Good wine important to mental health!

My daughter's soccer coach recently pointed out the importance of proper nutrition before a soccer game. I, too believe in proper nutrition for maintaining a healthy body. Unfortunately,many people forget just how important their mental health can be. How do we maintain mental health? You must start by putting yourself first. I call it " The Gift of Selfishness". In order to look after others, one must be in good health, both physically and mentally. A good analogy is this; if your car is not full of gas and hasn't had a check up or an oil change, you wouldn't plan on driving across Canada. Before setting off on a trip, you put gas in your car and ensure that it is in good working order. It goes to reason then, that if you must look after a family of 3 or 4 other people, you should make sure that YOUR body is in good working order. This includes not only your physical self, but your mental self as well. Your physical self must be fit, healthy and have regular exercise and good, nourishing food to fend off disease and illness. Your mental self must have time to focus, time to contemplate and time to process life's daily happenings, in order to provide support to others. You wouldn't drive your car without refueling so it makes sense that you shouldn't drive your body without refueling either. I've found that one of the best ways to refuel both mentally and physically, is to sit down and share a bottle of red wine with a friend. The process goes somewhat like this.......friend arrives at door, and settles down comfortably in my living room. Children, husbands and other pesky humans should preferably remain out of sight for the visit. Once comfortable, a bottle of red wine should be opened and allowed to breathe for approximately 10 seconds...if time is of the essence, 5 seconds will suffice. Screw capped bottles do make for a quicker opening, but a cork looks good if appearance is important to you. Next, pour wine into glasses. Congratulate yourselves on being able to navigate this opportunity and quickly take several large swallows. Sit back, relax and breathe deeply. Refill glasses and drink some more. Finally, let the conversation flow wherever it may take you. Popular topics include spousal annoyances, disturbing children's behaviour, ridiculous school demands or the infinite amounts of demanding household chores. Studies have proven that a moderate amount of red wine is good for the heart, aids in digestion and can lower the risk of heart attacks in middle aged people. Red wine is also low in sodium, high in potassium and has Vitamin B (from the wine skins). Wine has been known to have a relaxing, tranquil affect on the body. This is healthy. Healthy is good. Studies have shown that being healthy is good for you. Once you have finished the bottle of wine, and released all of your toxic thoughts and energies, you will feel much better. When you feel better, you treat others better. You are better able to look after others when you feel better. Suggested wines might include Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon, Shiraz, or any blended varieties. Things to keep in mind when drinking wine are that wine does include calories, but, if you are drinking with a friend, the calories are cut in half because "troubles shared are troubles halved". It is recommended that this type of mental relaxation and restoration take place several times a month to ensure that you are in optimum health to provide good care for your family and friends. 

Please note, this blog was written while under the influence of red wine.The delightfully smooth Decero 2008 Cabernet Sauvignon comes from the Mendoza region in Argentina. This particular blog has overtones of bright red fruits and characteristic 'cassis' notes. In a group, one could expect notes of truth, cheerfulness and general enjoyment. Small gatherings of 3 or less can expect some venting, minimal use of foul language and perhaps a touch of frustration. Overall, a smooth, flavourful bottle with a reasonable price point.

Cheers!

Teen Time Means Wine Time for Moms!

It's Saturday night. I am the mother of a teenage girl. Therefore, it is not at all strange that I am in my kitchen listening to a room full of teen-agers laugh, scream etc while watching horror movies. I keenly remember my own movie nights with friends, and firmly believe that hosting the teens is a sort of right of passage as a parent. How many can remember when movie night required us to rent the VCR and the movies, and Hallowe'en was a scary movie. Fast forward to today, and the movies come on Netflix and the choice of movies is endless. Don't like one, just pick another.  Some things stay the same though. Teens still love to eat, especially the boys. My daughter and I did some shopping today, with a definite list of what would be eaten. I've made the pizza, bought the pop, and baked the cookies.  In my role as parent/overseer of said gathering, it was required that I also be invisible. So, I disappeared into my kitchen and proceeded to bake. Lasagna, chocolate cheesecake, and more cookies.  Every parent knows that being invisible can be very enlightening. One tends to learn/overhear alot of interesting facts about their children and their friends when being invisible. The group was fairly well behaved and polite and I quickly realized it would be an easy evening. Therefore, my next decision was an easy one. It is an acceptable practise while baking in one's kitchen, to pour a nice glass of wine and just relax and go with the flow.Naturally, that is exactly what I did. In keeping with the flavour of the evening, I poured a glass of Cupcake! I have blogged about this wine before, and initially wasn't all that impressed with it. However, it was there in my wine rack, a gift from a kind friend, so I opened it and proceeded to enjoy a glass. It was light bodied and simple enough that I easily finished my glass.  I am relaxed, my kitchen chores are complete and the teens have quieted down a tiny bit. Soon the parents will arrive to pick up the teens and Monday at school will be filled with chatter of what everyone did on the weekend. Teens and adults alike will share and revisit the excitement of the weekend. Movies watched, games played and of course, wines drank. Next weekend, plan on buying an untried bottle of wine and give a review to your co-workers. Ask for a review in return. You may find a new favorite!

Cheers!

Birthdays are for Celebrating....Whatever Your Age!

As we get older, celebrating birthdays can sometimes be met with reluctance. We don't want to face the number going up on our calendar,

we feel like we're getting older and there's nothing to look forward to, or we just don't have the same youthful outlook like we used to.

The current life expectancy of a Canadian woman born today is 83 years old. That's alot of birthdays! I have decided that not celebrating in style is just NOT an option! Afterall, it's MY life, and another year passing by is a pretty terrific thing. Each year adding on to the one before, bringing experience, more knowledge, new memories etc. When it was pointed out by a friend that my birthday was rapidly approaching, and she emailed me, asking what I was doing, the answer that came to mind was kind of on the boring side. Having a nice dinner with my children. Of course, I would be the one cooking the dinner....and probably cleaning up afterwards.  And though I very much enjoy the company of my wonderful children, eating dinner with them is not an out of the ordinary experience. I quickly comprised my reply to my friend.....Having a party! Ummmm...okay, now what. She, in turn, quickly volunteered to help out. Not wanting to make it a big, fancy affair, I sent out a facebook invite and planned a very simple 'appies and drinks with good friends' type of evening. The ensuing result was a houseful of friends, good food, good wine and so many beautiful, flower bouquets that my house looks like a garden. Of course, it's never a bad idea to have good wine, and this was no exception. The wine flowed into glasses with ease. My favorite of the evening was a bottle of Masi Valpolicello Bonacosta 2009. Given to me by a good, wine-loving friend, I found it to be an extremely smooth, medium bodied wine. A simple wine, it's lack of complexity makes it a good choice for sharing with a group. 

While drinking wine, discussions often occur about different types of wine and what to try or not try. I love hearing about new wines and look forward to sampling one that has been recommended. My next purchase will be a South African red called Root. It makes me think of a strong, terroir rich wine with a lengthy history.

 One of the wines that didn't get opened was a bottle of Fuzion, a Shiraz Malbec from Argentina.  For this, I checked out the website. http://www.fuzionwines.com/about-fuzion  It has me intrigued with its claim to blending old world with new. It brings me back to celebrating birthdays. An old custom, with friends, both old and new. Experiences, both old and new. A coming together, a blending of what has been and what is yet to come. So, for your next birthday, remember that whatever your age, your life is deserving of a special celebration. Throw yourself a party and toast yourself! You'll be glad you did.

Cheers!

September is half over already! Where does the time go? I sometimes think that time actually hides itself away and then suddenly jumps up and gobbles up as many days as it can and before you know it half the month is already gone. It's a big surprise that you've just used up 15 days of your September and can barely remember what you did with them. It happens to children too but in a much slower fashion. They start out as babies and then before you know it, there they are walking across the stage at graduation, or down the aisle at their wedding, or you're looking at your grandchild thinking "how did this happen????" I'm pretty sure you know how it happened, but it's the speed at which it occurs that can be mind boggling. I believe the same thing happens with a bottle of wine. You sit down and the bottle is full. Full of promise, full of aroma, full of that robust, warm flavour, just waiting to be shared. You have a glass. Your companion has a glass. The next thing you know, there are 3 empty bottles sitting there and you can't remember how that happened! Where did the time go? Where did the wine go? Just how did those 3 empty bottles get there? And why, oh why, is my head pounding like this???? So how do we control this? What can we do to prevent the phantom time stealer from wisking away our days and nights?  Why, the only thing we can do of course.......quietly sit down in a chair......and have a glass of wine! It's completely guaranteed to slow down and mellow even the shadiest of time phantoms...but that's not to say that the night won't somehow get away from you, it will just be a more enjoyable way for it to go.

Recommended wine to while away the time with....start with a wine from your own backyard. From the renowned Okanagan Valley, the Mission Hill Reserve 2009 Cabernet Sauvignon is selectively aged in French and American oak, with a distinct and powerful flavour this wine will help slow down the hours as you sit idly and bask in the blackberry and mint undertones lingering on your tongue. As you watch the ruby richness swirl in your glass, you'll know that time is simply meant to be enjoyed.

Cheers!

Sunshine and Wine

Is there anything better? Camping in the sun...with wine. Enjoying a warm evening...with wine. Relaxing on the deck after a nice walk...with wine. Conversation with friends.....with wine. Sunshine just seems to make everything better, including the wine! After drinking red wine for quite a while now, I finally had a chance to drink some white wine while camping. Well, in truth, it was a white wine cooler type of drink; white wine mixed with diet grapefruit soda. A cool, refreshing drink that tastes even better when you're in a yellow, rubber dingy  on the middle of a lake. Okay, not quite the middle of the lake, in fact, not even that far off shore, but the sun was shining, the water was gorgeous and the drink was mmmmm, so tasty! To simplify matters for the camping aspect, the wine came in a box for easy transportation. Now some might think, hmmm, a box? But for the purpose of consuming multiple beverages over a long, hot, sunny lakeside afternoon, the boxed wine cannot be beat...except maybe by an ice cold beer! To be fair, not everyone can enjoy a box wine with the same enthusiasm, however, for those of us that manage to turn the other cheek, while someone fills our glass, it does the trick just fine. And for some, whose name I won't mention here, it does the trick so well that much less wine is consumed the following day. Suffice to say that wine, in a box, on a beach, by a lake, in a glass, with sun shining overhead, is thing to be enjoyed. Not too hard to take if you take your relaxation time seriously.

Enjoy the sun and the wine everyone!

Summer Samplers

The last time I blogged, I wrote for an hour only to have my entire piece error out and be lost. Frustrated and out of sorts I have remained idle for far too long. Now I'm back and it's time to get down to business. First, the lost blog was about the wonderful wine tasting event that I attended at Everything Wine in Millstream Village, www.everythingwine.com In my initial blog I raved about the wines and the food samples, including chicken from Nando's, which was very tasty. To make the night even better,Everything Wine was offering a complimentary cab ride home for any attendee that was in need of a ride. It was their first time offering this service and it was very well received. In light of the new drinking/driving laws, I think it was a very pro-active move on the part of the event coordinator who was on hand all evening to answer questions and take photos and generally ensure that a good time was had by all. Wine wise I came home with a lovely Mission Hill Reserve Merlot and a DeFinco red that I sampled and enjoyed.....however it was so long ago that I can only say that I would have to consult my notes before commenting further on the quality of the bottle. I have since moved on and am now raving about Apothic and Beso de Vino and my most recent sampling, Seven Deadly Zins. I was lucky enough to taste Apothic, a California red, http://www.apothic.com while visiting a friend and unfortunately I only had time for one glass but it was such an incredibly smooth, velvety, luscious in your mouth feeling wine that I left knowing that I would go and buy a bottle just so I could have more. Sadly, I have been unable to find it in stores, so I bbm'ed my friend, who suggested I check the BC Liquor Store online....and lo and behold I found my wine! So if you are ever looking for a certain wine and can't find it at your fav wine store now you know where to look.  If you are in the looking for a good California wine, at only $16.99 a bottle, I would highly recommend trying a bottle of Apothic.  If you are looking for any bottle that you can find check out this link.  http://www.bcliquorstores.com/products.

Beso de Vino, which means "kiss of wine" is another scrumptious score. One of my many wine appreciating friends brought this bottle to my attention and despite her husband thinking that $15 for a bottle of wine was outrageous, continues to keep my glass full whenever the opportunity arises. And for that I thank her! She also makes a very tasty hamburger ;-)  The Beso de Vino is from the Carinena region of Spain and uses Syrah and Garnacha grapes. It is fruity yet subtle and can be enjoyed with appies, a strong cheese or with good conversation.

Finally, when you have teenagers it is definitely necessary to have some sort of assistance. For toughing out the teen years I recommend a bottle of The 7 Deadly Zins. Coming from the Michael David Winery in Lodi, California, the 7 Deadly Zins, is an invitation to repent your sins....or perhaps just add to them and repent later.  It is a Zinfandel with a spicey, earthy flavour that will pleasure your palate. It will allow you to meet your teens challenges with age old wisdom that must come from those old vines!  Serving up wines with names such as Lust, Gluttony, and Rapture, you can be sure to find something to your liking whether you are a saint or a sinner or a little of both. The Michael David Winery has an interesting history...check it out http://www.michaeldavidwinery.com/ to view their blog, their wine club and more.

Hope everyone is having a great summer and getting the chance to sample some new wines or maybe just enjoying the old favourites.

Cheers!

  

It's party time with Cupcake!

What's a party without cupcakes? Or should I say "Cupcake"?  I had heard about Cupcake wine recently from more than one person, each telling me I had to try this wine. So, lucky me, a friend brought a bottle to my daughter's birthday party....no, my daughter isn't of legal drinking age, but hey, I am! I am of the opinion that all mothers should celebrate on the birth day of our children; afterall, we did do the hard part! Hence, the uncorking of the Cabernet Sauvignon bottle of Cupcake. Cupcake Vineyards is located in California and has been producing wine under this label since 2008. Check them out: http://www.cupcakevineyards.com/ 

I am a little disappointed in the label. A wine with such a fun name could produce a much more lively face. Where's the colour,the confetti,the icing and sprinkles? Shamelessly, I often buy wine simply by the appeal of the label. If it catches my eye I pick it up and read the label and most times, put it in my cart. Yes, I use a cart when shopping for wine; doesn't everybody?  The wine itself held its own appeal. It was dark and smooth with a sweetness that was not overpowering. I don't know if I would use the word 'Sinful' as the description on the label does, but I will probably give it a second chance accompanied by a meal. Munchie Mix and red wine generally don't complement one another. It did, however, complement the mood of the party. I can't say for sure, but I think the glass I had helped me to beat my daughter in the inflatable obstacle course race....twice! The second glass was absolutely necessary to celebrate the win. 

Party On!

Friendly gestures

Wine and food. Food and wine. The pleasures of life! When shared with friends it's even more satisfying. I am very lucky to have several good friends in my life that share my enthusiasm for both food and wine. Even more wonderful is that my friends like to share their wine with me! How lucky can a girl get? Besides savouring the grapes, I also enjoy photography as a hobby. A good friend asked to employ my services as a photographer and offered to pay me. I objected, she objected to my objection and eventually we reached a compromise. I agreed to take photos in exchange for a bottle of wine. Note that this was supposed to be a singular bottle of wine. Said friend arrived on my doorstep to pick up the disk with the photos with not one but two bottles of wine....AND a giftcard to my favorite store. What store? Why, Everything Wine, of course! The two wines she brought were chosen with care. Angus the Bull, and The Black Piper. IAngus is an Australian red Cabernet Sauvignon. What a wine! It is rich, full bodied and yummy! Highly recommend it for those who like a Cab Sauv. The Black Piper is from Whistler Wines and as I just opened it and had one glass I will reserve further comment until a second glass has been enjoyed. The first glass was enjoyable and relaxing...or was it me that was relaxing and the wine enjoyable? Hmmmm, definitely need a second glass!
Needless to say, although I know my friend did have assistance in choosing my gifts, I am glad that she did, as they were both lovely bottles that I am planning on purchasing again. I will also be taking more photographs for my friend. Not to receive more wine, but to share my love of photography and show my appreciation for her generosity.  I feel extremely lucky to have such a generous and intelligent friend!  We should all have friends that pay us in wine!

Cheers to all!

If You're Smart, You'll Have Another Glass of Wine!

It's expensive, it can destroy brain cells, and it can impair judgement....yet the lastest buzz is that intelligent people drink more alcohol. So how might we test this theory? What would such a test look like? Well, let's see....first, we should seek out some highly intelligent people and some equally less intelligent people. Then, invite them all to a big party where alcohol is flowing freely. Then observe closely to see who drinks the most. Of course, intelligence can be subjective so there would need to be a test of some sort before the drinking could commence. A rubics cube? The ink blot test? Or just a standard old IQ test perhaps?  Keeping track of who is who could also pose a problem. Do the less intelligent people where name tags? How would you identify the smart people? Would the brand of alcohol enter into the equation? Does a smarter person choose the better brand and the less intelligent person the house brand? Hmmmmm, that's alot to ponder without a glass of wine in my hand! I'd best stick to looking intelligent by continuing to drink plenty of wine, staying up late and ensuring that others are well informed on how to do the same.

In the meantime, let me just mention that I did have the occasion to sample a lovely wine called D 'O. Now, there is supposed to be an accent on the O. Looking at the bottle some might call it Doh (think Homer Simpson) I prefer to call it "Day Oh". I don't know/care if I'm right or wrong, but it just didn't feel right sounding like Homer. It's from Portugal and is a red blend, light, fruity with a flavour that lingers in your mouth.  Great price (under $20 a bottle), great taste, what more do we need? Now that's higher intelligence!

Cheers!

Wine Tasting Event at Everything Wine

Got to admit to having been lax in my blogging of late....shall rectify this immediately by vowing to blog at least once a week forever more! Recently visited my favorite wine store, Everything Wine. Happily hooked up with the very friendly and helpful Event Coordinator who proceeded to assist me (and my good friend, Kathy) in choosing a wonderfully delicious assortment of red wines and a few obligatory whites. Said Event Coordinator also very kindly opened the Tasting Bar for us to sample a few of our choices. Mmmm..very tasty indeed! Definitely added to the worthwhileness of our trip. Along with good advice on the wine, the wise Event Coordinator extolled the virtues of an upcoming tasting event, taking place in June. Praying on our obvious love of the product, she urged us to attend what should prove to be a very fun evening. Not only wine sampling, but also food sampling, spread throughout the (large) store. After eating and drinking your way through Argentina, Chile, France, Italy, etc, they send you home in a cab! All for just $25 a ticket! It goes without saying that our tickets are purchased and we are preparing in advance to make the most of the event. How will the evening turn out? Well, I will keep you posted! ;-)

Can't Wait!

I am so excited! I just reconnected with a very dear friend who has been missing from my life for many years. Gotta love facebook for getting back in touch with people! We were, together, excellent at wine sampling, among other things. After a very long and uplifting phone conversation we agreed that we will get together as soon as we can schedule it. Being in two different cities makes it a little more challenging, but I know we will figure out something quite soon. With this in mind I popped in to one of my favorite wine stores to pick up a few goodies. I came away with three bottles that I can't wait to try. All products of the US of A, I was looking for something not only robust and full flavoured (like me and my girlfriend) but I wanted a fun, memorable label to celebrate with. I got a 2009 Cabernet Sauvignon from California that is banned in some states because of the label....Cycles Gladiator has a naked woman with long,flowing hair, hanging onto a bicyle. Gorgeous! Perfect for a couple of bold ladies ;-)  Next I got "Lady in Red" from Kestrel Vintners in Washington State. Finally, from California, a 2008 Cabernet Sauvignon called "Twisted".....the back label says "under nature's creation, the branches of a grape vine twirl and twine growing into a unique twisted vine" It made me think of our lives, twisting and turning, taking different paths. Now our path has once again crossed...and it did cross my mind that together she and I were a little bit twisted at times :-)
Can't wait to try these beauties with my gorgeous gal pal!

Couldn't not post a pic of the Cycles Gladiator label now could I.......

Cheers!!

Sister time = wine time!

Ahhh, the morning after. With coffee in hand I get to sit and ponder the previous evenings events, mentally reviewing my thoughts on the various wines that passed my lips with far too much ease. After a bit of a dry spell, I made up for it in full force by managing to sample three different wines in one evening. Having my sister visiting me from across the water provided an excellent excuse to practise my pouring skills. Argentina and Germany were our hosts for the night and sure helped to heat up the conversation. Sis and I both agreed that the Arrabal, a Cab Sauvignon/Malbec blend from Argentina was worth a second glass.  It had a rich deep flavor, was spicy and warm on the tongue and a great little kick at the end. All that plus a cool label on the bottle. We also enjoyed Trivento, which means 'Three Winds" and is from the Mendosa Valley. It was rich and fruity and tasted great with both cheese and crackers and salsa and chips.

Our final bottle was from Germany. I've never been a fan of German wines, in the past I have always found the German white wines too sweet for my liking and for that reason, have typically stayed away from German brands. My feelings held true for the bottle of Deinhard Pinot Noir, Qualitatswein 2009. Normally by the third bottle the taste isn't as important, but this bottle didn't even make it to the finish line. To be fair, it was a $15 bottle of wine and it's hard to get a good Pinot Noir at that price. Still, this bottle lacked body and a robust flavour. For me, the wine was too sweet, leaving an aftertaste that reminded me of grape juice. Nonetheless, it was great to sit and visit with me sis and we both enjoyed our wine time!

Cheers!

A Glass in Hand

Still working on all my wine from the Chile region. My lastest bottle was a Carmenere Cabernet Sauvignon 2010 from Vina Maipo. I did a little bit of research to determine that Carmenere is a wine grape variety that originated in France but is now found mainly in Chile. Blending the Carmenere grapes with Cabernet Sauvignon is becoming increasingly popular as the wine industry in Chile continues to grow. In the glass the Vina Maipo is a ruby red and on first taste it seemed to bounce in my mouth. I liked the flavour which I found to be very full and robust. I drank my wine with a dish of cheese tortellini in an alfredo sauce. The wine provided a nice, strong balance to the mildness of the white sauce. Again, the cost of this wine was under $15.00 a bottle. I'd also like to point out that having a glass of this wine in hand would do well when your not-quite-a-teenager daughter asks you if she can get her nose pierced. Sadly, I was caught off-guard without a glass and very nearly said yes....well, not yes, but I may have said maybe. I'm sure it was only because of my experience with having a glass of wine in hand that I was able to quickly imagine the glass and confidently reply that we could "talk about it". Which is mom-speak for  "over my dead body!". Nonetheless, I think in preparation for such a discussion, I will finish the bottle of Vina Maipo from Chile and very possibly start on another region.....I will keep you posted.

On another note, a friend of mine offered up a solution for keeping wine fresh when you are unable to finish the bottle. He didn't think I would be in need of it, as he knows I am very diligent about always starting what I  finish. I do however think it's a great idea for hiking or camping, as it's a soft sided container and you can tuck it into your backpack and not worry about breaking glass. It's called a Platypus Platypreserve  and it's sold at MEC (Mountain Equipment Coop) for only $8.00. It holds 800ml of wine and keeps wine fresh by eliminating the exposure to oxygen. . Now's that's worth blogging about!

Cheers!

Weekend Wino

I am contemplating changing the name of my blog to "the weekend wino". Why? Well, in the course of my job I was obligated to get on the scales and be weighed. Ahhhhhh! Horrors! Not owning scales of my own, I don't often have the opportunity to step on and record how much I wine...I mean weigh. I was, of course, duly shocked when I found out that I was 10...okay, 15 pounds heavier than I thought I was. This brings me to my dilemma. How to get rid of the excess pounds? All the weight loss gurus say to stop drinking alcohol. I say NO WAY! It's hard enough to diet without having to give up wine. I am however considering just drinking wine on weekends. But in order to maintain this blog I must sample more than one bottle and if I reserve my sampling until the weekend that just might make me...you guessed it, a Weekend Wino! Then again, I could just pretend that I never stepped on those damned scales and continue on my merry way, drinking whenever I please. Yup, that's what I'll have to do. If I'm really smart I will remind myself that drinking wine is in fact an excellent form of exercise and it should be done 3-4 times a week to stay in top shape. After much consideration, I realized that drinking the wine will help me forget about the scales and all will be right with my world. And the extra pounds? Well I firmly believe that life is all about balance. For example, a nice glass of wine should be accompanied by an equally nice meal......so the pounds will still be there on the weekend. With the wine!

Cheers!

Winercise?

Does raising your glass of wine to your mouth constitute as exercise? Could it be called Winercise? Would the reps be counted by each mouthful or by each glass? Hmmmm... I can feel my biceps getting bigger already. What about opening the bottle? The corks can often be tricky, and those screw caps are sometimes REALLY tight! And what about when you're filling out a health form and they ask about your history...is there a history of smoking, drugs or alcohol? Well, if you drink wine now then that's in the present so it doesn't count as 'history', right? No, I haven't been drinking, at least not right now. I did however, recently enjoy a nice bottle of Cabernet Sauvignon. It is yet another bottle from Chile, from Calbuco Estate. Chile has several different wine regions, Calbuco is in the southern region. Another reasonably priced wine, it was only $12.99 a bottle. The winemaker's notes describe it as "fruity, with a pleasant aroma of cherry and plum and well balanced with notes of white pepper and paprika. On the palate it is soft with a medium body, fresh and with a nice finish." I can identify with the soft on the palate statement. Some wines just sort of float in your mouth and gently flavour your tongue, while others are rough, tangy and almost assault the insides of your cheeks. I also agree with the nice finish. You swallow the wine and you are left with a pleasant feeling and a warm taste. Now,  I confess that when I plant my nose deep into my wine glass and inhale, I struggle to identify all those flavors. Not just with this wine, but any wine. Most of them smell fruity and sometimes a bit spicy, but clearly, my nose needs some fine tuning before I can compete in the wine connoisseur circles.  I am guessing that  all of this just means that I must drink more wine! Let's recap....opening wine=working your muscles. Raising the glass=more work for the muscles. Smelling the wine=good for the nose? Sure, why not! All in all, I think we can agree that drinking wine is good exercise, or, as I shall now call it, Winercise. This brings me to the conclusion that I should work hard at Winercising at least 3 days a week to maintain a toned body and an educated nose. You should too!

Cheers!

Sometimes time just flies by and you don't even realize it! I can't believe it's been 4 days since I last posted!  I did not lose sight of my goal, however. I did have a glass (or two) of wine. PKNT, which can be pronounced 'picante' is another Chilean red wine. I bought the Merlot for just $13.99 a bottle. I opened the bottle, a screw cap, and poured my glass, then let it breathe for a short time. In trying to put into practise what I am learning about wine, I stuck my nose right into the glass and breathed deeply. My daughter looked at me like I was a little bit crazy. It did give me a good whiff of the bouquet and I tried to pick out the berry scents. When I drank it, I paired it with a nice, juicy filet mignon and it was very tasty. It had a deep, fruity flavor and went down smoothly. That was my Tuesday night.  I had another glass the next day and I felt the flavor was a little richer after having been opened. Thursday night I actually went out and met a guy for drinks and ended up having an icy cold beer instead of wine. There's something about an icy glass of beer that just makes you wish it were summertime. And of course, today is Friday, so there's no denying that I'll be having a glass of wine.....but you'll have to wait until my next post to hear about it.  There's something about the combination of wine, music, good food and good people that makes everything taste so much better, so I will join some friends and have a great evening. Hope you do too!

Cheers :-)

Girls Nite In

It's so very satisfying to have women that you have been friends with for many years. I have several such friends from different pockets of my life. I met many of them through having children of the same age. They all love wine. I wonder if having children makes you appreciate wine more? It was with one of these groups of friends that I enjoyed my wine with on Saturday night. I made my visit to Everything Wine on Saturday morning, with my friend Kathy joining me. My goal for the trip was to stay under $20 but in the end I didn't even go above $15. I bought several bottles from South America and a couple from South Africa and one from Italy and France. It was too easy to just keep putting bottles into my basket. It's a little like being  'a kid in a candy shop' with so many brands and flavours to choose from. I will take months to sample all those wines, and they are continually bringing in new products. Not to mention the Vintage Room that I didn't even venture into....out of my price range at the moment! 
For my evening get together I made a hot artichoke and spinach dip that was delicious. Kathy's expansive granite top island was full of delicious food. Lobster cakes with chipotle sauce, mini quiches, homemade guacomole and salsa. Our first bottle of wine was one that Kathy had bought. It was from Argentina, a Cabernet Sauvignon/Malbec blend by the name of Arrabal, ringing in at $12.99. It tasted light and spicy, but I found it a bit too acidic. The next bottle was on of my choices, called Gato Negro. A Chilean wine, and only $9.99 a bottle. A Cabernet Sauvignon with a soft, fruity flavor it complemented the food nicely. These are, of course, simple, inexpensive wines that are suited to drinking when having a casual visit with friends. The company and conversation overshadowed the taste of the wine as we all caught up on the day to day happenings of our lives. As our children are entering the teen years we all had lots to share....thankfully, we had lots of wine!

Cheers!

The Learning Curve

I didn't drink any wine last night. As much as I love wine, I realize that I just won't be able to drink a different wine everyday. So I will settle for every week. Since starting my blog I've been busy researching and have discovered a number of great websites as well as several books, all more than willing to extol the numerous virtues of wine.  I've always been really good at drinking wine, but I've never spent alot of time learning about it. And there's ALOT to learn! Tannins, and legs and aroma and bouquet are all words I've heard and associated with wine but have now taken on a new meaning.  I've read, watched videos on Youtube and chatted with various people. You'd be surprised at how many people have offered to share wine with me...or maybe not so surprised. Thank you to each and every one of you, I will definitely be taking you up on your offers!  Wine drinkers are a passionate bunch (lol, like grapes!) There is a wide range of wine drinkers, as well. Some know alot about wine, others know a little, and still others know only how to pour it into their glasses and raise it to their lips. And after a few drinks, sometimes they even miss their lips. It doesn't matter how much you know or don't know about wine though. What's important is that you have fun when drinking it. Drink with friends, relax and enjoy yourself. I'm good at that :-)  I've also  joined a few on-line sites that send newsletters and offer information on events for wine tastings and seminars. Everything Wine offers regular tastings and sends out emails about specials and new products. There are sites for wineries and they offer tours! Pairing wine with food is a popular topic as well and I'm excited to read and find out more about it.  Guess I'm gonna be busy but I can't think of a better subject to spend time on! I will be sampling some nice wines this weekend and will be sure to keep you posted.

In the meantime, life is short, and we should all take the time to enjoy a nice glass of wine...I know I will :-)

Cheers!

First Taste

 I've always liked South African wines and last nights bottle did not disappoint. Nederburg Wines is from Paarls, South Africa, and has been producing wine since 1791. My girlfriend and I enjoyed the Cabernet Sauvignon over interesting conversation that included the merits (or lack thereof) of mother-in-laws and planning a girls night in. The girls night will enable me to sample more wine. See, there is a definite method to my madness!  The Nederburg bottle self describes itself  as "a burst of ripe fruit complemented by delicate oak spice flavours". It is a combination of wild berries, chocolate, mocha and "a waft of vanilla". It has a lovely rich flavour and I think it would go nicely with a good beef stew.  As it was only one of two bottles left in my wine rack, from a previous purchase, I don't recall what I spent on the bottle, but I'd estimate that it was around $15. My wine rack, a beautiful xmas gift from my mother, holds 23 bottles of wine. I am looking forward to filling the rack bottles to begin my official tasting.

I cannot leave this post without commenting on the weather. SNOW DAY! An unexpected Arctic front has set Victoria on its ear. It's mid-afternoon and it's been snowing all day, with more to come. I am happy that I have my brand new snow tires on and they worked fabulously when I went out this morning. Now, as much as I love my red wine, I'm sorry to say that a SNOW DAY just cries out for coffee and Baileys or a delicious Polar Bear (hot chocolate/peppermint schnapps) so that's what I shall enjoy today. :-)

Cheers!

Blogger Newbie takes the plunge!

My very first blog....sigh...You've come a long way baby! Welcome to my blog and thanks for stopping by. It is my objective to write daily or whine daily, depending on my mood ;-) I am also going to try out new wines on a regular basis and share my thoughts about them. I am hoping that others will feel free to comment on wines they have tried as well.  I am a red wine drinker most of the time but with summer not too far away (hey, I'm an optimist!) I will be drinking white wine as well. Oh, and probably Sangria too.  Any excuse to drink, right? No, I'm not an alcoholic but who doesn't enjoy a smooth glass of red at the end of the day?  I generally try to stick to bottles in the 'under $20' range but for this blog I will be venturing into the higher range as well as trying to find a really great low budget wine. Along the way I plan to share my thoughts on various other subjects hopefully with thoughtfulness and humour. Afterall, what better way to end the day than with a laugh and a glass of wine. Cheers!