then maybe look for a local vintage that I like.

I need to find out how to keep red wine after opening, since we will only drink 1-2 glasses for day. Should I look into boxed wine? Seems tacky, but might keep better than open bottles. I should look for a “wine mentor.”

Seriously – I think wine is the ticket to happiness.

Wherever the Catholic sun doth shine,
There’s always laughter and good red wine.
At least I’ve always found it so.
Benedicamus Domino!

-Hilaire Belloc

I tried a bottle of Australian Cabernet Sauvignon this past week from Mitolo and it was really good.

Australia is famous for its Shiraz wines and I was very pleasantly surprised by this cab.

Anybody else tried Aussie cabs?

Today’s selection is Black Box Cabernet – California, 2006

ahhhhhhh….

Documenting the recipe we used for the party, from my friend Mindy… It has a lot of sugar, but got great reviews so I will definitely use it again…

1 bottle Merlot (or Cabernet)
1 bottle Simply Limeaid
2 T. cherry syrup
4 T. sugar

Mix ingredients well & chill… Add citrus slices & raspberries or pitted cherries a few minutes before serving… Serve over ice…

The cherry syrup added a bit of depth that the previous recipe didn’t have…

A bottle of merlot, equal qty. of sweetened limeaid, a half serving of OJ & a slice of orange… Yummy!

I’ve found a shiraz that I can drink without getting knocked on my ass! For some reason shiraz has always thrown me for a loop, but the one we had the other night left me with no hangover and no real punch-drunk feeling whatsoever. I drank two glasses and probably could’ve had another two if I’d felt like it.

Hopefully another shiraz or two (or three) will present itself for my consumption now!

There are some wonderful wines from Italy and Spain that most of us have never heard of. I am enjoying a case of Castillio de Papa (i think that is how it is spelled). It is an Italian white that I purhased off of close out for $3.50 per bottle (!!).

I bought two cases, and now I wished they had more. It is superb. Not as crisp as a chardonnay. Flavorful as a sauvignon blanc but not as flowery. In short: a fine drinkable wine.

I know the label is a French wine…but, I like those too.

In Germany, where I am from, consuming alcoholic beverages like wine or beer is legal once you’re 16. Unfortunately, I never took advantage of what great wines and beers Germany had to offer but had to discover this all over in the US, and once I turned 21, LOL. I live in the NY Fingerlakes area, and there are fabulous wineries here, and the wine of this region is superb. Having done multiple wine tours, I have learned a little bit about it, too, and have learned how to pair foods and wines to compliment each other’s tastes, etc.