Entries tagged with 'sparkling wine'
Page 1 of 1
This Prosecco hit all the right flavor notes, and at $12 a bottle, it's priced right too. But admittedly, one of the things I liked most was
the exceptionally beautiful top to the cork cage. It's a painting of an arched wall rendered in gorgeous primary colors—blues, reds, and yellows—like a Renaissance-era painting by one of the Italian masters. Do you have any favorite wine bottle art, whether corks, cork cages, or labels?
Continue reading »
Bellinis are fun to say, easy to prepare, and gorgeous to serve. Best for daytime sipping and hot weather,
a Bellini bar is the perfect way to let your guests customize their drinks while you save some cash. Here's how to set up your own, with recipes for white peach, strawberry, and raspberry purées.
Continue reading »
Sparkling wine has long been considered an aphrodisiac. According to food historian
Francine Segan, physicians in the age of Hippocrates prescribed a little bubbly "instead of the modern little blue pill." In the 1700s, Casanova seduced hundreds of lovers with the help of sparkling wine and fresh fruit. At the very least, sparkling wine is the perfect accompaniment to another famous libido-booster; the crisp, honeyed flavor of sparkling wine "matches beautifully with the oyster's salty sweetness," says Segan.
Continue reading »
"If nothing else, get three bottles of sparkling wine into your house or apartment now." [Flickr: bignoseduglyguy] It's that time of year again, when your life is about to get really hectic. Before you hit the panic button, do yourself a favor and go out this weekend and buy a mixed case of wine. With a mixed case of wine in your closet, you'll be prepared for the drop-by visitors, last-minute takeout decisions, and leftovers that can make the most organized person scramble. Most of us remember to buy wine for the family dinners and big celebrations of the months to come—it's the smaller stuff that makes you want to tear your hair out. I'd recommend buying three bottles of...
Continue reading »
On Fridays, Deb Harkness of Good Wine Under $20 drops by with Serious Grape. This week, the best in bubbles. Photograph from Gaetan Lee on Flickr I can't seem to get my fill of bubbles this time of year. The holidays seem a bit more special with some sparkle in them. Just in time for pre-dinner sipping, post-shopping relaxing, holiday brunch mixing—and of course toasting the New Year—I've got my buying guide for the very best, affordable bubbles in the market. None of these sparklers should be hard to find, and they will add a festive note to whatever you're doing, even if it's just wrapping gifts. NV Soligo Prosecco Brut (find this wine for $11-$18) Really well made with...
Continue reading »
On Fridays, Deb Harkness of Good Wine Under $20 drops by with Serious Grape. This week, how to preserve a bottle of bubbly. A glass of Segura Viudas Cava Brut Rosado. If you open my fridge and there isn't a half-empty bottle of wine in it, then it's a sure sign I'm out of the country. Most often, the half-empty bottle contains sparkling wine. When I come home after work, I love a chilled glass of bubbles while I'm making dinner. I open a bottle and then I drink one perfect glass a night over the next five nights. Since I'm the only one who drinks in my house, a normal-sized bottle of bubbly lasts quite a while. Though I...
Continue reading »
Every other week, Deb Harkness of Good Wine Under $20 joins us to talk some Serious Grape. Here's the latest. Photograph from Zed.Cat on Flickr Is it just me or is everyone suffering from the early fall crazies? The Labor Day holiday is looming ahead of us. Kids need back-to-school supplies and rides to and from soccer, ballet, and piano lessons (circle as appropriate). Then there's your boss, who returned from vacation full of new plans for office efficiency and greater productivity. It's enough to make the lazy days of summer seem all but a distant memory. Here's my wine survival tip for late summer and early fall: buy a mixed case of wine now, because things will only get...
Continue reading »